One thing you can bet on this season, the only second place finish the Florida State Seminoles will contend for will be Fiesta Bowl runner-up in the BCS Championship game. With 17 returning starters, the return of 2000 starting wide receivers Anquan Boldin and Robert Morgan who both missed all of 2001 with injuries, plus one of the top recruiting classes in the nation loaded with no less than six Parade All-Americans, Bobby Bowden and Company are poised to make their 6 trip to the "National Title" game in 10 years.

Offense

When you look up offense in the dictionary there is a picture of the Florida State playbook. The Noles are about offense. Over the last seven years, the Seminoles have average 37.9 points per game and have never been at a loss for great quarterbacks. So following a 43-7 thrashing of Virginia, it was interesting to hear Coach Bowden in the post game interview talk about replacing his freshman quarterback Chris Rix (So. 6-4, 210). But looking at the statistics, you start to recognize the reasons for the legendary coaches concern. Following the Virginia game, for the season, Rix was 72-134 (53%), averaging 210 yards passing per game and had thrown almost as many interceptions (8) has touchdowns (9). Apparently the talk of being replaced got Rix attention. The following week at Maryland, the freshman completed 15 0f 24 passes for 350 yards and 5 touchdowns. He ended the season completing 105 of 177 passes (60%), throwing 17 touchdown passes compared to only 6 interceptions and averaged 299 yards per game, including four 300-yard games. For his efforts, Rix was named ACC Freshman of the Year and Sporting News Freshman All-American quarterback. He set an ACC record for freshmen with 3,123 yards of total offense, led the ACC in passing efficiency with a 156.6 mark and ranked eighth nationally. He was the ACC's second leading passer in yards per game with an average of 248.5 and was also second in the league in total offense behind Clemson's Woodrow Dantzler and 12th nationally. Rix finished the season third on the team in rushing and topped Charlie Ward's 339 rushing yards accumulated during his Heisman Trophy season of 1993. He set an FSU freshmen record by becoming the first Seminole to pass for over 2,500 yards during his first season and, in fact, is the first Seminole ever to throw for over 2,500 before his junior season. There is no quarterback controversy in Tallahassee.

Florida State is not only blessed with an exceptional talent at quarterback, they are also loaded with solid running backs. Greg Jones (Jr. 6-1, 243) is Florida State's leading returning rusher from 2001 where he gained 713 rushing yards on 134 carries for an average of 5.3 yards per carry. Jones scored a team-high six touchdowns on the ground and gained over 100 yards against Virginia (107 on 18 carries) in the game in Charlottesville. In addition to Jones, the Noles also have the teams' second leading returning receiver from 2001 in the backfield in Nick Maddox (Sr. 6-0, 200). Maddox started all but the NC State game at tailback for the Seminoles as a junior last year and was FSU's second leading rusher with 438 yards on 98 carries (4.5 ypc) and scored three touchdowns on the ground. An excellent receiver, Maddox finished the year as the team's fourth leading receiver with 26 catches for 262 yards and one touchdown.

In 17 seasons coaching the FSU offensive line, coach Jimmy Heggins never tires of returning 5 offensive line starters from the previous season. Chris Rix should get plenty of time to shred more conference and school records and Greg Jones and Nick Maddox should find plenty of running room behind a line that averages 6-4, 312 pounds across the front.

Milford Brown (Sr. 6-4, 319) will return to the starting guard position he manned in 2001. One of four offensive lineman to start all 12 games for FSU last season, Brown was second on the team with 45 pancake blocks and graded out at 82% or higher in 8 of his 11 regular season starts. At the other guard position is Montrae Holland (Sr. 6-3, 325). The second team All-ACC selection started every game last season at the tight guard position and returns along with the rest of the offensive line from 2001. Holland was among the team leaders in pancake blocks with 32, allowed only two sacks and graded out a season-high 96 percent against Florida and 93 percent against Virginia. Antoine Mirambeau (Sr. 6-4, 285) started every game at center for Florida State last season and allowed just one sack while not allowing a single quarterback pressure all year. Mirambeau is an outstanding athlete with tremendous footwork who was moved to the defensive front before moving back to the offensive line during his sophomore year. Todd Williams (Sr. 6-6, 315) returns at one tackle spot for Florida State this season. The versatile Williams started every game at tight tackle in 2001 before moving to split tackle against Florida after All-ACC first team selection Brett Williams was injured. Williams had an average grade of 84% for the season. At the other tackle position is the man voted the ACC's Top Blocker by league coaches when he received the Jacob's Blocking Trophy as a junior last year, Brett Williams (Sr. 6-6, 317). A dominating offensive tackle that has started in each of his three years at Florida State, Williams was named to the All-ACC first team after being voted to the league's second team as a freshman and sophomore. The senior tackle had one of the most impressive seasons ever for a Seminole offensive lineman in 200 when he led the team in the three major offensive line categories: a season grade of 91%, 48 total intimidations (pancakes) and 30 key blocks. Williams was named ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week following FSU's win over Virginia after grading out at 94%. According to Coach Bobby Bowden, "If you're going to put pressure on a specific group and tell them they've got to be the guys that lead us, then the offensive line is the one you'd like to have go out and do it. If they block people, everybody can run the football and everybody can throw the football. Blocking is such a key. I think how far we go offensively this year will rest in the hands of those offensive linemen."

