Tyler Hunter took over as Florida State’s punt returner Saturday and experienced both the exhilarating and frustrating parts of the job.
After Duke’s Will Monday shanked his first two punts out of bounds, Hunter received Monday’s third punt and returned it 75 yards for a first-quarter touchdown.
“When I caught it, I felt like I had to make something happen,” Hunter said. “I love it. Just knowing that I have a chance to do something with the ball in my hands excites me.”
On Saturday, Hunter returned five punts for 122 yards (a 24.4-yard average). But in the third quarter, Hunter set up deep in FSU’s end, misjudged the punt and Duke recovered.
“The one I muffed, I was just too laid back and the ball hit me in the facemask and bounced off,” Hunter said.
FSU coach Jimbo Fisher replaced Rashad Greene with Hunter in the days leading up to the Duke game in large part because of Green’s inconsistency in fielding punts. But he remains confident in Hunter.
“First job as a punt returner is not to return it, but to catch it,” Fisher said. “That’s what we got to remember and I think we got a little greedy. I still think he had a good day, but that’s inexcusable and we’ve got to get it fixed.”
Hunter, a freshman, was not a punt returner in high school and didn’t have the chance to return punts until preseason camp opened in August. His fellow high school teammate as Valdosta (Ga.) Lowndes, Greg Reid, was FSU’s starting punt returner but was dismissed from the team on Aug. 1.
FSU’s coaches gave Greene the first shot at returning punts. But despite Greene having two punt returns for a touchdown this season, the fumbles caused coaches to make a change.
Hunter said he talked with Reid Saturday morning, and his friend offered him some simple advice.
“He told me to focus on catching the ball and after that, just do what I know how to do,” Hunter said.
Hopkins closer to record: Dustin Hopkins made two field goals and six extra points Saturday, giving him 429 career points.
He has moved into third place on the Football Bowl Subdivision kicker scoring list, and Hopkins is closing in on Louisville’s Art Carmody (433) and Boise State’s Kyle Brotzman (439).
Hopkins’ 56-yard field goal, which was a career long, tied Sebastian Janikowski for the second-longest kick in school history. Gary Cismesia made a 60-yard field goal against Florida in 2007.
Hopkins’ 56-yarder also gave him an ACC-record 81 career field goals, surpassing former Maryland kicker Nick Novak.
“I’m honored by the whole thing because so many great kickers have come through the ACC,” Hopkins said.
Top five for EJ: EJ Manuel had 282 passing yards Saturday, moving him past Gary Huff (6,378 yards) and into fifth place on FSU's all-time list. Manuel now has 6,659 yards. Next up is his former teammate, Christian Ponder, who is fourth with 6,872 yards.
Hanging 10: James Wilder had a 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter, giving him 10 touchdowns this season. He became the first FSU rusher or receiver to have 10 touchdowns in a single season since Jermaine Thomas in 2009.
Containing Vernon: Duke receiver Conner Vernon will have to wait at least another week to break the ACC receiving record held by former FSU star Peter Warrick. Vernon was held to just three receptions for 12 yards, and the former Miami Gulliver Prep standout has 3,436 career yards. Warrick had 3,517 yards.
Homecoming turnaround: Jimbo Fisher had lost his first two homecoming games as FSU's head coach — 37-35 to North Carolina in 2010 and 14-13 to Virginia last year. Saturday's win makes FSU 52-12-1 all-time on homecoming.
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