ESPN College Football

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Jimbo Fisher is worried about his quarterback.

Actually, that's not entirely right. Jameis Winston has inspired nothing but confidence -- from teammates, from fans and from his coach. And that's the problem.

Winston has yet to take a snap in a college game, but that's little more than a footnote to a mythology that has fans dreaming of Heisman trophies and national championships. The standards by which Winston is already being judged are immeasurably high, and that's where Fisher sees a need to intervene.

"You keep him realistic, tell him what's real and not real," Fisher said. "You let everybody else be legends and hype."

If only it were that simple.

Winston's career is still in its infancy, but the legend is ubiquitously fully grown. Fisher has tried to temper enthusiasm, but that's only served to provide an air of mystery that has made Winston into something of a cult hero.

He tossed a football over a fraternity house from 30 yards away, with accompanying viral video. He's wowed teammates and analysts who've gotten a behind-the-scenes look at his arm, with some already pegging him as a future No. 1 overall draft pick. After passing on a baseball contract out of high school, he's played a key role on Florida State's baseball team, blossoming into one of the Seminoles' best bullpen arms, touching 97 on the radar gun. He's split his attention between two sports, but still came out on top during this spring's quarterback competition, delivering his closing statement by tossing a 58-yard touchdown past All-ACC defensive back Lamarcus Joyner on his first pass in FSU's spring game.

And so the legend grows, with virtually no expectation too high for the redshirt freshman. Winston is Superman, and fans aren't fooled by the Clark Kent persona Fisher is so intent on creating.

"It's great to write, but you have to be so great that you can't live up to it and you just build disappointment for the guy," Fisher said. "Let's be careful, let him play."

So what happens when Winston actually does take the field?

History offers little precedent for instant success, and Winston is all too aware of the potential pitfalls.

"It's easy to ignore [the hype] because last year I sat the bench for a whole year and didn't see the field," Winston said. "That was the easiest thing to get over. I came on the Florida State campus, and it's like, 'Oh yeah, Jameis, you're going to have to sit the bench.' All that hype and all that other stuff, you've got to prove that."

Instead, Winston spent much of last season proving to his teammates that he was ready for the job.

Despite the redshirt, Winston was a fixture on the sideline for every road trip. Fisher wanted to give him a taste of a hostile environment early, and Winston loved it. He was the Seminoles' biggest cheerleader, sprinting up and down the sidelines and barking praise after every big play.

At practice, he worked largely with the scout team, mimicking FSU's best offensive opponents each week. He'd play the role of Tajh Boyd or Logan Thomas to great fanfare, and slowly his teammates began to see the potential firsthand.

"You could see on the scout team last year, so much confidence, making completions you see guys like EJ [Manuel] make," Joyner said. "You have no choice but to see the talent and the uniqueness that kid has."

It's Winston's confidence that might be the X-factor.

Fisher is right to preach temperance at this point. He's heard the comparisons to Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel, who won a Heisman last season as a redshirt freshman, and he's seen the exuberance of fans eager to see Winston follow that same path. That's a high bar to exceed.

But if Fisher's role is to curb the enthusiasm, Winston is happy to add fuel to the fire.

"Jameis is always smiling, like he never has a doubt in his mind that his pass will never hit the ground," receiver Kelvin Benjamin said.

He'll dance during stretching, crack jokes on the sideline, laugh in the huddle.

"He's got energy, always likes to joke around, and guys take to that," linebacker Christian Jones said. "They like to be around a guy like that. He's always in a good mood, always happy, and guys just gravitate to that."

In fact, those comparisons to Manziel might be too conservative. After all, the Texas A&M quarterback isn't playing baseball, too.

Ask Winston for an archetype he hopes to emulate and the responses include Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson. They didn't simply excel on one field, but transcended multiple sports.

"Their mind didn't get pushed in either direction," Winston said. "So that's what I'm thinking."

So as Winston prepares for his maiden voyage with Florida State's offense, perhaps it's not the legend being created by his legions of fans that matters, and perhaps Fisher's pleas for patience don't matter at all.

Winston isn't overly concerned with stardom, but he's immensely confident that he'll get where he wants to be. And if that happens, the legend will only grow, and the hype will become reality.

