Sep 14, 2013; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Rashad Greene (80) during the first half of the game against the Nevada Wolf Pack at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
One of the big question marks surrounding the defending champion Florida State Seminoles was the wide receiver position but it appears as the season draws near the team’s corps ready to role.
FSU lost its two primary receivers from last season as both Kelvin Benjamin and Kenny Shaw moved on to the NFL.
Benjamin was drafted by the Carolina Panthers 28th overall while Shaw is currently on the Jacksonville Jaguars roster. Last season, they combined for nearly 2,000 yards and had 21 touchdowns.
With that in mind, the Noles had some big production to replace but it appears that junior Rashad Greene and senior Christian Green will be the starting tandem, according to head coach Jimbo Fisher.
The rest of their corps includes Scooter Haggins, Kermit Whitfield, Bobo Wilson, Travis Rudolph, Ermon Lane and Ja’Vonn Harrison.
“I feel very comfortable with eight guys in that rotation right now,” Fisher told the St.Augustine Journal. “That’s not playing them all, but I’d feel very comfortable if they had to go into the football game.”
The team did have Isaiah Jones but he has been declared academically ineligible.
However, it appears as though Greene and Green will be relied on the most along with the senior Haggins. The team does also have stud tight end Nick O’Leary.
Last year Greene had 76 catches for 1,128 yards and nine touchdowns. Green had 13 grabs for 157 yards. No one else on the roster had a reception.
While it’s clear Jameis Winston will be looking to connect with Greene as much as possible, the Seminoles are going to need other wideouts to step up and make contributions all season long to take pressure off of the Winston-Green connection.
FSU go into the season as the preseason No.1 team. The Seminoles start their season on August 30 against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.