EARLY BIRD 2006 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED THANKSGIVING 2005
FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES
OFFENSE - 7
------RETURNING STARTERS------
DEFENSE - 4
KEY LOSSES
OFFENSE: James Coleman-FB, Leon Washington-TB, Willie Reid-WR, Matt Henshaw-TE, Donnie Carter-TE, David Castillo-C, Matt Meinrod-OG
DEFENSE: Brodrick Bunkley-NG, Kamerion Wimbley-DE, A.J. Nicholson-WLB, Marcello Church-WLB, Gerard Ross-CB, Kyler Hall-ROV, Pat Watkins-FS, Chris Hall-P, Ernie Sims-SLB (NFL), Antonio Cromartie-CB (NFL)
Receiver

Quality veterans combine with an ample supply of top rated youngsters to give FSU the deepest pool of talent in the ACC.

Offensive Line

Yes, there are some starters back this time around. But this was one of the worst OLs in the ACC. Injuries crushed this unit in 2005.

WR Chris Davis
 
LB Ernie Sims
 

* DEPTH CHARTS were only designed as a simplistic gauge for listing players that departed and players that received the most playing experience (consistent starters). NationalChamps.net recognizes the importance of missing personnel data not listed such as redshirts, transfers, injuries, incoming recruits, back ups and alternates. Their coverage will begin with our full 2006 Preseason Preview due out this coming spring.
FLORIDA STATE 2006 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
OFFENSE
QB Drew Weatherford-So Xavier Lee-So
FB .. ..
TB Lorenzo Booker-Sr Antone Smith-So
WR De'Cody Fagg-Jr Greg Carr-So / Fred Rouse-So
WR Chris Davis-Sr Kenny O'Neal-So
TE .. ..
OT Cory Niblock-Sr ..
OG Jacky Claude-Jr ..
C .. ..
OG John Frady-Jr Cornelius Lewis-So
OT David Overmyer-So ..
K Gary Cismesia-Jr ..
DEFENSE
DE Alex Boston-Jr Darrell Burston-Sr
DT Andre Fluellen-Jr ..
NG Emmanuel Dunbar-So ..
DE D.J. Norris-Jr ..
SLB Lawrence Timmons-Jr ..
MLB Buster Davis-Sr Sam McGrew-Sr
WLB Geno Hayes-So ..
CB Tony Carter-So Michael Ray Garvin-So
CB J.R. Bryant-Jr ..
ROV Darius McClure-So ..
FS Roger Williams-Jr Kenny Ingram-So
P .. ..
QUICK ANALYSIS

Did an unknown hurricane hit Tallahassee? How does this much talent look so poor? The answer comes in multiple forms. The first is by injury. Upwards of 12 starters were sidelined through 2005, making a preseason No. 14 team finish unranked. The good news is that some of the walking wounded should return, including ’05 preseason all-American CB Antonio Cromartie. FSU constantly garners high ratings for its recruiting catch of five-star RBs and WRs, as evidenced in this class of sophomore receivers. Greg Carr and Fred Rouse are some of the more athletic pass catchers in the ACC and some upperclassmen talents join them. While the recruiting staff has concentrated on loading up at the skill positions, they have ignored the OL. The results have been devastating. If healthy, the returnees do have experience, but the prognosis is still a far cry from righting the ship. Drew Weatherford appears to be the future at QB, which is promising. Unfortunately, rumors that top-rated Xavier Lee is transferring will result. Although highly touted TB Lorenzo Booker may stick around for his senior season, he doesn't have the blocking up front to push enough so that his small body gets through the line of scrimmage. Thus, FSU remains one-dimensional and easily dissected. Look for the younger Antone Smith to again make this a TB by committee. Defensively, the Noles are sure to improve with the secondary no longer relying on freshman. Questions abound at safety, however, as new faces fill the gaps. Linebacker is where FSU will continue to excel with so many able bodies, especially if Ernie Sims returns for another season. The biggest problem outside of injury has been a stale offense. It took Joe Paterno losing four out of five seasons to realize he had to make some changes to get his skill players involved. Make no mistake - Bobby Bowden has the talent, as does any school in the sunshine state. But unless a complete overhaul of the offense is completed, don't expect FSU to see the light of a top ten ranking.

 

2006 SCHEDULE

9-9 Troy
11-25 Florida
Western Michigan
Rice
@ Maryland
Clemson
Wake Forest
@ North Carolina State
Boston College
Virginia
@ Duke
@ Miami FL