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DEL.ICIO.USFSU lands top target
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Hoping to fill needs across the board, Florida State landed the quarterback it coveted and a half-dozen offensive linemen Wednesday in its initial recruiting class since the school named a successor-in-waiting to coach Bobby Bowden.
With quarterback Drew Weatherford embarking upon his senior season and Xavier Lee gone, the Seminoles landed quarterback E.J. Manuel from Virginia Beach, Va., who is considered an ideal prospect to run future coach Jimbo Fisher’s offense.
The 6-4, 200-pound Manuel threw for nearly 7,400 yards and 68 touchdowns in his high school career.
“He has all the tools,” Fisher said. “If he’s the best player, he’ll play.”
Florida State’s recruiting class was ranked among the best 10 nationally by several recruiting analysts and as high as fifth by Scout.com. ACC rivals Miami and Clemson also ranked high nationally.
“It’s a group I don’t think we could afford to swap with anybody in the country,” said Bowden, who compared the recruiting process with an Easter egg hunt. “This year the basket is full.”
Florida State, which won a national-best 109 games and two national championships in the 1990’s, has been a mediocre 22-17 the past three seasons — the worst of Bowden’s storied coaching career.
Much of it has been due to a sputtering offense, which frustrated fans and led to Fisher’s arrival a year ago as offensive coordinator.
And offense got plenty of attention in Wednesday’s signing class that included five running backs and three wide receivers to shore up the Seminoles’ thin group of skill players.
The cadre of new running backs includes Tavares Pressley, considered among the best junior college runner in the nation. The 215-pound Arcadia product played quarterback in high school before moving to tailback where he ran for 832 yards and 11 touchdowns last fall at El Camino (Calif.) Community College.
His teammate at El Camino, 6-foot-5 receiver Corey Surrency from Miami, didn’t play high school football but was discovered in a sandlot pickup game.
“Corey’s special,” Fisher said. “I think this guy is a heckuva football player.”
Offensive line coach Rick Trickett landed some potential help as well with six signees, including 6-foot-5, 270-pound Zebrie Sanders, an Eagle Scout and honor student from Northmont High School in Clayton, Ohio. Sanders also plays the viola in the school’s chamber orchestra.
Defensively, the Seminoles didn’t go far from home to get a top linebacker — 6-foot-2, 225-pound Nigel Bradham from Wakulla — and a top defensive tackle in 270-pound Moses McCray from Tampa Hillsborough.
Florida State signed players from Alabama, Georgia, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia.
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By Nick
February 7, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this
National Champs 09’ !!!!!!
By Bam-Bam
February 13, 2008 8:00 PM | Link to this
I really hope this is the year for the NOLES. I’ve been a die hard fan since the days of Danny Mcmanus. Watching them over the past years has been frustrating. When you get used to them just dominating there opponent you get spoiled and have to realize you can’t be on top forever. I feel that there has been a lack of consistent player makers at receiver that they had year after year. As I stated before the QB position makes me pull my hair and I’m bald headed. The OL play has been sporadic and inconsistent. For the ones who really know (offensive) football I played OL and coach high school OL if you don’t have the earth movers and tacticians up front I dont care what you run it’s not going to happen. I really wonder if Fisher the answer? Bobby Bowden still da man!!
By Nupester
February 14, 2008 2:19 AM | Link to this
We are past due Noles. It sucks not to beon top. I hope this year is our year. Bobby is getting old.
By Nupester
February 14, 2008 2:19 AM | Link to this
We are past due Noles. It sucks not to beon top. I hope this year is our year. Bobby is getting old.