"Jameis is going to be a great player," Manuel said. "He has the want to to want to be great. It's a difference between a guy who just kind of talks the talk, but Jameis will be one of those guys who actually goes out there and does it."

Time to check in with ESPN expert Mel Kiper Jr. to see where the top ACC prospects for the 2014 draft rank at quarterback, linebacker and tight end.

Quarterback

No. 2 Tajh Boyd, Clemson

Next up: Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech

Of Boyd, Kiper Jr. writes, "People who would question Boyd because he was throwing to a great arsenal of pass-catchers last year should watch what he did against LSU in the Chik-fil-A Bowl. Boyd might as well have gone 12 rounds with Rocky in that game. Not only did he take hits on a lot of designed runs, the LSU defense battered him. But he played through it. The kid is tough."

And yes, you knew Thomas would make this list, considering how high Kiper Jr. has been on the senior-to-be in the past. Kiper calls him a "must-watch prospect" for 2014. Boyd and Thomas are featured on ESPN Insider Travis Haney's "make-or-break scenarios" for top quarterback prospects.

Kiper also gives a shout out to Bryn Renner of North Carolina, Stephen Morris of Miami and Pete Thomas of NC State in a "more I like" category.

Tight end

No. 3 Eric Ebron, North Carolina

Kiper Jr. writes: "He has the athleticism to be split out at the next level a la an Aaron Hernandez, but I like that Ebron displays a willingness, and even a bit of a nasty streak, when called on to block."

Outside linebacker

No. 5 Jeremiah Attaochu, Georgia Tech

Next up: Christian Jones, Florida State

Kiper Jr. says of Attaochu: "Tall, rangy and with good closing speed, he could play either outside linebacker or defensive end, but projects better at OLB for the NFL."

Want more? Haney ranks the Top 10 most talented teams in America . Florida State checks in at No. 4, and Miami is at No. 8. Clemson just misses the cut at No. 12. Of those three teams, only Miami is not projected to start the season in the Top 25. But don't be surprised if the Canes end the season there.

Mel Kiper Jr. has officially moved on to 2014.

Kiper recently released his first Big Board of 2014, and Florida State and Clemson are the ACC's top reps. It's Insider content, but here's a sneak peek:

• No. 15, FSU DT Timmy Jernigan
• No. 16 Clemson WR Sammy Watkins
• No. 10 FSU OT Cameron Erving
• No. 21 Clemson QB Tajh Boyd

Kiper has notes on each player, and he also included another 25 players he considered for the first Big Board. FSU LB Christian Jones and Georgia Tech LB Jeremiah Attaochu were the only other ACC players considered. Kiper's list differs slightly from Todd McShay's initial list of 32.

FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES
2012 record: 12-2
2012 conference record: 7-1
Returning starters: Offense 6, Defense 5, Kicker/Punter 1

Top returners

WR Rashad Greene, LT Cameron Erving, C Bryan Stork, LB Christian Jones, LB Telvin Smith, DB Lamarcus Joyner, DT Timmy Jernigan

Key losses

QB EJ Manuel, RT Menelik Watson, RB Chris Thompson, DE Bjoern Werner, DE Cornellius Carradine, CB Xavier Rhodes, K Dustin Hopkins

2012 statistical leaders (*returning)

Rushing: Chris Thompson (687 yards)
Passing: EJ Manuel (3,392 yards)
Receiving: Rashad Greene* (741 yards)
Tackles: Christian Jones* (95)
Sacks: Bjoern Werner (13)
Interceptions: Xavier Rhodes, Tyler Hunter* (3)

Spring answers:

1. Changes on D: New coordinator Jeremy Pruitt brought a slew of new schemes with him from Alabama, meaning the FSU defense won't look all that much like the one that finished second in the nation in 2012. With the loss of five former starters from the defensive line, that's probably a good thing. Pruitt's scheme will be more aggressive and bring a lot more blitzes, allowing FSU to get pressure from other areas.

