Thoughts From the Morning After: FSU 56 NC State 41

Young Guys Showing Up

Dalvin Cook flashed a couple of times on Saturday. Once one a 19-yard touchdown run and once when he cut back against the grain and scampered for 35 yards. Both plays showcased the vision that the guys along the offensive line have raved about all year. Cook’s role this season doesn’t look to be much more than a second or third option, but his future at Florida State is bright. He’s quick, he runs with deceptive power, has excellent top speed and his vision as a runner is very good. Saturday was a good example of why this guy came with so much hype.

In addition to Cook, Travis Rudolph made his first career catch and took it 40 yards. This guy is a lot like Rashad Greene in terms of how smooth he makes it look and the way he breaks tackles. Rudolph, like Cook, was a five-star talent and plays like the one he made on Saturday — in which he caught a ball in the flat, broke two tackles and scooted for 40 yards — are why.

Defensively, Lorenzo Featherston may be the next great FSU defensive end. Featherston is long — he’s 6-7, 220 — and has surprising quickness and agility. When he got into the game, his pass-rush was a major difference maker. Featherston got a sack that caused a fumble and also had several other pressures on the day. When Jimbo Fisher and his staff recruit, they don’t use the rankings from recruiting sites– they have their own. And on FSU’s board Featherston was one of the top 35 players in the country. This is why. It’s also not surprising that Sal Sunseri — who has coached a lot of good NFL defensive ends in his career — has taken such an interest in Featherston at practice. His future is bright.