Receiving corps takes another hit with loss of Haggins
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FSU coach Jimbo Fisher hasn't let consecutive days go by without talking up his new crop of young receivers.
Now with another hit to the Seminoles' once-veteran receiving corps, it looks like we'll be seeing what those youngsters soon.
Fisher announced Wednesday that senior Jarred Haggins is expected to miss the season with a stress fracture in his kneecap.
"We knew it wasn't healing right, so we went back and looked. So there was nothing we could do there," Fisher said following FSU's scrimmage on Wednesday, the team's first of fall camp.
For Haggins, who caught eight passes for 108 yards in 2012, it's the latest chapter in a college career stunted by various injuries. For the Seminoles, Haggins is the third experienced receiver to leave the fold. Greg Dent was charged with felony sexual assault and is not expected to return to the team. Fellow senior Willie Haulstead was ruled academically ineligible last week and has also departed.
Without Haggins, who can redshirt in 2013, it leaves FSU with four receivers with game experience.
"He wasn't down about it," Greene said. "His spirit is still up."
Enter Jesus Wilson, Isaiah Jones, and Levonte Whitfield, the trio of freshman that has caught the eye of Fisher.
"There were some YAC (yards after catch) yards (Wednesday)," Fisher said. And I don't think it was anything bad on defense either.
"There was some plays made because of some good playing on offense with some of those skill guys that made me excited. If you want to be special on offense - if you have to coach all of the yards, then you're in trouble. I was pleased with some of those guys, I really was."
"What I've seen is a passion, a dedication, they want to learn, they want to be a part of this team, they want to help us and I think they can," Greene said.
The young players' promise aside, Fisher is staying cautious with his remaining veterans. Three receivers - Greene, Kelvin Benjamin and Kenny Shaw - wore green non-contact jerseys during the scrimmage.
"There are three guys there who have been playing their tails off. Rashad Greene has been playing his butt off. Catching balls like crazy," Fisher said. "Him going out there and taking a shot, it changes us as a football team."
Notables
Fisher on the QB performances in the scrimmage: "They handled themselves well. Each had some really high moments; each had a couple tough moments. But I liked how they handled it; bounced right back. I will look at the film to see who was more consistent. Both at times had good days and some really good plays. They handled third down and blitzes really well. That is what concerns you with young quarterbacks; can you throw it when everyone knows you are going to throw it? When they are bringing that blitz in there, can you stand in there and take the heat and do those things? From that standpoint, I was pretty pleased for the most part."
Cornerback PJ Williams has a thigh bruise and missed Wednesday's scrimmage. He is day-to-day.