The 2015 FSU Skill Position Recruits Who Will Make Early Noise

Yesterday, I wrote an article discussing the incoming QB recruits for next year and which of them, if any, could have the earliest impact in FSU’s offense. Today, I move on to the skill position players: the running backs and wide receivers. Like the QB position, there are many possibilities for playing time on the 2015-2016 team at both of these positions.

The Returning Running Back Options

At RB, the Seminoles lost Karlos Williams to graduation but return Mario Pender and Dalvin Cook who both saw playing time last year, as well as Ryan Green and Freddie Stevenson. Cook earned the starting job from Williams and Pender by the end of the season, averaging 5.9 yards per carry with 8 touchdowns, but had an underwhelming Rose Bowl performance with two third-quarter fumbles that left a sour taste in the mouths of many FSU fans.

Pender did not reach his full potential in 2014 due to injuries, never reaching double-digit carries in a game, and may have been passed over for Dalvin Cook. However, Pender will still get his touches if Randy Sanders continues to utilize his multiple-back system. With two RBs who saw the field last season returning, could any true freshmen RBs get playing time this upcoming season? Quite possibly.

The New Blood

Jan 2, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Team Armour running back Jacques Patrick (6) watches his team play during the second half of the 2015 Under Armour All-America Game at Tropicana Field. Team Highlight defeated Team Armour 46-6. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

Jacques Patrick, out of Orlando, FL, is an early enrollee and already taking classes at FSU. The biggest upside to Patrick is his size. At 6′ 1.5″ and 230 pounds, Patrick will be the largest RB on the FSU roster besides Stevenson, who sees snaps at FB. There is no doubt that he is a bruising back who will have the ability to truck over undersized defensive players at the collegiate level as a true freshman.

Johnny Frasier, from North Carolina, committed to Florida State in August of 2014 but rumors are currently swirling that NC State is coming hard for Frasier and attempting to flip him from the ‘Noles. Supposing FSU can get a written commitment from Frasier, his place on the roster may take more time to figure out. He is faster than Patrick but not as large, so he falls more into the mold presently occupied by Cook and Pender.

Verdict

24/7 Sports has NC State with a 61% chance to flip Johnny Frasier from FSU, so with that in mind, it is best not to include him as a possible early contributor. That leaves Patrick, who could be a big contributor as soon as next season. Even though FSU returns multiple RBs who saw playing time last season, I think that Patrick could be the thunder to Cook and Pender’s lightning, and he could get some late-game carries after those two have worn down the defense through the first few quarters.

The Returning Wide Receiver Options

FSU lost two wide receivers from the 2014-2015 team to graduation. Rashad Greene, arguably the best receiver in FSU history, will be very difficult to replace. Greene is the FSU all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards and finished his career tied for 2nd in receiving touchdowns.

Christian Green, the other wide receiver lost from last season to graduation, never reached the potential that he could have as a four-star recruit coming in, with only 760 career receiving yards and one touchdown.

That leaves Travis Rudolph, Ermon Lane, Jesus Wilson, and Kermit Whitfield as the returning receivers who saw significant action last season. What does bode well for the incoming wide receiver recruits is that Rudolph and Lane were true freshmen last season and both got significant minutes throughout the season. Rudolph led all returning receivers with 555 yards and four touchdowns, and Lane had 267 yards and one score.

Wilson is entering his junior season and coming off a sophomore year in which he started to play a bigger part in the offense with 527 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Whitfield has not emerged as much yet as a wide receiver and sees more playing time as a kick returner. He is most notable for his 100-yard kickoff return touchdown in the 2014 BCS National Championship Game.

The New Guys

Jul 9, 2014; Beaverton, OR, USA; Alpha Pro wide receiver George Campbell (11) smiles as he heads to the sidelines during Nike Football

George Campbell is a five-star prospect and the No. 2 ranked WR in the 2015 class. He is another early enrollee who is already at FSU after playing his high school football at East Lake High School in Tarpon Springs, FL. In high school, Campbell played on both sides of the ball, playing safety as well as wide receiver. The upside to Campbell is his elite athleticism. He has the ability to go into the air and make spectacular catches, and his speed and acceleration are very good, However, his downside is that he still struggles with catching the football at times, which is definitely a concern. At 6′ 3″, he is the same height as Ermon Lane, the tallest returning receiver who played last season. The question with Campbell will be whether his athleticism will outweigh his inconsistent hands.

Jan 2, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Team Highlight Da Vante Phillips (5) runs after a catch against Team Armour during the first half of the 2015 Under Armour All-America Game at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

Da’Vante Phillips, a consensus four-star prospect from Miami Central High School (Dalvin Cook’s alma mater), is yet another early enrollee. He was the No. 6 ranked WR in the 2015 class, giving FSU two of the top six receivers in this class. Phillips is a possession receiver through and through, Although he is by no means slow, he does not have the burner speed that would allow him to make big plays on a regular basis. Even though he is only 6′ 2″, Phillips is at his best when going up for jump balls. His elite jumping ability and great hands could help fill a role in FSU’s offense as the red-zone vertical threat that has been missing since Kelvin Benjamin’s early departure in 2013.

More from Chop Chat

Verdict

Both of these receivers will get playing time in the upcoming season as FSU only returns 3-4 receivers who played significant minutes in the 2014 season. Phillips and Campbell also fill different roles in the offense because they are different types of receivers and therefore will not be competing against each other directly for minutes. Expect some mistakes from both of them, just like there were mistakes from Lane and Rudolph last year, but also expect to see some moments of artistry. The 2015 season will almost definitely be a step back for the receiving corps, but that will lead to an even bigger 2016.

Next, I address the tight end and offensive line recruits for FSU’s 2015 class and the likelihood of their impact.

Home/FSU Football