Florida State Football: Star Freshmen Hold Key to Seminoles Repeating

Going into the 2014 season, the view of Florida State's offense was that it would be led by a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback who would drop back to pass behind a senior-laden offensive line and throw to a senior receiver (Rashad Greene) or senior tight end (Nick O'Leary). And that Jameis Winston would hand off to a senior tailback (Karlos Williams).

But even on an offense that starts seven seniors, it's been three true freshmen who have helped make the offense move the chains and put points on the scoreboard—and the reason why FSU is in position to repeat as national champion.

Tailback Dalvin Cook and wide receivers Travis Rudolph and Ermon Lane have been essential pieces of a Seminoles offense that is 14th in scoring offense (38.4 points per game) in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

"They need to emerge for a bunch of reasons: One, to give quality rest behind your experienced guys," FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher said. "Two, to provide those explosive plays when they have that kind of athleticism. And three, those guys are emerging into big-time players when you give them more and more reps."

Cook, Rudolph and Lane accounted for 28 second-half points in FSU's 42-31 comeback win over Louisville last week.

Let's take a look at the three true freshmen and their contributions so far in 2014:

Dalvin Cook

Stats: 68 carries, 380 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Analysis: A 5-star prospect from Miami who was Florida's Mr. Football in 2013, Cook is second on the team in rushes, rushing yards and rushing TDs. He had TD runs against The Citadel and at North Carolina State but had a breakout game on Oct. 11 at Syracuse.

With senior Karlos Williams (ankle) out for the game, sophomore Mario Pender got the start and had a pair of first-half TDs against the Orange. But then Pender went down with an ankle injury, and Fisher kept handing it off to Cook. He had 23 carries for 122 yards and a seven-yard touchdown vs. Syracuse.

Cook struggled against Notre Dame, with 12 carries for 20 yards, but he used the bye week to rest up and was effective against a Louisville defense that at the time had the nation's No. 1 rushing defense. Cook ripped off TD runs of 40 and 38 yards vs. Louisville, finishing with 110 rushing yards and four crucial receptions for 40 yards.

What's to come: Fisher is pleased with the improving ground game, and Pender appears to be healed now, so the backfield is crowded with three tailbacks. But expect Cook to get plenty of carries. And in 2015, Williams will have graduated, and Cook and Pender will provide a strong 1-2 punch.

Travis Rudolph

Timothy D. Easley/Associated Press

Stats: 19 receptions, 308 yards, 3 touchdowns.

Analysis: A 5-star prospect from West Palm Beach, Florida, Rudolph had a leg injury that slowed him over the summer, but he is healthy now and has three touchdown receptions in his last four games. He has just 19 receptions, fourth on the team, but all of them have come in the last five games.

Rudolph put together back-to-back six-catch games in wins over Syracuse and Notre Dame. He broke free in the secondary for an all-too-easy 68-yard touchdown pass from Jameis Winston vs. Louisville.

What's to come: FSU has found the complement to Greene by using him in three-receiver sets with Bobo Wilson and Rudolph. Greene is a senior and will be a huge loss. But 2015 looks good with Wilson and Rudolph anchoring the receiving corps.

Ermon Lane

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Stats: 7 receptions, 165 yards, 1 touchdown.

Analysis: A 5-star prospect from Homestead, Florida, Lane has had trouble getting playing time in a crowded receiving corps. But he has played in every game and had two catches for 70 yards in a win over Wake Forest on Oct. 4.

Lane had a quiet few games before grabbing a fourth-quarter pass from Winston against Louisville and turning upfield for a 47-yard touchdown. 

What's to come: At 6'3'', Lane is FSU's tallest receiver (Isaiah Jones is 6'4'' but is academically ineligible in 2014). Lane is fast and a good over-the-middle target. He will continue to use his height to his advantage against smaller defensive backs and should have a productive season that could launch him into 2015, when he will also see more playing time with the graduation of Greene.

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