Knee injury puts Featherston’s career in jeopardy

TALLAHASSEE — Florida State defensive end Lorenzo Featherston may see his career cut short by a lingering knee injury.

The rising junior dealt with a nagging knee injury last season and has missed most of spring practice because of it. Coach Jimbo Fisher said the ailment could prevent him from returning to football.

“I don’t know if he’ll be able to comeback,” Fisher said. “We knew it and it’s been bothering him pretty bad, so we’ve got to evaluate it.”

Featherston exhibited the potential to be an impact player as a freshman, recording 19 tackles and 5 tackles for loss. He displayed surprising coordination given his 6-foot-7, 219-pound frame and was expected to become an integral part of FSU’s defense at the start of the 2015 campaign.

The Seminoles’ pass rush improved last year despite Featherston missing most of the season, but losing him could be a fairly significant setback given the roster is thin on quicker edge defenders.

Patrick progresses

Florida State tailback Jacques Patrick is beginning to run with more authority.

The rising sophomore is impressing teammates with his new approach to carrying the ball this spring by better utilizing his 6-foot-2, 233-pound frame.

“He’s hungry, he knows that he’s a big back and we’re going to need him to be that back,” starting running back Dalvin Cook said. “He’s taking that role and he’s doing what he’s got to do. He ran hard [during Saturday’s scrimmage]. In goal-line, he got in about three or four plays. That’s what he’s got to do, get those short-yardage runs.”

Patrick had his moments as a freshman, rushing for 314 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 63 carries. Fisher, however, often had to remind Patrick that he was bigger than most linebackers trying to tackle him.

Izzo draws comparison

Tight end Ryan Izzo is being held to a higher standard this spring.

Fisher has always pushed Izzo, often challenging him if he thought the 6-foot-5, 243-pound New Jersey native was loafing or not playing with enough toughness. As Izzo transitions into his sophomore season, teammates are beginning to set the bar pretty high for Izzo aswell.

“I feel like he is going to be just as good, if not better, than Nick O’Leary,” receiver Travis Rudolph said.

Comparing Izzo to the school’s all-time leader in receiving yards among tight ends speaks volumes, and Izzo is trying his best to live up to the hype. Izzo feels like he is “playing faster” this spring because he has a better grasp of the playbook and now knows what to do after starting 11 games as a redshirt freshman.