Football
Sports Illustrated’s Andy Staples put together a phenomenal feature on Florida State’s returning center, Alec Eberle, why he played through a torn labrum in each of his hips last season and his shift in attitude heading into 2017.
During a team meeting earlier this month, Eberle stood up and called out the entire line—himself included. Trickett had coached the linemen properly, Eberle told his teammates. The injuries of last season had forced players into action, and while it wasn’t pretty to watch, it built depth for this season. There are no more excuses for Francois to be on the ground. “Now,” Eberle says, “it is our turn to repay.”
David Hale of ESPN listed offensive tackle Rick Leonard as his wild card on Florida State’s roster.
Florida State: LT Rick Leonard
It is somewhat of a surprise that Jimbo Fisher already effectively announced Leonard as his starting left tackle, but it's a good sign that the FSU coach is comfortable with the progress Leonard has made. If the senior can hold down the left tackle job full-time, it opens real options across the rest of the line, particularly at the right tackle spot, where Derrick Kelly has gotten first-team reps and Josh Ball and Brock Ruble are also in the mix. Keeping Deondre Francois upright is the biggest wild card for FSU this season, and Leonard and the line will be tested early, with Alabama, Miami and NC State all up by Week 4.
Exactly how much are FSU/Alabama tickets going for? Oh, only over three times as much as any other week one game.
No surprise here but CBS Sports’ Ben Kercheval named FSU as the best football program in the state of Florida as part of his list of the best program currently in each state.
Bud and Ingram look back at the first two weeks of FSU’s fall camp in the latest edition of the Nolecast.
Here’s a sneak peek at the Marching Chiefs’ view for FSU’s opening game in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The view for the game from our seats (section 135) in the new Mercedes Benz Stadium. We can't wait to hear the War Chant in this place. pic.twitter.com/rC7xKvtRRT
— Marching Chiefs (@FSUChiefs) August 14, 2017
Recruiting
In the leadup to FSU’s matchup with Alabama, Wayne McGahee, beat writer for the Tallahassee Democrat, looks at how both rosters are composed of recruiting battles won and lost between the two teams.
Alumni
Former FSU running back Devonta Freeman, who recently inked a massive new deal with the Atlanta Falcons, left practice early over the weekend and is now in concussion protocol.
#Falcons RB Devonta Freeman is in the concussion protocol and won’t play in Sunday’s preseason game.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 14, 2017
On a new CFL team, former FSU wideout Kenny Shaw has wasted no time breaking onto the first team.
Kenny Shaw practising with #Redblacks first unit at practice.
— Tim Baines (@TimCBaines) August 14, 2017