Last season Seminoles Offensive Coordinator and wide receiver coach Jeff Bowden was without the services of playmakers Anquan Boldin (Jr. 6-2, 205) and Robert Morgan (Sr. 6-0, 180), a duo that combined for 60 catches for 1030 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2000. They're back though limited to non-contact drills along with the Noles second leading receiver and scorer from 2001 Talman Gardner (Sr. 6-2, 205) who finished the year with 33 receptions for 649 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Defense

From 1994-1999, the FSU defense held opponents to an average of 17.5 points per game. Over the last two seasons, the Noles defense has been uncharacteristically giving in the points allowed department giving up 26.4 in 2000 and 26.1 in 2001. According to College Football.com, "You could see the swagger start to return to the defense as the season went on last year and now could be back to its old form. The tackles and corners are outstanding while Kendyll Pope and Michael Boulware are two of the ACC's better linebackers." The problems with the Florida State defense may be no more evident than in the fact that the Seminole defense finished the 2001 season with 15 sacks (tied with Duke for last in the ACC), the lowest total since this statistic started being recorded (1977). The popular Seminole website Warchant.com noted, "When you consider that Peter Boulware, by himself, racked up 19 sacks in a single season there is room for major improvement in 2002. If spring practice is any indication the Seminole pass rush should be back in force this season. If the sack attack is to return to Tallahassee look for senior Alonzo Jackson (6-4, 255 - 5 sacks in 2001) to lead the charge." In an interview with Warchant.com, Jackson commented that "last year we were working on a whole lot of base defenses and stopping the run, stopping this and that. Right now every day we are working on at least three or four drills for the pass rush."

Never at a loss for quality defensive lineman, the 2002 edition of the Seminoles are no different. Living up to his 1999 ranking by Phil Steele's College Football Preview as the number one interior lineman coming out of high school is tackle Darnell Dockett (Jr. 6-4, 285). As a sophomore, Dockett, a first team All-ACC selection, was regarded as one of the top interior defensive linemen in the country as he started all 12 games at defensive tackle last season for the Noles and has started 22 in a row dating back to the final 10 games of 2000. Dockett set a Florida State single season record with 22 tackles for loss last season and was the top tackler among Seminole defensive linemen with 68 total stops. He also led the team with 19 quarterback hurries. Helping to clog up the middle at the nose guard position is Jeff Womble (Jr. 6-3, 290). A two-year starter for the Seminoles at noseguard, Womble combines with Dockett to give FSU one of the top interior defensive line combinations in the nation. Womble finished ninth on the team and second among defensive linemen with 37 total tackles in 2001 including five tackles for loss, three quarterback hurries and one forced fumble.

Look for Kevin Emanuel (Jr. 6-4, 258) to start at one defensive end position for the Seminoles. One of the four returning starters along the defensive front for the Seminoles in 2002, Emanuel started the last seven games of the 2001 season and all but two on the year, seeing action in all 12 games where he was third among defensive linemen with 36 total tackles. He also finished fourth on team with seven tackles for loss. Jackson, who started 10 games last season at defensive end, missing the Miami and Virginia games with a sprained knee, will man the other defensive end position. Jackson led the team with five quarterback sacks and ranked second with 16 hurries. The 2001 All-ACC honorable mention performer finished the season with 33 total tackles and tied for second on the team with eight tackles for loss.

