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Mario Edwards named one of college football's Top 10 Players On The Rise

Athlon publishes more than just a pre-season magazine. The latest is a list of players they see having a breakout season in 2013. And number eight on that list is FSU's Mario Edwards, one of two defensive ends on the list (the other is Ohio State's Noah Spence).

The top RB on their list is a guy who'll be a major threat when the Noles faceoff against Pitt on Labor Day night. Rusel Shell had had 641 yards on the ground and 103 receiving yards last year as a freshman for the Panthers. However, Shell is being allowed to skip spring practice while he "works through some challenges right now," according to Pitt Coach Paul Chryst. If you smell some spin here, you might be right. Rumors are that Shell is considering a transfer. Meaning one less thing for FSU to worry about on September 2.

Scouting the Pitt Panthers begins now

Here's the first in a series by the guys at PITT Blather, one of the Panthers better sites, because it's never too early to get to know the team FSU tees it up against in just five months.

PITT’s Five Things for Spring: #5 – Wide Receiver
by Reed Kohburger from PITTBlater.com

Number five on my list of concerns, five being the least worrisome and one being the most, is our depth at Wide Receiver. PITT went into spring drills with one true wide out returning as a starter. That would be Devin Street and he’s been a productive player for us for over the last three years. Last season he had his best year yet with 73 receptions for 975 yards (13.4 ypc) and five TDs. That is a lot of production returning. Street has also been our best deep threat which, due to a QB who couldn’t throw a deep ball to save his life, led him to be wasted in that role.

However, transfer Tom Savage (yes, he hasn’t played for two year which is another thing to be concerned about) will most probably be our QB this season and his deep passes are the strength of his game; big arm and very accurate. His yards per completion average is a very good 14.3, so we PITT fans expect big things from that combo in 2013.

Bill from Tampa questions the need to spend gazillions on the Leon Co. Civic Center

I'm no expert in the renovation business, but I have to wonder what the heck is going to cost $100 million to fix it up (story here)? Obviously the seats have to go. And they do need to reconfigure the seating in the corners where it is more rounded and facing the court more. A lot of sore necks would appreciate that.

Even the $40 million initial fixer up money, I can't imagine what they are going to spend that on.

Personally I don't see the place as decaying. Sure, any building is going to need maintenance and if you want to keep up with the Joneses, modernize it. The Civic Center is not the worst place in the ACC. Conte Forum (Boston College) and Cassel (Virginia Tech) are worse. And Cameron Indoor is not all that glamorous. They just happen to have a team that wins a lot.

But I have never heard a recruit or player who ended up at FSU say the place they play was the all important deciding factor. It's a factor in that they want to play in front of a large home crowd with an electric atmosphere. They also want to be part of a tradition, which is what Leonard Hamilton has sold many players on, Michael Snaer being one of them. And he came from all the way across the country to play at Florida State. 

Look closely and you can see the progress

Last Saturday, Florida State's scheduled spring practice was rained out. Next year at this time, rain -- even torrential downpours -- won't be a problem. The Noles will get in a full workout inside the building above, fast becoming a reality right next to Howser.

Coley, Schmoley -- Tim Brewster's got it all under control

After what looked like a disaster in January, FSU's recruiting pipeline is now flowing again, thanks to former Minnesota head coach Tim Brewster. Wednesday Brewster, who besides heading up recruiting coaches tight ends, met with the media and Nole fans have gotta love the guy's winning attitude

"I was at North Carolina with Mack Brown for nine years from 1989-1997, and one team we never beat was Florida State. We had some tremendous battles. It’s a special place. And I have a tremendous respect for the tradition and history of college football, and this is one of the best. When you have an opportunity to join one of the great programs in college football, it’s an exciting opportunity.

Jimbo Fisher offered me an opportunity to be a part of a program that has a chance to win a national championship. That’s why I’m here.I’m not bashful. I’m extremely proud of the university that I represent. We know at Florida State University, one of the things we have to do is win the state of Florida. We need to beat Miami. We need to beat the University of Florida. That is vitally important to us.

We are going to take an extremely aggressive approach to getting the best players in the state of Florida to come to Tallahassee. We are going to recruit relentlessly. We are going to coach relentlessly. … We have nine outstanding coaches and nine outstanding recruiters.

Controversial pay raise fallout: firericktrickett.com

Rick Trickett's Year Of Living Dangerously

Tuesday's news about Rick Trickett's fat raise left FSU fans feeling blindsided. This is the Popeye character of the coaching staff who we keep waiting to deliver. The Jenny Craig proponent who loves 'em lean and mean. The ex-Marine who can't seem to find enough good men [for every Menelik Watson there are two or more Antwane Greenlee's].

But a high profile pay hike like his is a double-edged sword. The spotlight on the OL will now be brighter and expectations even higher.

Can he weave together a combination that works? That gives an offense balance, opens holes for Wilder, Freeman, Pender, et al -- and most important, that protects a young QB who’ll be learning on the job?

Can he teach and motivate all those guy on the bubble, including doghouse favorite Bobby Hart, Trey Pettis, Reuben Carter and Sterling Lovelady? And that’s without mentioning the up-til-now invisible Jonathan Wallace, a RS senior who was a preferred walk-on way back in 2009 and is now backing up Cam Erving.

Can he develop some semblance of depth, unlike previous years? Best example is last year’s ACC title game against Georgia Tech. One year wonder Menelik Watson goes out in the second half and FSU’s offense sputters, scoring zero points, while third down conversions drop from two out of three in the 1st half to one of five in the 2nd.

And all the while, can he create some magic on the recruiting trail? FSU is desperate for OL and it’s obvious that’s where the emphasis and offers are going for 2014. Will he land a bumper crop like 2011 (Austin Barron, Bobby Hart, Tre’ Jackson, Josue Matias, Ruben Carter, Sterling Lovelady, and Trey Pettis)? Or whiff as in 2010, when FSU’s one and only signee was Daniel Foose (currently in a roster black hole with Jacob Fahrenkrug, the anti-Menelik Watson).

If he does, he’ll actually earn that $455,000 paycheck and win over Seminole fans ready to throw him one helluva retirement party (Rick turned 65 on March 23). 

And if he doesn’t, can Jimbo withstand the firestorm that will blast forth from fans and media? Or will we see an all too familiar blind loyalty rivaling that of his predecessor? 

Can FSU afford to remodel its roundball crib?

In case you missed the story in todays 'Crat, Florida State is looking at some major bucks to upgrade the aging, but by no means old, Civic Center: About $40 million just to bring it up to an adequate, contemporary facility. President Barron will huddle with his cabinet to contemplate where the dollars will come from. And how much can the Boosters ante up since they're already servicing debt on the stadium and new Indoor Practice Facility, among other projects? One's thing for sure, this challenge will definitely test FSU's commitment to basketball.

Seminole Soundbites: Last on the depth chart, Sean Maguire says he'd "rather compete with the best"

You've heard the others, now listen to Sean Maguire. He may be a longshot for starting at QB, but this Jersey guy is cool and confident going into spring practice. See what we mean in this interview with new content not included in the seminoles.com video.

Seminole Soundbites: Mike Martin on FSU's Sunday comeback win over Ga. Tech

The Noles sport an impressive 22-2 record after taking two out of three from the Jackets over the weekend. As is S.O.P., no. 11 had plenty of comments after the game.