Florida State Football: 10 Things to Expect from the Garnet and Gold Spring Game

Is this the season the Seminoles are able to turn things around and climb back on top of the college football world?

One would think so, due to the fact they return nine starters on both sides of the ball and are one of the most talented teams in the country. But of course that doesn't mean everything and it's going to take a great effort from everybody if Florida State expects to fulfill the huge expectations this season.

That process can start throughout spring as the Seminoles prepare for the spring game that takes place on April 14. There are a lot of things to expect and a lot of things to watch out for as Jimbo Fisher and company try to bring an ACC championship back to Tallahassee.

Here are 10 things to expect when the spring game kicks off. 

Cameron Erving to Make an Easy Transition

Sophomore Cameron Erving was a defensive tackle last season and finished with 20 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. This season instead of attacking the quarterback, he'll be protecting his and you should expect the transition to be quite easier than you may think.

“He just gets it, boy,” Fisher said about the sophomore. “He’s got a chance to be a very, very good football player.”

With the depth on the defensive side of the ball, this was an extremely smart move by the coaches and will likely pay off for a team losing two key offensive linemen from last year.

Bryan Stork to Still Work at His New Position

Another offensive lineman to watch is Bryan Stork, simply because he played so much at the center position and is making the transition to right tackle this year. If he can get it right and quickly adjust, the offensive line will be a lot stronger than most think, but this won't be easy. Stork will be going from just one hand on the ground to having to adjust to a two-point stance.

"I enjoy it because it's been helping me understand the offense as a whole," Stork said.

This is going to take some time to get used to, so expect a few growing pains and maybe a hiccup or two throughout spring practice.

Tyler Hunter to Make an Impact Wherever He Goes

It's still unknown where exactly Hunter is going to play football. He's expected to play nickelback to help replace Mike Harris, but he's so talented he could end up anywhere on the field. But don't just take my word for it, listen to what Jimbo Fisher had to say about the athletic player.

"He's a 4.4 guy or a sub-4.4 guy," FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said. "He's 200 pounds. He has tremendous flexibility. He's physical. Very instinctive. Great ball skills. Tyler has the ability to play corner, he can play safety, he can play nickel. Tyler can go play receiver in a heartbeat. He could play running back. 

"That guy is tremendously athletic."

His position isn't quite known yet, but one thing for sure is that he is a playmaker. Make sure to keep an eye on him during the spring game and watch him make a play or two.

Dan Hicks Will Be Another One to Make a Nice Switch

In case you haven't figured it out by now, the Florida State Seminoles are a team that's going through a facelift right now. There are a lot of players that will be changing positions or switching sides of the field and another player is Dan Hicks. He played backup defensive end last season, this year he'll be competing at tight end.

"I pretty much know how the defense thinks and the technique going into attacking the tight ends," Hicks said. "Having that upper hand just helps me out with what angle to take on a block."

Tight end is an area of concern for the Seminoles with Beau Reliford and Ja'Baris Little graduating and Tank Sessions now out for the season with an injury. Hicks played some tight end in high school and with his experience on defense this switch could also end up paying off.

Mario Pender Will Drop Jaws in the Crowd

Florida State has talent in the backfield, but running back Mario Pender seems to be standing out the most in spring. He's a true freshman and a 5-star recruit and has everyone's attention, including head coach Jimbo Fisher.

“Don’t give him green grass and let him get down that sideline. He’s got some cuts. He caught the ball well out of the backfield (Monday). Made some nice runs. Very impressed with him. Really was."

Pender has blazing speed, breaks tackles with ease and there's a great chance he's gone when he gets out in the open field. He will make a huge impact for this offense moving forward, but will first turn some heads in the spring game.

A Tough Defensive Team

Florida State has one of the top defenses in the country, as they ranked fourth in the country last season in yards allowed. You figure they'll be very similar as they return nine starters and have a ridiculous recruiting class coming in. The problem is that we know the talent is there, but head coach Fisher would like them to be a lot tougher and physical.

"We need to learn how to put our will upon our opponent," Fisher said. "We're very athletic, and we're big and strong. We just need to be a little tougher on all fronts, in my opinion."

With the spring game right around the corner, that's probably exactly what you'll see as the players will be jacked up. I just feel sorry for the offense that will have to go up against these guys.

Clint Trickett to Impress Us Again

We all know EJ Manuel is the starter for the Seminoles again, but there is still a guy by the name of Clint Trickett on the roster. You know, the sophomore quarterback who played extremely well as a freshman in Manuel's absence last season. The guy who completed 63 percent of his passes and threw three touchdowns as he nearly upset the Clemson Tigers on the road.

Trickett obviously has the potential to lead this team and could be something special moving forward. I expect him to have a solid spring game to lock up the No. 2 spot on the depth chart, but the sophomore is trying to earn a little bit more than that.

"Everyone says that there is a competition between me and Jacob and there is, but there is also competition between me and EJ. That’s how I look at it. Trickett said. I’m going to hold on to number two hopefully, but I’m also trying for number one and that’s no disrespect towards EJ, obviously. That’s what he felt when Christian [Ponder] was still here."

EJ Manuel to Play Conservative

Speaking of senior quarterback EJ Manuel, don't expect to see much of him throughout the spring game and expect to see more conservative play-calling for him. Manuel took a lot of unnecessary hits last year and was reported that he suffered a broken leg in the bowl game last year against Notre Dame.

“With that leg injury, we didn’t do a lot of our screen game,” Fisher said. “We stayed in the pocket, Basically it was physical, downhill run, play-action pass, very conventional. There was no quarterback runs.”

We know what Manuel is capable of and one of the keys to this season is keeping the senior quarterback healthy. Getting him 100 percent by the time September rolls around is a victory in itself.

Rashad Greene to Take That Next Step in His Career

The Seminoles really lacked the big play last season on offense and need playmakers to step up. Freshman wide receiver Rashad Greene led the team with 38 receptions and seven receiving touchdowns, but you should expect an even bigger season from the sophomore wideout. Quarterback EJ Manuel talks a little about his abilities and what Florida State fans should expect from the former 4-star wide receiver.

“This being his sophomore year coming up, I think he’s going to be even better for us,” Quarterback EJ Manuel said. “And I think he’s a guy that once you give him the ball, he is going to make a play for you. He can take it 60 yards. He can run down the field, you can drop it over a defensive back. He poses a hard match-up for DBs out there.”

Greene is that playmaker that Florida State needs this season with his speed and great hands. He had an excellent freshman year, but you can expect Fisher and company to find more ways to get the ball in his hands this season. Don't be surprised if he makes a few big plays in the spring game either.

A Solid Spring Performance

Besides the questions on the offensive line, this team has pretty much everything figured out. Sure there are a little tweaks that need to be figured out, but there is enough talent on this roster to win the ACC and become a dark horse contender for the national championship.

I expect to see a lot more positives in the spring game and the results should have Seminole fans extremely excited for what's in store this season. Returning 18 starters, having a loaded recruiting class coming in and another year under the belt for head coach Jimbo Fisher is a recipe for a great season.

I know it's been said before, but I believe this is the year the Seminoles are able to turn things around and it all starts with a great performance in the spring game.