Florida State Seminoles: With Returning Stars, Should You Believe the Hype?

Florida State is returning three impact players for next season: CB Xavier Rhodes, CB Greg Reid and DE Brandon Jenkins are all staying for 2012.

Rhodes is still young—he was only a redshirt sophomore this season—and he has a bright future ahead of him. If you're a fan of FSU football, and you didn't know he was staying for at least one more year until you read this, I bet that put a smile on your face. 

Rhodes is a force to be reckoned with. In contrast to Reid, Rhodes is a very big corner. At 6'2" and 215 pounds, he is a good six inches taller and almost 30 pounds heavier than Reid.

While the weight difference means that Rhodes is a bit more built, it's the height that is the biggest setback for Reid since it's not uncommon to see wide receivers like Tommy Streeter of Miami—at 6'5"—tower over him.  Rhodes' height, however, allows him to match up well with taller receivers.

Nevertheless, Reid's name puts fear into the hearts of most teams' special teams coordinators. When that football leaves the foot of a punter and Reid doesn't wave for a fair catch, there's always the possibility of seeing this speedster sprint past the entire coverage team and waltz into the end zone untouched.

Jenkins is considered one of the best defensive ends in the country, and he has met nearly every quarterback that he has faced. Coming hard off the edge, he can give the opposing quarterback second thoughts every time he takes the snap and drops back.

How will Rhodes, Reid and Jenkins, along with the rest of the team, fare in the 2012 season? Will it be a repeat of this year—falling short of high expectations?

I can't tell you honestly. But, while I can't see into the future, I can make predictions.

Next season, the Seminoles will be better. They are physical and talented. They'll match up with whoever is across from them on the field.

Do they have the determination, though? Is this football team ready to be a national powerhouse again?

The second game of next season will be telling. West Virginia is going into the offseason with an enormous amount of momentum. The Mountaineers beat Clemson by 37 points in the Orange Bowl. Florida State didn't beat Clemson at all.

To all you college football fans out there, if FSU can pull out a win in that game, believe the hype. It'll be their year.