Six Things We Learned from FSU Spring Game

Florida State took to the field for a timed game on Saturday for the first time since winning the BCS National Championship and for the last time until the 2014 season opener against Oklahoma State. While the Garnet defeated the Gold 31-14 in the annual spring contest, there was much for the FSU program to feel good about. With the start of the regular season more than four months away, here are six things we learned from the Florida State spring game:

1. Jameis Winston is Human
It’s true. Jameis Winston is human. Yes, the same Jameis Winston that completed 93 percent of his passes in his first college start, shoved off three Boston College defenders before completing a Hail Mary pass, ran circles around Maryland’s defense and led Florida State from 18 points down to win the BCS National Championship. That Jameis Winston is human. In Saturday’s spring game, Winston passed for 396 yards, but on just 27-for-56 passing. Winston routinely forced throws into coverage and was fortunate to toss only one interception. While Winston appeared pedestrian for the Garnet squad on Saturday, it is worth noting that he threw a scoreless ninth to earn a save for the FSU baseball team less than 24 hours later.

2. The FSU Secondary Might Be Better
With cornerback Lamarcus Joyner and safety Terrence Brooks each gone from a team that led the nation in interceptions, one would think that Florida State may have a drop-off in the secondary. In Saturday’s spring game however, the FSU secondary had the look of one that could be even better in 2014. Although Winston passed for 396 yards against the starting defensive unit, it came on 56 pass attempts and with a completion percentage of less than 50. Coverage was tight all game long while Jalen Ramsey and P.J. Williams each made outstanding plays to force turnovers. The Seminoles will also have Tyler Hunter return from a neck injury suffered last September. The Florida State secondary’s stellar effort came without safety Nate Andrews — Florida State’s leader in interceptions last season — even suiting up.

3. Youth at Linebacker Shouldn’t Be an Issue
With senior leaders from a season ago in Telvin Smith and Christian Jones each soon to be playing on Sunday, the Seminoles are thought to lack leadership and experience at the linebacker position. In Saturday’s spring game however, the young FSU corps of linebackers proved that its ready to make plays. Sophomore E.J. Levenberry finished with a game-high eight tackles while Matthew Thomas looked good, particularly as a blitzer. Perhaps the biggest surprise was redshirt freshman Ro’Derrick Hoskins. Hoskins finished with a pair of sacks and a 63-yard interception return for a touchdown. While Terrance Smith is supposed to be the leader of the unit, he should know that he has plenty of talent behind and around him.

4. Sean Maguire is Serviceable
Although he threw for roughly half of the yardage that Jameis Winston did, backup quarterback Sean Maguire was arguably the sharpest Florida State quarterback on Saturday. Maguire finished 15-for-28 passing for 203 yards while showing good accuracy, poise in the pocket and quick decision-making. Maguire even showed a bit of zip on his ball firing a 27-yard laser to Rashad Gholston for a touchdown. There is nothing that the Seminoles would want less than for something to happen to Winston, but if it does, Maguire is shaping up to be a guy capable of getting the job done.

5. Freddie Stevenson is in the Backfield for Good
Recruited as a linebacker out of Bartow High School, Freddie Stevenson has blossomed into the team’s starting fullback and the sophomore proved on Saturday that he is in the backfield to stay. With starter Karlos Williams out, Stevenson was forced to carry the load for the Garnet squad and looked good doing it. Although he did fumble once in the red zone, Stevenson showed a mix of speed and power finishing with 85 yards rushing on 18 carries and a touchdown. While Stevenson is projected to take over the starting fullback role, filling the void left by Chad Abram and Lonnie Pryor before him, won’t be easy.

6. The Receiver Position Remains Cluttered
As senior Rashad Greene sits just 1,134 yards shy of a school-record for career receiving yards, who gets playing time alongside and behind him remains a mystery. Greene finished with a game-high 127 yards receiving and a touchdown on Saturday, but the rest of the receiving corps did little to separate itself from one another. While seniors Christian Green and Jarred “Scooter” Haggins could get the first crack at starting opposite Greene, only Jesus Wilson did anything on Saturday to separate himself from the rest of the pack. Wilson finished with 101 yards receiving, but did cough the ball up once. Despite a solid overall effort, Wilson will still likely have to continue to fight Gholston, Isaiah Jones and back/receiver hybrid, Levonte “Kermit” Whitfield for reps at the position.