Florida State will get four veteran defensive players and an experienced tight end back for Saturday's game against Colorado in Jacksonville, Fla.
Florida State defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews said Monday that tackle Justin Mincey, end Neefy Moffett, linebacker Dekoda Watson and cornerback Patrick Robinson will be available for the first time this season.
They were suspended for last year's Music City Bowl and this season's first three games for their roles in a cheating scandal last winter that involved 61 student- athletes. Of that number, 18 football players were implicated.
"If they come back and play to the level we think they can, it should make us a better defense," Andrews said. "We won't depend so much on freshmen as we did in the first three games."
The returning tight end is Caz Piurowski, whom offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher also believes will contribute....
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Ponder to start for FSU
Christian Ponder will start at quarterback for Florida State and D'Vontrey Richardson will remain the backup.
Neither sophomore was effective in a 12-3 loss to Wake Forest, but Drew Weatherford, who has 33 career starts, never left the bench.
"It wouldn't do any good except to cause more confusion," coach Bobby Bowden said of the decision to not use Weatherford.
Ponder and Richardson combined for 118 passing yards and five interceptions.
Florida State defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews said Monday that tackle Justin Mincey, end Neefy Moffett, linebacker Dekoda Watson and cornerback Patrick Robinson will be available for the first time this season.
They were suspended for last year's Music City Bowl and this season's first three games for their roles in a cheating scandal last winter that involved 61 student- athletes. Of that number, 18 football players were implicated.
"If they come back and play to the level we think they can, it should make us a better defense," Andrews said. "We won't depend so much on freshmen as we did in the first three games."
The returning tight end is Caz Piurowski, whom offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher also believes will contribute....
------------------
Ponder to start for FSU
Christian Ponder will start at quarterback for Florida State and D'Vontrey Richardson will remain the backup.
Neither sophomore was effective in a 12-3 loss to Wake Forest, but Drew Weatherford, who has 33 career starts, never left the bench.
"It wouldn't do any good except to cause more confusion," coach Bobby Bowden said of the decision to not use Weatherford.
Ponder and Richardson combined for 118 passing yards and five interceptions.
