Tyler Hunter out for 6 Weeks
It was reported on Saturday that safety Tyler Hunter had torn his meniscus and would have surgery on it, putting him out for about six weeks. Hunter tweeted that the surgery went well, though it is still concerning that this is now the second major injury for Hunter in his time at FSU. The good thing is that this occurred during spring practice and not the regular season, in which case would be more detrimental to an already jumbled secondary. Spring practice observers have noted that Hunter was playing better than a number of potential starters in the secondary including Nate Andrews, who has led the team in interceptions in each of the last two seasons.
5-Star Levonta Taylor Commits to FSU
This past Friday was made extra sweet for Florida State as Levonta Taylor announced that he was committing to the ‘Noles. Taylor is a 5-star cornerback from Virginia Beach with a very high ceiling in both the defensive aspect and return game. FSU has been pretty consistent at poaching recruits from Virginia, with five players in the last four recruiting cycles coming from the state. With Taylor’s commitment, FSU now has the top-ranked recruiting class for 2016 thus far.
Taylor himself is an intriguing prospect. He won’t beat anyone with his size or power, but instead will rely on his speed and overall agility. In this respect he seems a lot like Greg Reid. The difference being his more polished footwork and overall technique, which will help him immensely in transitioning to the college level. His highlight tape is full of examples of him coming down to deliver a huge blow and taking punt, kick and interception returns to the house for scores. The only knock against him seems to be his size, but such an aspect is not as problematic for a cornerback. Taylor is the real deal and seems to be rock solid in his commitment to FSU.
Nate Craig-Myers Interest
Craig-Myers is a 5-star wide receiver out of Tampa Catholic that has been committed to Auburn for some time. However, the buzz around him has been that FSU is gaining on the Tigers and could be a serious threat to his commitment. He visited Florida State last weekend and on February 28th — both of which supposedly went well. Earlier last week when Levonta Taylor committed, Craig-Myers sent out a tweet congratulating him and praising the FSU 2016 recruiting class. One can understand how this string of events had Seminole fans buying into the chance of flipping him.
While FSU might still have a slim chance, fans should not get their hopes up. He is once again back on Auburn’s campus for a visit, and tweeted out this statement that seems to alleviate some fears from Auburn fans. Justin Hokanson of 247Sports also talked with Craig-Myers recently and said that his commitment was getting stronger as the days went by. He’s been committed to Auburn since July of 2014, and quite frankly, it’s a long shot that FSU convinces him otherwise.
Trayvon Mullen Interest
Mullen isn’t as well-known as other recruits, but he is still a 4-star talent from Pompano Beach, Florida with great measurements. LSU has long been the favorite for Mullen’s talents but he recently tweeted that the Seminoles were his top choice. He has yet to take an official visit aside from a camp last summer, so the fact that FSU is already piquing his interest is a good sign.
To give an overview, Mullen’s main strength is the fact that his length and power, at 6’2″ and 180 pounds, allow him to jam receivers and disrupt routes. His technique may not be as polished but he still holds his own against all types of wide receivers. If he can refine his abilities, Mullen could be the type of cornerback that can shut down any No. 1 wideout. He would be a great addition to the class and really bring home the secondary recruiting.
Final Thoughts Before Spring Game
Injuries will certainly put a hamper on what should be an otherwise very interesting spring game. Having guys like Chad Mavety and Tyler Hunter out there could have helped solidify some starting roles. But the show must go on, and the coaches have a better grasp of needs than anyone else.
If there were a couple positions to look out for, it’d definitely be the cornerback and offensive line units. Each of those had multiple setbacks, switch-ups, and turnover during the beginning of spring practice. Quarterback shouldn’t be worried about as much, as Sean Maguire seems to be the clear leader of the group. While that might sound bleak for some fans, keep in mind that this is a Jimbo Fisher coached team. He’s had a history of success with quarterbacks at the college level and if there’s talent inside Maguire, he’ll find it. While it’s obviously a concern to an extent, many are expecting the ‘Noles to endure a 3 or 4-loss season in 2015. If the quarterback play is even decent, that counts as a plus for the Seminoles.
