ABOVE VIDEO: Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher talks to the media following Thursday’s practice. (Florida State Seminoles Video)
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA (Seminoles.com) – The eighth ranked Florida State football team used Thursday’s practice inside the Albert J. Dunlap Athletic Training Facility to begin preparation for the 2015 season opener against Texas State.
“Typical Thursday,” Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher said.
“We’re trying to recuperate a little bit and get the basics of the game plan in. It’s got some basic fundamentals. We’ve got to look at a lot of film and get some things down. Texas State causes you a lot of problems. They do some things schematically that are really tough to go on. (They bring) a lot of different pressures and blitzes so we’ve got to get better.”
The Seminoles and Bobcats will square-off for the first time on Saturday, September 5 under the lights at Doak Campbell Stadium for an 8:00 p.m. kickoff in front of a national audience on ESPNews.
With so many positions up for grabs heading into next Saturday’s season opener, Fisher has been very pleased with the performance of junior defensive back Marquez White both on the defensive side of the ball as well as on special teams.
Fisher went as far to say after practice that White is in line to replace All-American Rashad Greene as the Seminoles’ starting punt returner.
Marquez White
“Right now, I think Marquez,” said Fisher on who the starting punt returner will be.
“He has phenomenal ball skills, he’s got wiggle. He can run, but he catches the ball. First and foremost as a punt return guy you’ve got to receive the ball. He’s got tremendous hands and judges the ball well. He gets to all of the punts so nothing hits the ground on him either.”
Fisher is also looking to replace four starters on the offensive line with Roderick Johnson the lone returner. Three of those starters (Cameron Erving – Cleveland, 1st Round; Tre’ Jackson – New England, 4th Round; Bobby Hart – New York Giants, 7th Round) were selected in the 2015 NFL Draft while Josue Matias was signed as a free agent by the Tennessee Titans.
Redshirt sophomore right guard Wilson Bell is one of those linemen that continues to make strides for the Seminoles in search of a starting role this year.
Wilson Bell
“Solid, physical, tough,” added Fisher on Bell. “(He) Cares; a leader. He’s been very dependable; very dependable – big physical guy.”
FSU enters the 2015 season opener against Texas State winners of 24 consecutive regular-season games and is 52-16 all-time in season openers including 5-0 under Fisher.
Seminole Uprising
The official kick-off to the 2015 season occurred inside Dick Howser Stadium on Thursday evening at Seminole Uprising. The event, open to the public and FSU students, featured head coach Jimbo Fisher, the 2015-16 Seminole football team, the Marching Chiefs, FSU Cheerleaders and several members of FSU’s varsity sponsored sports.
Aguayo, Ramsey Named All-American by SI
Roberto Aguayo and Jalen Ramsey added to their preseason accolades this week earning Preseason All-America honors from SI.com. Ramsey was recognized as a first team cornerback while Aguayo was named the first team kicker.
