FSU receivers make impact
Wideout trio thrives despite early adversity
TALLAHASSEE — Florida State’s wide receivers began the offseason with a position meeting.
On its surface, the group summit doesn’t sound like anything atypical. The receivers simply stated they had to collectively elevate their practice habits and take on a pronounced leadership role with two-year starting quarterback EJ Manuel and starting receiver Rodney Smith exhausting their eligibility.
But as the offseason progressed, the FSU receivers dwindled.
Those who sat in the meeting faded away, chipping at what was arguably the Seminoles’ deepest position of offense.
Those who stayed still look at that conversation as a turning point.
From the turmoil came a closer bond between FSU’s three starting receivers: Rashad Greene, Kelvin Benjamin and Kenny Shaw. Together they have formed the top receiving trio in the country and are on the verge of making their mark on the NCAA record book.
“We felt like that, once we understood EJ [Manuel] was going to the NFL, right then, that moment we realized it’s definitely going to be somebody new, somebody inexperienced,” Greene said.
“We have to do that job helping this person, whoever it may be, to step up.
“We feel like we make the offense go as a receiving corps. We just set that goal that whatever slack he had, we’d pick up.”
Jameis Winston ended up winning the job over Jacob Coker in fall camp and went on to become the second freshman to ever win college football’s most prized individual accolade, the Heisman Trophy.
Quietly at the core of Winston’s success have been FSU’s wide receivers.
Winston’s confidence in his targets has allowed him to remain confident making risky throws.
“[Shaw] has been a great possession guy,” Winston said prior to winning the Heisman. “I love having him, Rashad, K.B. … Those guys have made me look so good this year.”
FSU could become just the fifth team in Football Bowl Subdivision history to field three 1,000-yard receivers in a season.
Greene (67 receptions, 981 receiving yards, 9 touchdowns), Shaw (52 receptions, 929 receiving yards, 6 touchdowns) and Benjamin (50 receptions, 957 receiving yards, 14 touchdowns) are on pace to hit the 1,000-yard mark against Auburn in the BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 6. Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN.
The original plan was nev- er to utilize primarily three receivers. FSU coach Jimbo Fisher has used deep sets of receivers in the past, trying to keep players fresh while presenting different looks for defenses.
However, attrition took its toll on the receivers.
Marvin Bracy quit school in May to pursue a professional track career.
Greg Dent, after a strong spring practice, was arrested on sexual-assault charges in June and has been suspended indefinitely.
Then senior Willie Haulstead, slowed by a serious concussion following a stellar sophomore campaign, was declared academically ineligible during preseason camp. Shortly afterward, “Scooter” Haggins was lost for the year due to a knee injury.
“It changed a lot. I mean, you’re going to have things come up off the field,” Shaw said. “We picked up to it. That comes with experience. … I think we adjusted well with a lot of receivers going down.
“Since wegot together as a group and said we have to pick up the slack, we knew weweregoing to be the older guys for the first time.”
The Seminoles never panicked when they started losing receivers.
Instead, the three starters viewed it as an opportunity to regularly play for an entire game for the first time since they were in high school.
All three bring something markedly different to the mix.
Greene is a well-rounded receiver capable of doing damage on short or deep patterns. Benjamin, with his 6-foot-5, 235-pound build, is a jump-ball specialist. Shaw, although wiry, is a reliable option in the slot because of his quickness and reliable hands.
“I feel like when the group became smaller, we felt like we had to do even more,” Greene said.
“I wouldn’t call it pressure. We felt good about ourselves and knew we had to work for something that we all wanted.”