Early Enrollees Impress in FSU Spring Game

Every year, the FSU Spring Game takes on a different level of intensity, depending mainly on how many starters from the previous year are returning and how many spots in the starting lineup will be open. This time last year, the spring game seemed routine as the Seminoles were returning 7 offensive starters and 8 defensive starters from the National Championship-winning 2013 team. This year, however, was very different as just 10 starters, 3 on offense and 7 on defense, return for the 2015 season and there are multiple spots in the starting lineup which are very much still up in the air. Although many players had days which helped their cause, the players who may have helped themselves the most were the early enrollees who graduated from high school a semester early so that they could enroll at Florida State in January and take part in spring practice and the spring game.

Derwin James, an early enrollee from Auburndale, Florida, which is just outside of Lakeland, impressed from the very beginning of the game. On the second play from scrimmage, James jumped a crossing route on a pass thrown by Sean Maguire for an interception which he returned 41 yards for a touchdown to kick off the scoring of the spring game. For the remainder of the game, James’ name was not called much as he had no tackles, additional interceptions, or other stats. However, with the safety position, having 0 tackles or stats of that nature can definitely show that you were a lockdown defender who did not let the receivers you are covering get open enough to be thrown to. James made a big impression on Seminole fans and coaches and will be in consideration for first-team playing time going forward.

More from Chop Chat

Jacques Patrick, the early enrollee from Timber Creek High School in Orlando, Florida, went for 47 yards on his first carry before it was called back due to holding. Despite the penalty erasing the big run, Patrick was not discouraged and led all running backs on both teams with 81 yards on the ground and a rushing touchdown. Patrick demonstrated that he is just as much a bruising running back as he was advertised to be and could prove to be a late-game weapon for when the opposing defense is worn down.

George Campbell, an early enrollee from Tarpon Springs, Florida, scored on his first touch of the game, catching a crossing route about 20 yards downfield before making 2 defenders miss and using his blazing speed to beat the other defenders to the pylon, scoring from 65 yards out. Campbell had just 1 catch after that for the rest of the game, a 34 yard reception, but those 2 catches alone put it at 99 yards and a touchdown. Campbell played less minutes in the second half due to giving receivers who were lower on the depth chart a chance but it remains true that Campbell was even better than expected in his debut.

The final early enrollee who had a significant impact in FSU’s Spring Game was quarterback De’Andre Johnson out of Jacksonville, Florida. Johnson was the second-string quarterback for the Gold Team but split snaps about equally with J.J. Cosentino, the Gold Team starter. Johnson entered the game guns blazing, throwing multiple long bombs down the field. Johnson’s aggressiveness paid off as he found Ermon Lane for a 42-yard touchdown in the second quarter on a perfectly thrown ball that hit Lane in stride. Johnson added a second touchdown late in the game when he found Mavin Saunders for a 17-yard touchdown pass that put the game out of reach. On the day, Johnson went 8-11 for 155 yards with 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. It is worth pointing out that Johnson put up those numbers against the second-team defense that has been so depleted by injuries that the walk-ons outnumber the scholarship players. Nonetheless, Johnson did well to keep his name on the tongues of FSU fans in his debut.