Sports: A rare opportunity might be ace in hole

A rare opportunity might be ace in hole

FSU isn't blessed with depth and that could be enticing to some recruits.

By BRIAN LANDMAN, Times Staff Writer

Florida State defensive tackle Darnell Dockett didn't offer an excuse, merely an explanation for his uneven play this past season.

"I was out there too long," he said recently. "Last year, I had Kevin Emanuel behind me. I was getting breaks and coming back in full speed. At my position, every play is designed to hit you and that builds up by the 15th play of the game. Like, "God. I'm tired.' But you've got to suck it up."

A lack of experienced backups and/or a dearth of healthy, adept players put the same burden on most of the starters along the defensive front and at linebacker.

The results were predictable.

The Seminoles had 14 sacks in the regular season -- Jamal Reynolds had 12 in 2000 -- and that exposed young cornerbacks. Overall, FSU finished 32nd nationally in rushing defense (126 yards), 37th in pass-efficiency defense (113.1 rating) and 43rd in total defense (356.4 yards). FSU had been in the top 10 in all three key categories in six of the past eight seasons.

Suffice it to say, the Seminoles will be looking for immediate help along the front seven from this year's recruiting class.

"The depth was not where it has been," recruiting coordinator John Lilly said. "We've always been the one, and other schools have tried to pattern themselves off of us, that could roll two units in there and sometimes three units. This year, we were not able to do that at a lot of positions, but particularly the front seven."

So far, the Seminoles have received oral commitments from defensive linemen Kamerion Wimbley of Northwest Date (Kan.) High, Chris Anderson of Jacksonville Mandarin and Chris Turner of Jacksonville Ed White and linebacker Darrell Burston of Fayetteville (Ga.) High. Linebacker Nate Hardage, a transfer from Southwest Mississippi College, has signed.

FSU continues to woo linebackers Ahmad Brooks, the USA Today defensive player of the year from Woodbridge (Va.) C.D. Hylton, Sam McGrew of Crawfordville Wakulla and Ricardo Hurley of Greenwood (S.C.), and defensive linemen Brodrick Bunkley of Chamberlain and Marcus Jackson of Norcross, Ga.

"I think we're in there on the right guys," Lilly said without mentioning names. "But when you recruit who we feel like are the top-notch guys, you're going to go a little bit later into the game with them. I think it's going to be one of those things where it's going to come down to the last three days, the last two days and maybe even the last day, on a number of guys."

The first day a player can sign a national letter of intent is Wednesday. Lilly said he expects to add 18-20 prospects.

"They know if they're good enough, the opportunity's going to be there to play now," junior defensive end Alonzo Jackson said. "We need some young guys to come and spell the older guys and even put some pressure on us to play well; you always play better when someone's pushing you."

The players who have been visiting Tallahassee didn't have to study a depth chart or stat sheet to realize a rare opportunity exists. The returning Seminoles freely share that tidbit.

"We try to tell them that stuff and hopefully it'll help convince them," sophomore linebacker Michael Boulware said. "There's not too many people behind me for sure and with "Monster' (Jennings' nickname) leaving, we're going to be thin unless some people come in."

That's a concern given the injuries at linebacker this past season. Jennings was plagued by a knee problem and avoided the contact drills much of the season. He was able to play every game except the season finale against Georgia Tech and the Gator Bowl against Virginia Tech. Sophomore linebacker Kendyll Pope, the team's second leading tackler behind Jennings, had neck problems, was a late scratch from the Gator Bowl and just had surgery in mid January.

And don't forget. FSU has 13 regular-season games in 2002.

"That's going to mean wear and tear over the course of the season," Boulware said. "So we're going to need some young guys to come in and give us a blow. That's going to be really important."

NOTE: Jacksonville Ed White High standout defensive tackle Chris Turner, one of the top linemen in the state, has orally committed.

"He's a guy who can give them snaps," Ed White High coach Dan Disch said of the 6-foot-3, 270-pound Turner.

The Seminoles have 13 commitments, which isn't counting Ed White tight end Lonnie Davis. He reportedly is committed solidly to Arkansas, but Disch maintains Davis is going to Tallahassee.

"There was a point, no question, that he was wavering," he said. "But he's told me he's going to Florida State. I'll be surprised if he signs with Arkansas."