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FSU Spring Football Synopsis
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Published: March 17, 2008
KEY DATES: Tuesday, first practice; March 29, scrimmage; April 5, scrimmage. All practices closed to public.
SPRING GAME: April 12, 7 p.m. at Doak Campbell Stadium. Admission is free and a fireworks show will immediately follow game.
RETURNING STARTERS: 15; Offense (7): QB Drew Weatherford, FB Seddrick Holloway, RB Antone Smith, WR Greg Carr, C Ryan McMahon, LT Daron Rose, LG Rodney Hudson. Defense (7): DE Everette Brown, DT Budd Thacker, LB Dekoda Watson, LB Derek Nicholson, CB Tony Carter, CB Patrick Robinson, SS Myron Rolle. Specialists (1): P Graham Gano.
KEY LOSSES: WR De'Cody Fagg, LB Geno Hayes, DT Andre Fluellen, DT Letroy Guion, OL Shannon Boatman, OL David Overmyer, OL Jacky Claude, K Gary Cismesia, QB Xavier Lee, S Roger Williams, DE Alex Boston.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: A year ago, spring football served mostly as a huge meet-and-greet session in shoulder pads for the Seminoles, who had to learn a revamped scheme under new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Jimbo Fisher.
But now that Fisher and Co. have a season in the books - the only staff change this season is James Coley replacing John Lilly as tight ends coach - this spring will be more about competition and evaluation, especially after another 7-6 season. Senior QB Drew Weatherford has 33 career starts, but Fisher is so impressed by the development of sophomore Christian Ponder, he expects Ponder to challenge Weatherford in spring camp. Another returning starter who needs to have an impressive spring is RB Antone Smith. Despite rushing for more than 800 yards as a junior, Smith will be pushed once fall camp starts by JuCo transfer Tavaras Pressley, whose size (6-foot-1, 215 pounds) is more suited to Fisher's offense.
The offensive line remains a work in progress under Rick Trickett, who enters spring with three returning starters and a cast led by Will Furlong and Evan Bellamy competing for the other jobs. With the emergence of RB/WR Preston Parker last season as the team's top playmaker, WR Bert Reed, who was redshirted as a freshman, and TE Jonathan Hannah, a transfer who failed to qualify academically last year, will be watched closely to see if they can produce similar results.
On defense, a strong returning core has holes up front, where DE Kevin McNeil (shoulder, academics) and LB-turned-DE Benjamin Lampkin have a chance to shine opposite Everette Brown. CB Jamie Robinson is moving to safety, where he and Darius McClure are expected to compete to replace Roger Williams.
Two players unavailable this spring - DT Kendrick Stewart (right shoulder surgery) and CB Michael Ray Garvin (running track) - will be factors come fall. Three early enrollees - LBs Nigel Bradham and Vincent Williams, and DB Terrance Parks - are getting a jumpstart on the rest of the 2008 class. Bradham is the most likely to earn a starting assignment by fall.
2008 SCHEDULE
Sept. 6 Western Carolina
Sept. 13 Chattanooga
Sept. 20 Wake Forest*
Sept. 27 Colorado**
Oct. 4 at Miami*
Oct. 16 at N.C. State*
Oct. 25 Virginia Tech*
Nov. 1 at Georgia Tech*
Nov. 8 Clemson*
Nov. 15 Boston College*
Nov. 22 at Maryland*
Nov. 29 Florida
*Atlantic Coast Conference game
**In Jacksonville
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