2. Beating Hart: When right tackle Menelik Watson made the somewhat surprising decision to leave FSU after just a year to enter the NFL draft, all eyes turned to junior Bobby Hart, whose turbulent career with the Seminoles was already well documented. Hart started as a 17-year-old freshman in 2011, but problems with his work ethic derailed his sophomore season and he found himself on the bench. He appeared to work his way back into line coach Rick Trickett's good graces by the end of the spring, however, and he'll be crucial to maintaining the continuity of the line without Watson.

3. Famous Jameis: Jimbo Fisher still isn't calling the contest over, but it certainly looks like redshirt freshman Jameis Winston is in the driver's seat to take over for Manuel as FSU's new starting quarterback. Winston shined throughout the spring and delivered a monster performance in the Seminoles' Garnet and Gold game, completing 13 of 15 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns. A week later, junior QB Clint Trickett announced he was transferring.

Fall questions:

1. Winston, Part II: Yes, the spring was impressive for Winston, but as Fisher was quick to point out, he'll need to pick up right where he left off in the fall if FSU is going to make a smooth transition at a position that's been remarkably stable for the past five years. Jacob Coker remains in competition -- and he should be fully healed after breaking a bone in his foot that limited this spring -- but the loss of Trickett puts a lot of pressure on Winston to step up, particularly with a daunting road contest at new ACC member Pittsburgh looming in the season opener.

2. New-look secondary: Lamarcus Joyner appeared to make a relatively smooth transition from safety to corner, but FSU didn't get much of a look at what will constitute the secondary in 2013. Key players such as Tyler Hunter, Nick Waisome and Ronald Darby were all hurt, while promising freshman Jalen Ramsey had yet to arrive. The group will finally all work together during fall camp.

3. Just for kicks: Redshirt freshman Roberto Aguayo showed off his powerful leg during FSU's spring game, connecting on three long field goals, including a 58-yarder to close out the game. Still, replacing the NCAA's all-time leading scorer among kickers won't be an easy task. Dustin Hopkins was as reliable as it gets for FSU, and Aguayo still needs to show he can handle the pressure of making a big kick with the game on the line.

Time to start writing down a few names of potential top prospects in the 2014 NFL draft.

Never too early to start.

We already know Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd has risen up draft charts. Who else joins him from the ACC on Todd McShay's early list of the top 32 prospects for next year? Here is a look:

• No. 8 Boyd
• No. 14 Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State
• No. 20 Jeremiah Attaochu, DE, Georgia Tech
• No. 21 Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson

One more to monitor

• Florida State LB Christian Jones

Of the five players mentioned, Watkins and Jernigan are underclassmen. I broached the topic of leaving school early with Jernigan while I was in Tallahassee on my spring visit in March. He said, "I expect so much of myself. I know there’s still a lot more for me to do here so I’m not really worried about the next level. There’s so much more I want to do at Florida State that hasn’t been done here."

Jernigan certainly has the size and the ability to make plays behind the line of scrimmage, so it's no surprise to see him rated so highly. None of these names are surprising, quite frankly. Both Heather and I expect Watkins to have a bounce-back season. If he does, he could follow DeAndre Hopkins out the door a year early.

Jones stands to gain as much as Boyd did. He was given a third-round grade when he petitioned the NFL draft advisory board last year but decided to stay in school. With the new attacking scheme that coordinator Jeremy Pruitt has brought with him from Alabama, the belief is that Jones will be much more active and be utilized to make plays behind the line as well.

Now, here is one more name to keep an eye on this season: North Carolina tackle James Hurst. He has the potential to really turn some heads this season and make a name for himself. We all saw how valuable offensive tackles were in the first round of this year's draft so he certainly should be one to watch as the year goes on.

Others who could rise: Florida State safety Lamarcus Joyner and North Carolina defensive end Kareem Martin.

Florida State linebacker Christian Jones may have led his team with 95 tackles last season, but there is one line on his stat sheet that stood out to him even more.

A big fat zero next to sacks.

Though the Seminoles racked up 36 total sacks as a team last year, 33 of them came from the defensive line. But the expectation around Tallahassee is that will change this upcoming season with Jeremy Pruitt taking over the defense. We have heard all spring about how he plans to use more blitzes, while getting his linebackers more aggressively involved.

Jones is thrilled.

