FSU Football: Top 5 Questions Going Into Spring Practice

Nov 19, 2016; Syracuse, NY, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher has a word with an official to dispute a call during the fourth quarter of a game against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome. Florida State won 45-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Syracuse, NY, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher has a word with an official to dispute a call during the fourth quarter of a game against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome. Florida State won 45-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
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Dec 30, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Keith Gavin (89) runs past Michigan Wolverines cornerback Jourdan Lewis (26) during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Does Keith Gavin Emerge?

The FSU receiving corps will be relatively thin this spring with Travis Rudolph, Jesus Wilson and Kermit Whitfield no longer in the program. Rudolph declared for the NFL Draft with Wilson and Whitfield exhausting eligibility.

Florida State Seminoles Football
Florida State Seminoles Football

Florida State Seminoles Football

That leaves juniors Auden Tate, Nyqwan Murray and tight end Ryan Izzo as the top receiving targets returning in 2017.

FSU signed one receiver in the 2016 class in four-star recruit Keith Gavin. He didn’t record a catch last season, but played enough to gain some valuable experience. He’s a big body along with Auden Tate that could do damage against smaller defensive backs, particularly in the red zone.

FSU will be counting on him this season as the other options are true freshman DJ Matthews who will not be on campus until this summer as well as Tamorrion Terry. However, Terry still needs to qualify.

Matthews will likely play in the slot once he gets on the field with Terry a big body receiver that’s fairly raw at this point.

FSU needs Gavin to take that next step if the passing offense improves over last season.