Florida State football spring game preview & podcast

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Florida State's spring football game is Saturday at 2 p.m. It will be available on ESPN 3.

Football is the "small sample set, large over-reaction" sport. And in no event is this more evident than the spring game.

Florida State's spring format will be a bit different this year, with the game being more of a scrimmage, as numerous injuries have conspired to keep the Seminoles from fielding two distinct teams.

Spring recap podcast

You asked for one, and Ingram and I delivered. It's also on iTunes. 70 minutes worth. I won't rehash most of it in print here.

Story lines

• Quarterback. That's the question. How will Clint Trickett, Jacob Coker, Jameis Winston, and Sean Maguire look? One thing is for sure, they'll get a ton of reps, as FSU won't be running much, because it might be without its top three running backs due to injury. Who makes the most plays? Who runs the offense in the most efficient manner? It will be tougher to judge the two more mobile quarterbacks, because they're highly unlikely to be live.
• New defensive scheme. How much 3-4/3-3-5 will Florida State run? How much will it blitz? Where will the defensive backs align?
• How big is the dropoff at defensive end? FSU lost two likely first rounders to the NFL. It's backups are largely unproven. How much worse is this going to look?
• Injury replacements: with double-digit injuries to potential starters or key contributors, the young guys will get plenty of time. How do young defensive backs like P.J. Williams and Colin Blake look? How about the linebackers like Terrance Smith and Reggie Northrup?
• Bobby Hart. Let's face it, he's the only real question among the offensive line starters. Hart has held his starting position at right tackle, and has earned some praise as well. FSU returns four good to very good starters. If Hart can play well, this could be Florida State's best offensive line in a decade, which would certainly help break in a young quarterback.

Recruits

Here are a few top recruits expected in town for the game.

• Florida State 2015 QB commitment De'Andre Johnson, of Jacksonville (Fla.) First Coast High School. Johnson is one of the better 2015 QBs in the state, and will certainly be recruiting for FSU at the game.
• Ethan Frirth, a 6'7, 315-pound offensive tackle from Summis (MS) North Pike High School, is expected to make the trip. FSU has a connection with Frirth via new coach Tim Brewster, formerly of Mississippi State. FSU is Frirth's first offer.
• Safety Trey Marshall, of Lake City (Fla.) Columbia High School, could very well commit. He was very close to officially committing a month ago. Marshall is one of the top safeties in the state and is very high on Florida State. LCCHS is coached by FSU great Brian Allen, and is the home of Timmy Jernigan as well. I suspect other LCCHS kids will also be at the event.
• FSU is expecting a visit from Josh Allen, a guard from Jacksonville (Fla.) University Christian. Allen also claims offers from UGA and North Carolina.