Florida State Football: Players Who Must Step Up in Place of Injured 'Noles

Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher uses the concept of "next man up." He wants the second- and third-team players to prepare in practice each week as if they are needed on Saturdays.

The Seminoles made a run to the national championship in 2013 without losing a starter for a significant amount of time. But injuries have already tested FSU, which has lost defensive tackle Nile Lawrence-Stample (torn pectoral muscle) for the season and will now be without center Austin Barron (arm) for an indefinite amount of time.

"You're always concerned but as a coach you plan for them," Fisher said. "You train well and heal and you play good ball and you hope and pray those things don't happen. That's just ball, you get a bunch of big bodies falling around out there and that happened."

Fisher knows FSU will be without Barron and leading rusher Karlos Williams (ankle) on Saturday when the No. 1 Seminoles (5-0, 3-0 ACC) play at Syracuse (2-3, 0-1) at noon. Leading receiver Rashad Greene (concussion) returned to practice on a limited basis Wednesday, and Fisher said Thursday night that Greene is "good to go" pending a final clearance from doctors.

The Seminoles will turn to redshirt freshman Ryan Hoefeld at center. At tailback, sophomore Mario Pender will likely start and true freshman Dalvin Cook will get more carries. If Greene is unable to play, FSU will likely start Jesus "Bobo" Wilson alongside Christian Green, while adding in players like Kermit Whitfield and Travis Rudolph in three- and four-receiver sets.

"The thing I'm encouraged with is the depth we have and you see us practice like we do," Fisher said.

Here's a look at three players who must step up and fill the gaps:

Ryan Hoefeld rushed into action

FSU sports information

When Barron was sidelined by a fractured arm in the first quarter of the 43-3 win over Wake Forest last Saturday, Hoefeld quickly took a few snaps with quarterback Jameis Winston and went in the game. With the exception of a few high snaps, Fisher said that Hoefeld played well.

"I thought Ryan Hoefeld did an outstanding job of coming in and, after the first couple of plays, getting his feet on the ground," Fisher said.

Now Hoefeld is preparing for his first college start on the road in a loud dome at Syracuse. And it will be against an Orange defense that loves to blitz, putting added pressure on Hoefeld to snap and get his hands up and into position to block.

Hoefeld is in just his second year at center. He was a right tackle at Brother Martin in Kenner, Louisiana, but he knew center would be his spot at FSU after he impressed offensive line coach Rick Trickett during one of Fisher's summer camps.

"He threw me in at center in some of the one-on-one stuff," Hoefeld said. "And (Trickett) said, 'I like you at center.' I kind of just went with it."

Hoefeld had never snapped before, something that he worked on repeatedly in practice drills. And he said he had to learn to "step and snap at the same time." While taking a redshirt in 2013, he was able to learn from Bryan Stork, who won the Rimington Award as the nation's best center, as well as Barron.

"Stork was a big help," Hoefeld said. "I still talk to him a lot now. He's still throwing me feedback."

FSU Has Found No. 2 Receiver in Wilson

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With the graduation of Kenny Shaw and the early departure of Kelvin Benjamin to the NFL, one of the priorities over the offseason was developing the inexperienced but talented receiving corps.

Wilson was certainly in the mix to either start or play in three-receiver sets, but his June arrest on allegations that he stole a motor scooter on campus led to an indefinite suspension (he later reached a plea deal on two misdemeanor charges). Fisher allowed Wilson to travel to the season opener against Oklahoma State at Arlington, Texas, but made sure that the sophomore would only be standing and watching.

The one-game suspension was a wake-up call for Wilson.

"I think that really got to him and he understood that because we saw him wanting to get in there with those guys," Fisher said. "Bobo is a great young man. He just made a mistake and he has to learn from it and hopefully will."

Despite missing a game, Wilson is second on the team in receptions (17) and receiving yards (240 yards) and is tied with Greene for the team lead with three touchdown receptions. 

If Greene plays against Syracuse, expect to still see plenty of Wilson. But if Greene is held out, expect Winston to look toward Wilson frequently.

"I see him evolving as a young man, as a player, just learning all the details," Greene said. "He's understanding it. It's not hard to go out and get better at something, it's just the discipline part. Can you do it continuously, can you do it every day? He's doing a good job of doing it every day."

Pender Making Most of Chances

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After spending two years on campus without being able to play, losing the 2012 season due to a sports hernia injury and the 2013 season to academics, Pender was ready to fight for playing time and show off his speed.

Pender missed the N.C. State game with a concussion but leads the team in yards per carry (6.7). He's also been trusted on the goal line, scoring all three of his touchdowns from three yards or closer.

Williams talked to Pender earlier this week about being ready to take on more of the workload. He's had just 23 carries in four games, but Pender is set to receive more carries on Saturday.

"He said, 'You might be the man this week, so I'm going to need you to go,'" Pender said. "So I looked at him and told him, 'I got you. Like always. We've got each others back no matter what happens.'"

FSU's running game has struggled in 2014, but the Seminoles have been better the last two games. The Seminoles ran for 166 yards at N.C. State, accumulating most of that total in the second half. And FSU had 171 rushing yards last week in the win over Wake.

Pender had his best rushing day of the season against the Demon Deacons, breaking loose on a 56-yard run and scoring on a three-yard carry in the third quarter. He's learning to be more patient and is also benefitting from improved play from the offensive line.

"I'm making the right reads and being more patient instead of trying to make a play happen," Pender said. "Letting it come to you and letting it develop like that."

Like all the players, Pender said he hates to get more playing time because of injuries to teammates. But he knows it's his responsibility to step in and perform, while also helping to continue the team's pursuit of an ACC title and a national championship.

"Jimbo always talks about how much great depth we actually have, and we do have a ton of players that can play at each position," Pender said. "We try to work with what we've got and make it happen."

Bob Ferrante is the Florida State Lead Writer for Bleacher Report, all quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bob on Twitter. Stats are courtesy of seminoles.com. All recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports.