Anticipation for the 2015 season is building for Florida State after an exciting spring game on Saturday. The Gold team managed to take down the Garnet 38-17, but for a number of players on both sides, the intrasquad contest served as an opportunity to make a name for themselves. Here is a look at five players who had breakout performances on Saturday:
Lorenzo Featherston, DE
At 6’7″ and 230 pounds, Lorenzo Featherston may be part of the answer toward fixing a pass rush that struggled a season ago. For the Garnet team on Saturday, Featherston was near unstoppable, finishing with six tackles, three for loss and a pair of sacks. Replacing Mario Edwards Jr. and Eddie Goldman on the defensive line won’t be easy, but Featherston is a more pure pass-rusher and could be a real asset against mobile ACC quarterbacks like Deshaun Watson, Jacoby Brissett and Justin Thomas.
J.J. Consentino and De’Andre Johnson, QB
It’s hard to mention one without the other as both freshman quarterbacks shined on Saturday. While Sean Maguire came in as the clear favorite, that edge may have shrunk thanks to the play of De’Andre Johnson and J.J. Consentino. The two young FSU quarterbacks combined to go 15-for-22 passing with 332 yards and three touchdown tosses without an interception.
Ja’Vonn Harrison, WR
A largely overlooked member of a talented young receiving corps, Ja’Vonn Harrison shined for the Garnet team on Saturday. Playing mostly with the first team, Harrison finished with 5 receptions for 94 yards including a long of 36. Big things are expected this year of Travis Rudolph and Ermon Lane, but Harrison is shaping up to be a very capable compliment.
Trey Marshall, S
Playing in Jalen Ramsey’s old star position, sophomore Trey Marshall looked a lot like Ramsey on Saturday as the 6’0″ defensive back was all over the field. With most of his reps coming in the first half, Marshall recorded a game-high 10 tackles and a sack. Marshall came on late for the Seminoles last season and looked to be picking up where he left off for the Gold in Saturday’s spring game.
Mavin Saunders, TE
The mystery as to who will replace John Mackey Award winner Nick O’Leary at tight end may have been solved on Saturday. Playing for the Gold team, Mavin Saunders pulled down a team-high 6 receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown. Saunders was thought to be in competition with Ryan Izzo, Jeremy Kerr and incoming freshman Jalen Wilkerson, but Saturday’s performance in the spring game may have put that race to rest.
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