2009 College Football Preview: No. 23 Florida State

Florida State comes in at No. 23 in my preseason rankings of the best teams in the country.

Junior Rodney Hudson could go down as one of the best guards in school history by the time he finishes his career. Last season, Hudson was named the ACC offensive lineman of the week three times, more than anyone else. He also earned first-team All-ACC honors and heads into his junior season as a legitimate All-America candidate. Hudson posted a team-high 64 knockdowns last season and received the best or second-best grades of any lineman on the team in nine of FSU's 13 games.

Junior RB Tavares Pressley technically isn't a newcomer, but he still hasn't played a down in a Seminoles uniform. Pressley, a transfer from El Camino (Calif.) Community College, arrived at Florida State last season amid high expectations, but he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and didn't play. He is expected to return this season and could develop into a big part of FSU's resurgent rushing attack. Pressley probably won't be the No. 1 tailback, but Florida State coordinator Jimbo Fisher likes to have multiple backs share carries.

This time a year ago, the line was seen as the unit holding Florida State back from serious ACC title contention. Now the Seminoles boast arguably the best line in the conference. FSU posted its best rushing statistics since 2000 despite starting three true freshmen on the line.

Senior CB Patrick Robinson  has seven career interceptions. Although he picked off just one pass last season, Robinson followed that up with an exceptional spring performance. If he builds on the momentum he established this spring, Robinson could emerge as one of the nation's top cover corners this fall. Of course, that assumes somebody will actually throw the ball in his direction. Robinson is the only proven cornerback on the roster, so opposing quarterbacks likely will try to avoid his side of the field. Robinson is the only returning starter in the secondary, and it's extremely likely true freshmen see time at safety.

True freshman T Jacobbi McDaniel  arrives on campus as the No. 15 overall prospect in the nation. The 6-foot McDaniel is shorter than the typical defensive tackle, but it's hard to argue with his production. McDaniel had 22 sacks in his last two seasons at powerhouse Madison (Fla.) Madison County High. Don't be surprised if he earns immediate playing time.

Florida State received plenty of criticism last year for opening the season with two FCS programs, but nobody can gripe about the Seminoles' 2009 schedule. Florida State does have one FCS opponent (Jacksonville State), but the Seminoles play host to USF and travel to BYU and Florida in their other three non-conference games.

Miami undoubtedly will be much more of a season-opening test than Western Carolina, a team the Seminoles drubbed 69-0 to start the 2008 campaign. Back-to-back trips to Clemson and Wake Forest in November could determine whether the Seminoles win the Atlantic Division. FSU won't play two-time defending ACC champion Virginia Tech unless they meet in the conference title game.

Slowly but surely, FSU seems headed back in the right direction. But the Seminoles' record this season might not reflect their progress. The schedule is so much tougher this season that they could have a better team but a worse record. Ponder needs to develop into a better passer, and the Seminoles must hope they have adequate replacements for Brown on defense and for Gano on special teams.

The Seminoles have too many holes on their depth chart and too many potential pitfalls on their schedule to earn a BCS bid this season. Florida State probably is good enough to win the Atlantic Division, but the Seminoles don't appear as strong as Coastal Division contenders Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech. Expect to see the Seminoles in either the Chick-fil-A Bowl or the Gator Bowl after they lose in the ACC championship game.

A year ago the talk of those practices was whether Drew Weatherford could hold off his younger competition. Christian Ponder, who took over that spot, enters this week’s practices with a wide gap in experience over redshirt freshman E.J. Manuel, who also missed spring practice because of a finger injury.

Linebacker Dekoda Watson and offensive guard Rodney Hudson were named to the preseason All-ACC First Team.

All info for this article was taken from Rivals.com and ESPN.com