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He's Finally Becoming A Go-To Guy

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By SCOTT CARTER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 7, 2007

Updated: 11/07/2007 12:15 am

TALLAHASSEE - The first one-on-one meeting came after the season-opening loss at Clemson, a game in which Florida State receiver De'Cody Fagg appeared to dip his hands in grease every time he took the field.

The second talk with offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher came after Fagg had another case of the drops the following week in FSU's victory against UAB. Finally, Fisher met with Fagg once more before the fourth game of the season, a much-anticipated meeting with Alabama in Jacksonville.

Fisher tossed Fagg another challenge.

"We need you," Fisher said. "We're going to keep throwing your way."

Fagg finally started to catch on. In FSU's 21-14 victory over the Crimson Tide, Fagg snagged a Xavier Lee pass along the sideline late in the second half, then raced 70 yards for a touchdown.

"That's something a lot of guys didn't know I had," Fagg said.

That catch-and-run was also when Fagg started to have fun again.

"At the beginning of the season, I was dying," Fagg said after Tuesday's practice. "I had a lot of drops and a lot of missed assignments. I knew I was better than that. The coaches knew I was better than that."

Fisher was so impressed by Fagg during fall camp that when it was time to name an offensive captain for the Clemson game, the Noles selected the senior from Quincy. Of course, his performance in Death Valley that night - Fagg recalls at least three drops in FSU's 24-18 loss - prompted questions of why.

Fagg continued to persevere, relying on receivers coach Lawrence Dawsey for support when his confidence dipped. Much like Dawsey, Fagg lacks some of the raw ability a receiver such as FSU sophomore Preston Parker possesses.

"He's helped me a lot," Fagg said. "He's just a good coach. He tells us to go out and play fast and play physical. I relate to him well."

Whether it has been Fisher's pressing, or Dawsey's teaching, or Fagg's determination, something is working for Fagg recently with quarterback Drew Weatherford back in the lineup. In FSU's past two games, Fagg has 15 receptions for 245 yards and a touchdown. His 42-yard touchdown catch midway through the fourth quarter Saturday at No. 2-ranked Boston College proved to be the decisive score in FSU's 27-17 victory.

Overall, Fagg's 36 receptions rank second on the team behind Parker, and his 526 yards third. He followed a career game against Duke (nine catches, 134 yards) with six catches for a team-high 111 yards at Boston College.

"He's making plays now, and it sure is good," FSU coach Bobby Bowden said. "He's getting open. That's the guy you want to go to, the guy that's getting open. But he's catching the ball good and running for touchdowns, and that's something different from a year ago. I still think there are times he needs to attack the ball more, but that's not most of the time."

Fagg said that while he and Weatherford do work well together - "He was delivering the ball to me at the beginning of the season, and I just wasn't taking advantage of it" - it's more than Weatherford's re-emergence that has helped him.

He says it goes back to those early-season chats with Fisher.

"He told me I needed to step up," Fagg said. "I knew I was going to be able to turn it around. I just had to settle down. I was trying to go out and rush plays and make plays instead of using my ability."

Reporter Scott Carter can be reached at (850) 294-3088 or scarter@tampatrib.com.

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