Florida State Football: 5 Surprises So Far This Season

Coming into the season, the Florida State Seminoles were a trendy pick to win the ACC and potentially compete for a BCS national championship.

The status of their program would be defined by how they fare against top-ranked Oklahoma, a team who embarrassed them on a national stage a year ago, in the third week of the season.

The ‘Noles would fall to the Sooners 23-13 in a hard-fought, defensive struggle that would not ultimately be decided until the waning moments.

However, the consensus amongst the media was that the Seminoles were headed in the right direction and still looked like a strong favorite to take the ACC crown.

After a last-minute loss at Clemson, Florida State finds itself coping with numerous injuries, dashed national title dreams, and the stark reality that most fans around the country now view this Seminoles team much in the same vein as they have during the last decade of mediocrity. 

Still, all hope is not lost for Jimbo Fisher’s troops. 

A favorable schedule lies ahead, which should allow them a chance to reappear in the top 10 before season’s end. 

Despite their record not being where they wanted it to be, there are several bright spots for Seminoles fans to find solace in.

Here are 5 such surprises thus far:

5. Wide Receiver Unit

Last year, one of the biggest criticisms of the Florida State offense was the inconsistency issues plaguing the receiving unit from week to week. 

Combine that with the injury bug hitting starters Bert Reed, Willie Haulstead and key contributors Scooter Haggins and Kenny Shaw, this battered group of ‘Noles pass catchers has made a remarkable turnaround under receivers coach Lawrence Dawsey.

Shaw, Christian Green, and freshman sensation Rashad Greene (more on him later) have teamed with veteran Rodney Smith to give the ‘Noles solid production despite their injuries and playing with two different quarterbacks.  

4. Freshmen Contributions

Florida State brought in a banner 2011 recruiting class loaded with elite talent across the board. 

Several of the headliners of the class have made an impact only one month into their college careers. 

Despite the presence of five-star standouts Karlos Williams, James Wilder, Jr., and Nick O’Leary amongst others, the biggest star of the class has been the aforementioned Rashad Greene. 

Through four games, the uber-talented Greene is the Seminoles leading receiver with team highs in yards (294), touchdowns (5), and yards per catch (21). 

On the defensive side of the ball, defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan has played extremely well and found himself playing extended minutes in crunch time against both Oklahoma and Clemson. 

O’Leary looks to be in a great position to become the starter at tight end for the rest of the season after supplanting senior Beau Reliford against Clemson.  

3. Lamarcus Joyner

The 2009 USA Today Defensive High School Player of the Year arrived in Tallahassee amid much fanfare. 

During his freshman season, Joyner played cornerback but with a crowded depth chart hindering him and his immense talent too great to waste on the sidelines, Joyner readily accepted a move to safety in the offseason and promptly locked down a starting spot despite both starters from a year ago returning. 

Joyner was outstanding in the loss against top-ranked Oklahoma when he recorded his second interception of the season, and caused another turnover when he hit Sooners quarterback Landry Jones on a blitz which forced an errant throw that would be picked by linebacker Nigel Bradham. 

Although he struggled last week against Clemson, look for him to thrive in his new home and emerge as one of the Seminoles best play makers on defense this season and beyond.

2. Bjoern Werner

Coming into the season, Florida State’s opponents knew all about All-American defensive end Brandon Jenkins. 

When offensive coordinators study tape of the Seminoles going forward, they will undoubtedly shudder at the thought of facing he and Werner.

The German-born Werner impressed last season as a true freshman, and announced his presence on the national scene with a dominant performance in the loss to Oklahoma, for which he was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week. 

Werner has 12 tackles and two sacks on the season so far, and an impressive fumble/interception return that he took back for a touchdown in last week’s loss at Clemson. 

Regardless of how the rest of the season plays out, the Seminoles should be able to hang their hats on one of the nation’s best defensive-end tandems.  

1. Clint Trickett

Honestly, no one expected the son of offensive line coach Rick Trickett to contribute in a huge way this season.

Junior EJ Manuel had patiently waited for Christian Ponder to graduate and was supposed to take the reigns as the leader of the Seminoles this season.

After Manuel went down with a shoulder injury in the third quarter of the Oklahoma loss, the 6-foot-2, 180 pound redshirt freshman stepped up and played well considering his circumstances entering the game.

Last weekend, he made his first start at Clemson and put together a gutty performance (24-of-36, 336 yards, 3 touchdowns) that earned him recognition as the ACC rookie of the week. 

Regardless of what happens through the remainder of the season, Trickett has proven himself to be more than capable of leading this team in the future.