For top-ranked Florida State, Saturday’s 43-3 victory over Wake Forest was the largest margin of victory for the Seminoles in 2014. Though FSU was again off to a slow start, it put together its most convincing victory of the season, thanks largely to a number of freshmen.
Along the defensive line for Florida State, two true freshmen were among the best players on the field as Wake Forest left Tallahassee without a touchdown for the fourth straight time.
Junior defensive end Mario Edwards Jr.’s return was certainly welcomed after missing the N.C. State game with a concussion. Edwards finished with three tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble, but the end opposite of Edwards had quite a day in his own right.
6’7″ freshman Lorenzo Featherston finished second on the team with seven total stops including 2.5 for loss and a fumble recovery.
Prior to the start of the season, Featherston was listed below 200 pounds, but has been able to put on weight. On Saturday, the true freshman was a mainstay in the Wake Forest backfield.
With defensive tackle Nile Lawrence-Stample done for the season and Derrick Mitchell missing Saturday’s contest, freshman Derrick Nnadi had the best game of his young career in FSU’s 40-point victory. With an extremely thin defensive interior, Nnadi totaled four stops with 1.5 coming for loss for a Florida State defense that held Wake Forest to just 126 total yards.
On the offensive side of the ball, running back Dalvin Cook had a very pedestrian day, but for the young receivers, Saturday served as a coming-out party.
After senior wide receiver Rashad Greene left the game with a concussion, the freshman tandem of Ermon Lane and Travis Rudolph immediately picked up the slack.
Entering the contest, the two had combined for just four catches for 77 yards. On Saturday, the freshman duo were the Seminoles’ top two receivers.
Lane and Rudolph each recorded 59-yard receptions with Rudolph’s going for a score. Lane led the Seminoles with two catches for 70 yards while Rudolph tied a game-high with four catches for 66 yards and the aforementioned touchdown.
Among the low-lights for Florida State on Saturday was the loss of senior center Austin Barron to an arm injury, but redshirt freshman Ryan Hoefeld served as a prominent contributor in the victory.
Hoefeld had his struggles snapping the ball to quarterback Jameis Winston, but played the majority of the snaps for an offensive line that paved the way for 171 yards rushing and 475 total yards against a Wake Forest defense that came in allowing just over 330 yards and 20 points-per-game.
Despite having to fight to earn victories this season, Florida State has nearly hit the midway point of the regular season unscathed. While depth at wide receiver looked to be a huge concern early in the year, the Seminoles’ highly-touted freshman tandem is coming into its own to make that unit look complete once again.
With an injury-depleted defensive line for Florida State, freshmen are beginning to fill in admirably. Derrick Nnadi and Lorenzo Featherston each played like seasoned veterans in Saturday’s victory over the Demon Deacons and should be major contributors down the stretch for FSU.
While the strong performances by so many freshmen on Saturday have the Seminoles looking forward to a very bright future, it has become apparent that the youngsters are going to be vital in helping Florida State win now. If Saturday’s 43-3 win over Wake Forest is any indication, that seems to be a challenge that they’re more than up for.
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