FSU Football: State Of The Receiving Corps Entering 2016

We take a look at one section who will be key to FSU football’s success in the 2016 season, a wide receiver group that has the experience to win.

In 2015, the Florida State offense was Dalvin Cook, Travis Rudolph and not much else. In terms of production through the passing game, Rudolph was the man. He led the team in receptions, yards and touchdowns through the air. Though a pair of other players, Jesus Wilson and Kermit Whitfield, nearly matched him in receptions, neither could hold a candle to Rudolph’s game.

That discrepancy will hopefully be over in 2016 – not because Rudolph takes a step back, but because the rest of this wide receiver corps steps up to his level. The Seminole offense will only reach top gear if there become multiple options down the field to attack defenses, alleviating some of the pressure off of both Rudolph and Cook.

Back in spring practice, reports indicate no one was yet stepping up into that void. Jimbo Fisher told the Orlando Sentinel:

"“Travis Rudolph has been really good. Other than that, there’s not enough greatness out there. Not enough consistency. There are some guys making plays, but Travis is really emerging. The rest of them just have to continue to grow and get better.”"

That isn’t out of the ordinary for early spring practices, but it also isn’t ideal. Jesus Wilson was not participating in those practices, so that will lead to some of the inconsistency out of the group. He brings experience, route running and reliability to the FSU passing game; essentially all the things Fisher was pointing out were lacking.

The guys who were not pulling their weight back in the spring were Auden Tate, George Campbell and Nyqwan Murray. Fisher semi-famously did not give this group much in the way of playing time last year, instead resorting to older players. The trio, plus De’Vante Phillips, combined to catch just nine balls all season. The problem for FSU was that these guys (at least Tate and Campbell) possess tremendous size and strength at the position yet couldn’t get on the field.

That size is something the team is sorely lacking from the upperclassmen. Both Wilson and Whitfield are 5’10” or smaller. Meanwhile, Tate and Campbell are 6’5″ and 6’4″ respectively. They are the red-zone threats and big-bodied receivers that this offense needs. But with essentially no work last season, it is hard to expect major contributions from each in 2016.

In between these two batches of receivers are the “other” guys, the guys not quite established but who have some experience in this offense. Ja’Vonn Harrison and Ermon Lane have been up and down over the course of their respective careers. Harrison had a nice game one in 2015 with Sean Maguire at quarterback but never found that production level again with Maguire in and out of the lineup. As for Lane, he was pretty solid as a freshman in 2014 but dropped off precipitously in 2015. The team will need him to take a positive step this year.

Last year, Fisher admitted that the young guys were not ready to contribute in a major way to the offense. There were also injuries that they were dealing with that either sidelined them or hampered their effectiveness.

The good thing is FSU has a slew of options for offense this season. Rudolph is a known quantity, and that quantity is great. The other elder statesmen are also known quantities that can be relied upon for a high floor if not a high ceiling. Out of the rest, some with great size, some with excellent quickness, some with experience, some without, the Seminoles need to find a few pieces that can be counted on week in and week out.

If just two guys step up their games, Florida State suddenly becomes somewhat unguardable (considering the man in the backfield). If that advancement takes place in the red zone, the loss of Roberto Aguayo’s All-American leg won’t be as big of an issue either. The heights that the wide receivers reach this year really have a large impact on the team as a whole.