"Last year, we didn’t have to blitz that much because we had a good D-line," he said in a recent interview. "Now, we have tons of blitzes, and we're just trying to get that stuff down and trying to learn it all. Overall, I’m for it because it allows us to make more plays and show everybody else our versatility and what we can do. We’re just ready to get it all done so we can go stop people."

For Jones, the addition to this part of his game is something he wants, especially since he decided to come back to school. Jones was on the fence about whether he should come back, after being given a third- or fourth-round draft grade. With Pruitt on board, he will be able to show NFL scouts and coaches that he can do more than just make the routine tackle.

In his career, Jones has six total sacks. He wants more in 2013 -- his final season.

"It kind of (stinks) not be able to have any sacks," Jones said. "That’s something coming out of high school I knew I was able to do. Not having sacks, there were definitely people wondering, 'Can you do that?' Yeah, I’ve been doing that since I was a kid. It’s going to be cool to show people that we have great athletes and I can do all that stuff."

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- As Florida State goes through the spring, one major debate has surfaced.

Are the Seminoles rebuilding or reloading?

Depends on your perspective, of course. Coach Jimbo Fisher believes looking at the number of returning starters when making that determination is misleading. Especially in this case. Guys the Seminoles are going to be relying on this year, from Telvin Smith to Mario Edwards to Timmy Jernigan to Devonta Freeman to James Wilder Jr. have gotten valuable playing time and/or starts.

But on the flip side, it is hard to ignore just how much talent is gone: Four of the five Seminoles who made the ACC first team are gone, including defensive player of the year Bjoern Werner. That does not even count veteran quarterback EJ Manuel.

So which is it? Linebacker Christian Jones makes his pitch:

"I feel like we’re reloading. We have a lot of younger guys but we have a lot of talent here, a lot of great athletes. With the coaching staff we have now, they’re more hands on. They like to go over the fundamentals and teach the basics. I feel like with the talent we have, we can just reload and plug in new guys at the spot. We have a lot of older guys helping those younger guys out, so once we get through the spring and have a better understanding of this defense, we can once again be a dominant defense.

"Even on offense, we return a lot of guys on the O-line. Clint [Trickett] is a guy who has starts and he played pretty well in those games he started. We have other talented receivers and running backs. So being able to get this spring in, get the guys better, the sky’s going to be the limit for next season."

Now it's your turn to weigh in. Vote in our poll and let us know what you think.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The projection Christian Jones got from NFL evaluators pegged him as a third- or fourth-round selection, just strong enough to make the idea of entering the draft after his junior season intriguing. Add the new coaching staff and defensive scheme at Florida State, and he might have been leaning toward leaving.

Before Jones could open the door to the NFL, however, Jimbo Fisher and new defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt offered their own sales pitch. They sat Jones down and flipped on the film of Pruitt's defense at Alabama, where Rolando McClain and Dont'a Hightower blossomed into first-round draft picks. It was red meat for a linebacker hungry to become a playmaker.

"I'm pretty much playing that same spot," Jones said. "I want to be able to do that, too."

Jones wasn't the only member of Florida State's defense to get that sales pitch from Pruitt, and the film of Alabama's championship defense has been popular viewing material during the past few months.

It's not that Pruitt plans to implement the exact same scheme as the Crimson Tide, for whom he served as defensive backs coach for the past three seasons, but Alabama's aggressive philosophy will be a hallmark of the approach he plans to take at FSU.

"The actual defense, we're basically doing the same stuff, just getting more active," linebacker Telvin Smith said. "It's fun."

It might sound a bit strange for members of a defense that finished second in the nation last season to be excited about change, but the Seminoles aren't viewing it as a step back from last year's success. After all, the one team ahead of FSU in the 2012 standings was Alabama.

To read more of David M. Hale's story, click here.

The deadline for underclassmen to enter the NFL draft has passed.

So here is a quick look at who is going and who is staying in the ACC.

