TALLAHASSEE - It's safe to say that FSU's freshman receivers didn't have Division I-AA Citadel in mind when they fantasized their first college catches.
While a game-winner against an archrival may be what dreams are made of, each of the four freshmen made his first steps toward stardom with career reception No. 1 in FSU's 62-10 win over the Bulldogs Saturday.
With only one upperclassman receiver - junior Chris Davis - dressed, freshmen Kenny O'Neal, Rod Owens, Greg Carr and Fred Rouse made their way into the statistical column for the first time.
"Coach (Bobby Bowden) just told us that us young guys, this is our opportunity to take a chance, and so he could see what he could do with us," Carr said. "We just tried to do what we do best, that's catch the football."
With the freshmen struggling early - Carr and O'Neal each dropped a pass in the first half - FSU looked to its veteran receivers. Davis and sophomore De'Cody Fagg accounted for 238 of FSU's 485 yards passing.
O'Neal dropped a sure 25-yard touchdown pass on FSU's third possession, then bounced back with the first catch by a freshman - for eight yards - with 1:44 left in the half.
"We had decided that we would play more wide receivers this year, even if they were freshman and what are you afraid of with a freshman?" Bowden said. "You're afraid they'll drop the ball. What does Kenny O'Neal do? He goes and gets a touchdown right in his mitts and drops it.
"We needed that play, but that's learning. The other guys caught the ball pretty good, and Kenny probably won't drop the next one."
Rod Owens made his debut three plays after O'Neal's grab with a 5-yard score that tied the game at 10.
In perhaps freshman style, Owens tripped on the play and improvised the route, going over instead of underneath the defender, keeping it simple when the ball came his way.
"I was just thinking, "Game time ... game time,' " Owens said.
Fred Rouse, the highest-ranked receiver in the 2005 recruiting class, was the last to get his first catch, a 54-yard bomb from Xavier Lee in mop-up duty.
A knee injury to senior receiver Willie Reid in the win over the Hurricanes propelled Fagg, a sophomore with eight career catches, into the starting lineup.
Fagg made an impact quickly, converting two third downs on FSU's opening drive.
He finished with seven receptions for 113 yards, both career highs.
