Florida State QB EJ Manuel’s performancee refutes critics

“EJ’s got thick skin,” Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said. “EJ’s been around this business. You’re the quarterback of a major program you have your ups and downs and you understand that. He understands very well.”

But how warranted is that criticism for a player who has been as solid on the field as he has been off since arriving in Tallahassee in 2008?

Here are a few numbers for the player some fans want replaced:

• Manuel is 19-5 as a starter, including being named MVP of the Gator Bowl as a freshman.

• Manuel remains the ACC’s all-time leader in career passing percentage, completing 67.7 percent and moving past Virginia’s Matt Schaub (67.0).

• Manuel leads the ACC and is fourth nationally this season in passing efficiency, having completed 132-of-183 for 1,804 yards, 14 touchdowns and four interceptions.

“There are so many things you like about him and yet I think he gets blamed in many ways for Florida State not taking that next step, not being consistent week in and week out, not delivering when the game is on the line at N.C. State,” said Brock Huard, the former Washington and NFL quarterback who has covered FSU’s last two games as an ESPN analyst.

Manuel, a 6-foot-5, 238-pound fifth-year senior, is somewhat of a mystery to NFL scouts who are trying to figure out his future. He’s listed anywhere from a low first-round pick to a third-rounder.

But those projections could fluctuate after scouts see Manuel in more pressurized/high profile situations, such as this week when Florida State plays a rivalry game at Miami in prime time (8 p.m.)

“They want to see these guys in adversity,” Huard said.

Manuel has had two of those situations this year and is 1-1. He led FSU back from a two-touchdown deficit in the second half against Clemson and failed to move the ball in the second half in a crushing loss at North Carolina State.

“What they’ll look at is Clemson in the second half and love it and N.C. State on the road and not so much,” Huard said.

Manuel’s clean delivery and ability to repeat his motion — along with a system that calls for a high number of short, underneath throws — will allow him to threaten Schaub’s record. The NCAA career record, though, of 70.4 percent, set by Hawaii’s Colt Brennan from 2005-07, appears out of reach.

Manuel, who is working on his master’s after graduating in in 3½ years, credits his efficiency to a clear understanding of Fisher’s offense.

“I always knew I could throw, that’s never been a question in my mind,” said Manuel, who was named the ACC’s player of the week on Monday after throwing for a career-high 439 yards in FSU’s 51-7 win over Boston College on Saturday.

“Understanding the offense, being more of a student of the game, understanding what the defenses are going to do, the pre-snap looks. … Even if they try to disguise, I still know what they are going to do.”

Fisher was the Seminoles’ offensive coordinator when he recruited Manuel out of Virginia Beach, Va. He always figured Manuel would master an offense, but wanted to see development in other areas.

“He’s really worked himself as a passer,” Fisher said. “He’s become a great footwork guy. Tall guys sometimes have a problem with that, with their balance. He has great athleticism and changed his throwing motion to help that.”

Huard said games like Saturday’s will be one scouts pay closer attention to even though Miami has allowed nearly 253 yards per game through the air. The atmosphere will be charged and the Hurricanes still have great athletes chasing the ball.

And Miami coach Al Golden, who has seen Boston College and N.C. State shred his defense for more than 400 yards this season, hopes this does not become a game that lands on Manuel’s highlight tape.

“He’s got length so he can see down the field and he’s got an arm to make all the throws and is a dual threat,” Golden said. “There’re a number of issues that he presents that you obviously have to game plan for and resolve. This is one of the best players we’ve seen so far this year.”