Leaving early

• David Amerson, cornerback, NC State
• Giovani Bernard, running back, North Carolina
• DeAndre Hopkins, receiver, Clemson
• Xavier Rhodes, cornerback, Florida State
• Menelik Watson, offensive tackle, Florida State
• Bjoern Werner, defensive end, Florida State

Sticking around

• Jeremiah Attaochu, linebacker, Georgia Tech
• Tajh Boyd, quarterback, Clemson
• Antone Exum, cornerback, Virginia Tech
• Christian Jones, linebacker, Florida State
• Lamarcus Joyner, safety, Florida State
• James Gayle, defensive end, Virginia Tech
• Seantrel Henderson, offensive tackle, Miami
• Brandon Linder, offensive guard, Miami
• Curtis Porter, defensive line, Miami
• Logan Thomas, quarterback, Virginia Tech

Of the underclassmen declaring early, Werner is the only one rated among the top 32 prospects by Scouts Inc. But Mel Kiper lists Bernard as the top junior running back available ; Hopkins as the No. 3 junior receiver; Amerson as the No. 4 junior cornerback and Rhodes as the No. 5 junior cornerback. Watson is the only player not rated at the Top 5 at his position.

As for the group of players staying, it certainly is an impressive bunch. You have the ACC Player of the Year in Boyd; an All-ACC first-team selection in Joyner; and second-team All-ACC picks in Gayle, Exum and Jones. Interestingly enough, Kiper has Exum rated higher than Amerson and Rhodes -- two players that declared for the draft.

Tick, tock, Logan Thomas ...

• Should he stay or go?
• One thing we do know: Mike Bobo is not Virginia Tech's next offensive coordinator.
• Former Auburn offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler and former Auburn offensive line coach Jeff Grimes were in Blacksburg to meet with coach Frank Beamer about the possibility of taking the same positions at Virginia Tech, according to the Washington Post.
• Is it Loeffler?
• A Wake Forest football player is a hero.
• Charles Kelly had some good reasons for heading to FSU, including a raise.
• Here's a look at Clemson's linebackers for 2013.
• Duke has denied Blair Holliday admission this semester.
• Good news for the Noles -- LB Christian Jones is sticking around.
• Greg Cote says the NCAA investigation into Miami's program should have ended long ago.

Florida State got some good news for its defense Monday when leading tackler Christian Jones announced he is returning for his senior season.

“After a lot of conversations and time thinking about it, I’ve decided to return to Florida State for my senior season,” Jones said in a statement. "A lot of guys the past couple of years have helped to turn the program around, and I want to continue to be a part of that process. I’ve always talked with some of the guys I came in with and we’ve always talked about finishing together and that’s also something I wanted to do. This is the best decision for me and my family. I’m looking forward to coming back, working hard, improving my game but also helping Florida State continue with the success we’ve had."

Jones started every game in 2012 at weakside linebacker, totaling 95 tackles to rank seventh in the ACC. He also set a new career high for tackles for loss, pass breakups and fumble recoveries.

The Florida State defense already has lost defensive end Bjoern Werner and cornerback Xavier Rhodes as early entrants into the NFL draft. But Jones will return with safety Lamarcus Joyner, who announced earlier this month he would return for his senior season.

"I’m excited for Christian to return to Florida State and further his education, playing career and helping put Florida State back at an elite level," coach Jimbo Fisher said in a statement. "I think his decision shows great commitment to FSU and great commitment to his future. We’re fortunate to have the leadership he brings on and off the field."

The ACC went 4-2 this bowl season, its first winning record since 2005. There were plenty of top performers to highlight, but these are the players who were most deserving of the ACC’s 2012 All-Bowl team:

Offense first team

QB -- Tajh Boyd, Clemson: He had 368 yards of total offense against LSU on 79 total offensive plays. He set a Clemson record for plays in a game by a quarterback.

RB -- Lonnie Pryor, Florida State: He had a career-long 60 yard touchdown in the first half of the Orange Bowl, which was the second-longest touchdown run in FSU bowl history. In his final game as a Seminole, he also had a 37-yard run in the fourth quarter for his second touchdown in the game.

RB -- David Sims, Georgia Tech: He rushed for a game-high and career-best 99 yards on 17 carries, and caught a touchdown pass in the 21-7 win against USC.

WR -- DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson: He finished the game with 13 receptions for 191 yards and finished the season with 82 receptions for 1405 yards. Hopkins tied his own Clemson record for receptions in a game with 13. He also had 13 in the opener against Auburn.

