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FLORIDA STATE
SEMINOLES
No one doubts
Bobby Bowden is a great coach, one of the best ever. He's taken his last
two teams to the BCS National Championship game. But if Bowden is able
to do it again, it may be one of his best coaching jobs to date. The talent
is not depleted but it is inexperienced. Going into the summer, there is
no clear QB, no top RB and a hodge podge of players who haven't done a
whole lot in previous years. The defense has a lot of players in the NFL
which means that there are holes to fill. It won't be easy for Bowden but
many caoches would kill for the group of athletes he puts out there each
week.
PLAYERS
TO WATCH
| Chris Weinke is gone and he leaves behind a lot of confusion at QB. So. Chris Rix goes in as the favorite. A prized recruit last season, it will be his job to lose. Once fall comes around he'll get some competition from Adrian McPherson and Joe Mauer, two big time freshmen. McPherson is a tall lanky athlete in the Donovan McNabb mold. Mauer, also a top baseball recruit, is the classic dropback passer. To make matters complicated even further, WR Anquan Boldin will get his reps at QB where he was a top prep star. Boldin's sub 4.4 speed makes him an intriguing possibility but it won't be easy for any of the four to take over the reigns. With Boldin playing QB, Atrews Bell and Javon Walker enter as the top two WRs. Both have good size and decent speed but have been inconsistent catching the ball. Depth may be a problem but incoming recruits Craphonso Thorpe and PK Sam should help. At RB, big bruising So. Greg Jones will be the man for now. His style is unlike the recent Seminole runners like Travis Minor and Warrick Dunn. In the fall, another big back Fr. Eric Shelton (6'3, 235) arrives. The offensive line lost two tackles but Brett Williams is a great player to rebuild around. The TE spot is up for grabs. On defense, Darnell Dockett is looking to anchor the line at DT. He'll be joined by Jeff Womble and they should be fine. At DE, who will be next in this great tradition. So. Travis Johnson looks like he will be. At 6'5, 240, Johnson is a fierce pass rusher and is every bit the athlete Jamal Reynolds was. At the other DE, watch out for Fr. Chauncey Davis. The loss of DeVaughn Darling was not only tragic, but it did hurt the team. Darling was scheduled to start. Now auditions will begin. Kendyll Pope was the talk of spring ball last year and may step it up. Peter Boulware's brother Michael may get a look. In the secondary, Chris Hope returns at Safety but he's the only veteran. Talented Sophs Bryant McFadden and Yohance Buchanan will be counted on. In the fall, Ahmad Carrol, Gerard Ross and Dominic Robinson all bring big time ability. Robinson has already been dubbed the next Deion and Carroll was a teammate of Buchanan's in high school. On special teams, Freshman PK Xavier Benita is being counted on to revive a kicking game which was horrible last season. Look for Boldin or Freshman Willie Reid on returns. | 
Anquan Boldin
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