Two of Florida State s top performers this season almost wound up playing at archrival Florida.

Defensive back Greg Reid and receiver Bert Reed each enjoyed their recruiting visit to Gainesville and once thought of themselves wearing Orange and Blue before changing their minds at the last moment to attend Florida State.

It all comes down to personnel, Florida coach Urban Meyer said. What makes FSU dangerous is their athletes.

And weve recruited every one of those guys. Bert Reed is a perfect example. If you let him get into the open space, hes going to beat you. Well work awful hard at that, to not let that happen.

That assignment will largely fall to Florida cornerback Joe Haden.

The 167-pound Reed, who is from Panama City, is the Seminoles leading receiver with 53 catches for 671 yards. Reid, a 165-pound freshman from Valdosta, Ga., leads the nation in punt returns.

Together the two weigh as much as Florida guard Carl Johnson, but their game is speed, as in Reed, or Reid for that matter.

The two speedsters will be at the Swamp for the first time Saturday since their respective recruiting visits, adorned in Florida States garnet and gold uniforms. Each player may need to have a big game if the Seminoles (6-5) have any chance of snapping their five-game losing streak to the heavily favored, top-ranked Gators (11-0).

On paper it might look like a blowout but in football youve got to go out there and play the ball game, said Reed, who caught two passes for 18 yards in last years 45-15 loss. Its the number one team, the number one defense and the biggest stadium – thats what its all about.

Reed, who missed a handful of games a year ago for his role in a variety of off-field missteps, claims to be unfazed that the Gators are a three touchdown favorite to win their 22nd straight game in quarterback Tim Tebows final game at home.

Theyre football players, were football players too, said Reed, a high school quarterback converted to receiver at Florida State.

The Reid with the i runs real fast, too. He is averaging better than 18 yards on punt returns and has a pair of interceptions backing up Patrick Robinson at cornerback.

The Seminoles are averaging 31.6 points and 434.7 yards a game, but the defense is giving up nearly an identical amount of points and yards.

And the offense is hampered by the loss of veteran quarterback Christian Ponder (out for the year with shoulder separation) and Rodney Hudson, one of the nations top offensive linemen who is expected to miss Saturdays game with a leg injury.

Reid is one of several freshmen the Seminoles need to produce Saturday to stay in the game, perhaps none more important than quarterback EJ Manuel. Fullback Lonnie Pryor and placekicker Dustin Hopkins have also been key parts of Florida States season.

I think were prepared, said Manuel, who was intercepted three times in last Saturdays last-minute win over Maryland. Were going to play the game.

Manuel will make his Swamp debut against the nations top defense in one of the noisiest sports venues in the country.

Thats the way its going to be there and communication is going to be difficult, Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said. Hell never play in a more harsh environment.
What a challenge, added the 80-year-old coach, and he wasnt just musing about his young quarterback.

Posted on November 26th, 2009 by admin
Filed under: College football news, NCAA college football