WR -- Conner Vernon, Duke: He caught 10 passes for 119 yards and one touchdown against Cincinnati in the Belk Bowl. He helped Duke to 34 points against a Bearcats defense that entered the game ranked 12th nationally, allowing just 17.2 points per game.

TE -- Brandon Ford, Clemson: His nine receptions against LSU tied the overall Clemson single-game record for receptions by a tight end. He finished with 69 receiving yards, including one reception for 20 yards.

T -- Cameron Erving, Florida State: It was the sixth game this season with over 500 yards of total offense for the Seminoles. All three touchdown runs came between center and left tackle, and quarterback EJ Manuel had all day to throw.

T -- Perry Simmons, Duke: He led an offensive line performance that yielded zero sacks and allowed quarterback Sean Renfree to establish Belk Bowl records for pass completions (37), pass attempts (49) and passing yardage (358). Simmons also aided a running game that gained 200 net yards on 39 attempts as running back Josh Snead picked up a career-high 107 yards on just 17 attempts.

G -- Josue Matias, Florida State: The Noles racked up 243 rushing yards, 23 first downs and 534 yards of total offense. He was part of an offensive line that didn’t allow Manuel to be sacked once by Northern Illinois. Two of Pryor’s runs came between Erving and Matias.

G -- Omoregie Uzzi, Georgia Tech: He helped pave the way for 294 rushing yards in the win against USC, and 369 total yards. He made his 39th career start, the second-most on the team.

C -- Dalton Freeman, Clemson: The Tigers had 100 plays and 32 first downs, and his blocking was a major factor.

Defense first team

DE -- Malliciah Goodman, Clemson: He set a bowl record with three sacks as Clemson held LSU to 219 yards of total offense.

DE -- Bjoern Werner, Florida State: In his last game with the Noles, the dominating end knocked down his eighth pass of the season, which is the second-most in the FBS by a defensive lineman. He finished with two tackles.

DT -- Derrick Hopkins, Virginia Tech: He had four tackles, including 1.5 for loss, and a sack. The sack was on Rutgers' first play of overtime, forcing them into long yardage which led to a long (and missed) field goal.

DT -- Grady Jarrett, Clemson: He had four tackles, including two tackles for loss, and one was a sack. He was a big reason Clemson held LSU to just 99 yards rushing.

LB -- Christian Jones, Florida State: Jones tied for the team lead with 10 tackles in the 31-10 Discover Orange Bowl win against Northern Illinois.

LB -- Vince Williams, Florida State: He tied Jones for the team lead with 10 tackles, and finished with one tackle for loss and a sack.

LB -- Bruce Taylor, Virginia Tech: He led the Hokies with 11 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, and had a pass breakup. Virginia Tech’s defense held Rutgers to 196 yards and three offensive points, none in the last three quarters.

CB -- Rod Sweeting, Georgia Tech: Even though his statistics were modest -- three tackles, two pass breakups and an interception returned for 21 yards -- Sweeting was voted the game’s MVP. He fared well in a tough assignment, matching up with Biletnikoff Trophy winner Marqise Lee.

CB -- Antone Exum, Virginia Tech: The Russell Athletic Bowl’s MVP led a stifling pass defense that allowed just 129 yards. He made the play of the game with an interception of Gary Nova to set up the game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter. Virginia Tech’s defense allowed just 196 yards total, and just 17 completions from Nova on 40 attempts.

S -- Lamarcus Joyner, Florida State: He finished third on the team with six tackles, including one tackle for loss. The Northern Illinois receivers were no match for the FSU secondary and were rendered ineffective.

S -- Rashard Hall, Clemson: He led the team with nine tackles, including eight solo, in the win against LSU.

Specialists

PK -- Chandler Catanzaro, Clemson: He kicked the 37-yard game-winning field goal as time expired to give Clemson and the ACC a monumental 25-24 win against LSU. It was the fourth walk-off field goal in Clemson history, and Catanzaro has two of the four.

P -- A.J. Hughes, Virginia Tech: He tied the record under coach Frank Beamer for punts in a game with 11. He finished with an average of 42.2 with four punts inside the 20-yard line, and a long of 57.