The Seminole linebacking trio is led by the teams 2nd leading tackler from a year ago Michael Boulware (Jr. 6-3, 214). Voted honorable mention All-Conference last season, Boulware was responsible for 81 tackles good enough for 4th overall and 3 interceptions that tied for the team lead and was 3rd most in the conference. Likely filling one of the other linebacker spots is Jerel Hudson (Sr. 6-3, 277). Hudson stepped in as the starter at middle linebacker for the last two games of the season and saw action in all 12 games in 2001. Accounted for 38 tackles in 2001, good enough for 8th on the team, including 2 tackles for loss. Kendyll Pope (Jr. 6-2, 217) will return to his starting position at weakside linebacker where he received honorable mention All-ACC recognition as a sophomore last season. Pope who missed spring practice after under going surgery on both his shoulders started every game for the Seminoles in 2001 and has appeared in every game over the last two years. He finished second on the team in total tackles with 113 (52 unassisted and a team high 61 assisted tackles) and was fourth on the Nole defense with 7 tackles for loss.

Rufus Brown (Jr. 5-9, 183) returns at one corner for FSU Defensive Coordinator and secondary coach Mickey Andrews, now in his 18th season. Brown started seven of the final eight regular season games and then the Gator Bowl at right cornerback after beginning the season as the back up to Stanford Samuels. As a sophomore Brown ranked 15th on the team in tackles with a career-high 29 stops while adding 6 pass breakups and 2 interceptions. His 24 solo tackles were the ninth best among all Seminole defenders and he recorded a career-high six tackles and tied his career-high with three solo tackles in the Seminoles' victory over the Hoos. Competing for the left cornerback spot is a pair of returning starters from 2001 in juniors Stanford Samuels (5-10, 180) and Malcom Tatum (6-1, 175). Samuels started 11 of the Seminoles' 12 games last year at cornerback including seven of the final eight games of the season on the left side after starting the first four on the right side. His only non-start of the season came against Clemson during which he made six tackles coming off the bench. Samuels accounted for 40 tackles and 7 pass breakups in 2001. Tatum started the first three games of 2001 at the left corner position then suffered a fractured left hand against the Tar Heels and did not play against Wake Forest before returning to the lineup against Miami. Tatum also started against Clemson and NC State at the left corner position and closed the season as the backup at the spot. His 27 tackles and 6 pass breakups on the season were career-highs. Possibly had the game of the year against Virginia along with the FSU rest of the secondary who held All-ACC receiver Billy McMullen to one catch in the Hoos 43-7 loss to the Noles.

The biggest losses in the Florida State defense occurred at the rover and free safety positions where the Noles need to replace the tandem of Chris Hope and Abdual Howard that compiled 177 tackles last year, along with 4 interceptions and 15 pass breakups. The likely candidates to fill Hope's free safety spot are Kyler Hall (So. 6-1, 185) who played in 11 games last season and Yohance Buchanan (Jr. 6-1, 205). Sophomores Claudius Osei (6-0, 200) who saw action in 10 games in 2001 and Jerome Carter (6-0, 208) will be vying to take over at the rover spot vacated by Howard. Coach Bowden praised his defense saying, "I thought the defense had a good spring. The first scrimmage we had in the spring, it looked like our defense of old. They just shut down the offense completely." That's just what everyone else in the ACC needed to hear.

Special Teams

After a dreadful 2000 season in the place kicking area, Xavier Beitia (So. 5-10, 200) solidified the position in 2001 with a 2nd Team All-ACC performance as a true freshman. The 2002 All-American Candidate connected on 49-53 extra points and was 16-17 in the field goal department, leading the Noles in scoring with 83 points, becoming only the 6th freshman in school history to lead the team in scoring. Chance Gwaltney (Sr. 5-10, 175) returns to handle the punting chores for the Seminoles this fall after finishing the 2001 season with 40.1 seasonal average on 53 punts. Florida State would like to see some improvement in their 32.5 net punting averaging (8th in the league) from last season. Dominic Robinosn (So. 6-1, 192) and Maddox both should continue to handle the punt return duties for the Noles. The duo averaged 9.8 yards per return last season. Craphonso Thorpe (So. 6-2, 175) also returns to and will likely continue to handle the kick return chores as he did a year ago averaging 21.6 yards a return.

Final Thoughts

The Noles would like to improve on their return efforts from a year ago and with a couple of experienced sophomores handling the responsibilities will likely do so. Expect the biggest area of improvement however to be on the defensive side of the ball. A year ago the Noles were 5th in the league in scoring and total defense, 4th in rushing defense, 6th in passing defense and as already mentioned, last in the conference in sacks. With 8 starters and 30 lettermen returning with a bit of a chip on the their shoulder, the offense won't be the only thing garnering headlines in the Florida panhandle. We predict the Noles will win it all.

FSU - 38 Virginia - 17
2002 Prediction: 8-0 ACC, 12-1 Overall, Fiesta Bowl

Check out the bottom of the FSU Huddle for informative and interactive Florida State websites.
Find out more about the Noles @ Google Search.

Enter a City or US Zip: