The senior wide receiver is just four receptions away from breaking the FSU career record
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher said he expects senior wide receiver Rashad Greene to play on Saturday at Syracuse following Thursday’s practice at the Albert J. Dunlap Athletic Training Facility.
Greene, who is just four catches away from breaking the FSU career record for receptions, missed the second half of last Saturday’s 43-3 win over Wake Forest with a concussion. He practiced on Wednesday and Thursday.
“Rashad [Greene] was wonderful,” Fisher said. “He practiced all day and he will be ready to go. The doctor has to see him afterwards to clear him, but I don’t expect anything. Yes [he will play] that is what it looks like. I am not saying that 100 percent until they double check him after practice, but he was normal. That was old Rashad.”
Senior running back Karlos Williams will not play against the Orange after suffering an ankle injury.
Redshirt sophomore running back Mario Pender will likely make his first career start in place of Williams.
Pender had five carries for a game-high 70 yards and a touchdown versus Wake Forest. The Cape Coral, Fla., native has rushed for 154 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries this season. His 6.7 yards per carry average leads the team.
“I want to see how he steps up and takes his role,” Fisher said of Pender. “It is going to be a learning curve but also I think he is ready for it. Hopefully he will play well.”
Freshman Dalvin Cook and sophomore Ryan Green are also expected to receive some totes with Williams out.
Florida State Injury Report vs. Syracuse – Oct. 11, 2014
Questionable
DT Derrick Mitchell (knee)
Out For Game
OL Austin Barron (arm)
DT Demarcus Christmas (ankle)
QB Sean Maguire (hand)
DB Trey Marshall (concussion)
RB Karlos Williams (ankle)
Out For Season
DB Colin Blake (shoulder)
DT Nile Lawrence-Stample (pectoral muscle)
LB Delvin Purifoy (ankle)
Head Coach Jimbo Fisher Post-Practice Quotes
Opening statement:
“Really good day today. I was pleased with the week. It was one of our better weeks. We had a good attitude. I am looking forward to getting a better start in the game, to play better early because it is going to be tough on the road. You do not want to put yourself behind the eight-ball. That is a very tough and loud place to play. We need to get it from the get go. I am very pleased with the practices we have had this week and to watch us take it to the field.”
On the injury status of senior wide receiver Rashad Greene:
“Rashad [Greene] was wonderful. He practiced all day and he will be ready to go. The doctor has to see him afterwards to clear, but I don’t expect anything. Yes [he will play] that is what it looks like. I am not saying that 100 percent until they double check him after practice, but he was normal. That was old Rashad.”
On redshirt sophomore Mario Pender to start at running back if senior Karlos Williams can’t play due to injury:
“Mario [Pender] will start and then Dalvin [Cook] and then Ryan Green. We also have Freddie [Stevenson] back there along with [Jonathan] Vickers. Those guys all can play just like that in the one-back situations. It gives a couple big backs too. I see him [Mario Pender] every day. I want to see how he steps up and takes his role. It is going to be a learning curve but also I think he is ready for it. Hopefully he will play well.”
On the difficulty of playing in a game that starts at noon:
“Getting up early and getting a quick start. That is why we try to scrimmage on Saturdays all the time at noon in the fall and in the spring to make those guys get used to [playing that early]. We always try and do that as much as we can. That is the thing getting that early start, pregame meal is at 8 o’clock then you go through everything. By the time your eyes are open it is here. You have to get yourself up. You have to get ready and be ready to go.”
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