SP -- Tobais Palmer, NC State: He returned a second-quarter kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown in the loss to Vandy, and became the first Pack player since Greg Golden in 2001 to return a kickoff for a score in a bowl game. He finished with 173 kickoff return yards, setting a new NC State season record with 1,130 KOR yards. Palmer and T.J. Graham (1,028 in 2008) are the only two Wolfpack players to go over 1,000 yards in kickoff returns in a single season. Palmer also went over 100 yards receiving for the third time in 2012, as he finished with eight catches for 111 yards.

It wasn't exactly the easy win so many predicted, but Florida State's size and speed advantage helped the Seminoles outlast upstart Northern Illinois 31-10 to win their first Orange Bowl since 1996.

Record-setting NIU quarterback Jordan Lynch found no room to work, and Florida State's dominant defense showed few flaws in its first game without departed coordinator Mark Stoops, while EJ Manuel accounted for 321 yards of offense and two touchdowns to lead the Seminoles.

It was over when: Xavier Rhodes forced a fumble from Da'Ron Brown on a second-down run with 11:15 left to play in the game. Northern Illinois had just converted a fourth-and-1 and was driving in hopes of cutting FSU's lead to seven, but the fumble was the dagger that ended any hopes of an upset. The play was reviewed, but officials ruled the ball was coming out of Brown's grip before his knee hit the ground, and the Seminoles quickly capitalized on the turnover with a Lonnie Pryor touchdown.

Game ball goes to: Pryor. The senior fullback has toiled in the shadows for four years at Florida State, earning immense respect within the locker room but relatively little fanfare outside it. Tuesday's game was different. While the rest of the FSU running game struggled, Pryor was brilliant. He opened the scoring with a 60-yard touchdown run -- the longest of his career -- and put the icing on the cake with his 37-yard touchdown after NIU's fourth-quarter fumble.

Turning point: There were plenty, but NIU's two turnovers were killer. The fumble by Brown was the last straw, but a third-quarter interception by Terrence Brooks squelched another promising Huskies drive. Brooks picked off Lynch at the FSU 13-yard line to protect a slim seven-point lead.

Stat of the game: Lynch entered the game as one of the most dynamic offensive players in college football, but he found out yards are far tougher to come by against Florida State. Coming into the game, Lynch had racked up 1,771 rushing yards -- fourth most in the nation -- and was averaging 6.5 yards per carry. But Christian Jones, Telvin Smith, Vince Williams and the FSU linebacking corps was exceptional, hitting him repeatedly and giving him nowhere to run. Lynch had bragged earlier in the week that NIU planned to wear FSU down late, but the opposite was true, and the junior quarterback finished with just 44 yards rushing on 23 carries, while completing just 36 percent of his throws.

Unsung hero: It's tough to call Manuel an unsung hero, but in a season in which he's earned just as much criticism as praise -- and maybe more -- he wrapped up a five-year career at Florida State with a solid performance. Manuel completed 27 of 39 passes for 296 yards through the air and added another 26 rushing with a touchdown. He missed a few passes -- something his critics will be happy to note -- but he connected on far more. When the FSU offense needed him, he made the throws he had to make. Manuel never lived up to his immense promise at FSU, but he was surely a very good quarterback, and he ends his career as an Orange Bowl champion and winner of four straight bowl games.

What it means: Northern Illinois shrugged off the legions of doubters and proved an unexpectedly competitive opponent, but in the end, Lynch and the Huskies simply didn't have enough to make a late charge. For Florida State, it was yet another inconsistent performance in a season that has been filled with them. But it was also the school's first BCS win in 12 years, and it marked just the second time in program history that FSU has won 12 games in a season.

Who's going to Blacksburg? See you there ...

• Virginia Tech is lacking leadership this year.
• Quarterback Logan Thomas took the loss to Miami harder than usual.
• This FSU team reminds Frank Beamer of some of Bobby Bowden's best teams.
• FSU coach Jimbo Fisher says he's happy at Florida State -- for now.
• Christian Jones has given FSU's D a boost.
• How did UVa wind up with such a young secondary?
• Despite the ridiculous numbers Clemson continues to post, offensive coordinator Chad Morris continues to say they can do more.
• The quarterback competition continues at Georgia Tech.
• NC State has had to readjust its goals.
• It's identity has also be redefined.
• UNC running back Giovani Bernard has a decision to make.
• This fall, Maryland's injury list has reached a new high -- or low -- depending on how you want to look at it.
• Miami freshman linebacker Gabe Terry has overcome a lot in his life.

Here are the ACC's Players of the Week for Week 9, as announced by the league offices in Greensboro, N.C.

OFFENSIVE BACK: Tajh Boyd, Clemson, Jr., QB, 6-1, 225, Hampton, Va.

Boyd completed 27 of 38 passes for 428 yards and five touchdowns without an interception in Clemson’s 42-13 win over Wake Forest last Thursday night. He also had 16 carries for 27 yards, giving him 455 yards of total offense. The 428 yards passing were an all-time Clemson single-game record, while his 455 yards of total offense were second best. Boyd threw all five of his touchdown passes in the first half, including four in the second quarter when he took the Tigers to 28 points. That set a record for touchdown passes in a half as well. He tied the single-game touchdown record. His pass efficiency rating for the game was 208, also the best in school history given a minimum of 35 attempts.

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN: Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina, Sr., OG, 6-3, 295, Wilmington, N.C.

Cooper played 85 snaps, posted 18 knockdown blocks and graded out at 90 percent as the Tar Heels recorded 570 yards of offense in a 43-35 victory over NC State. Carolina rushed for 212 yards, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Cooper has not allowed a sack all season.

RECEIVER: Sammy Watkins, Clemson, So., 6-1, 200, Fort Myers, Fla.

Watkins had eight receptions for 202 yards and a touchdown in Clemson’s 42-13 victory over Wake Forest. Watkins touchdown was a 61-yard catch and run down the sidelines in the second period. He had 177 receiving yards in the first half when Clemson broke the game open. He had three catches of at least 50 yards in the game, also a first. The 202 receiving yards set a Clemson single game record, breaking the previous record of 197 yards by DeAndre Hopkins earlier this year at Boston College. Watkins also had four yards rushing to finish with 206 all-purpose yards.

DEFENSIVE LINE: Joe Vellano, Sr., Maryland, DE, 6-1, 285, Rexford, N.Y.

Vellano was part of a defensive line that allowed Boston College to rush for just 8 net yards on 27 attempts. The senior recorded five tackles, including 2.5 sacks to total minus-22 yards, and also forced a fumble that the Terrapins recovered. Vellano leads the ACC and is tied for ninth nationally with 1.75 tackles for loss per game. He’s played a big role on a defense that ranks fourth nationally against the run, having surrendered just 77.6 yards per game.

LINEBACKER: Christian Jones, Jr., Florida State, OLB, 6-4, 240, Winter Park, Fla.

Florida State set the tone from the start on defense vs. Duke, and Jones played a huge role in that performance. The second-year starter registered eight of his season-high 11 tackles in the first quarter and three of those were tackles for loss, which eclipsed his previous career-high of two. He finished the night with four tackles for loss, while eight of his 11 tackles were solo stops. Florida State’s defense, which leads the ACC in every major category and ranks second nationally in total defense, limited the Blue Devils to a season-low 232 total yards.

CO -DEFENSIVE BACK: Donald Darby, Fr., Florida State, 5-11, 176, CB, Oxon Hill, Md.

Continuing his season-long role as the first corner off the bench for the Seminoles, Darby was instrumental in another shutdown performance by the Florida State defense. He finished with four tackles (three solo stops) and provided solid coverage on a day when Duke’s passing game could not get going. Florida state limited Duke quarterbacks to 129 passing yards on a 16 of 37 performance and shut down Blue Devils’ receiving star Connor Vernon, who had three receptions for 12 yards. The Seminoles rank fourth nationally in pass efficiency defense (90.89) and sixth in passing defense (154.22 ypg).

CO -DEFENSIVE BACK: C.J. Wilson, Gr., NC State, 5-11, 185, Lincolnton, N.C.

Wilson played 59 snaps at UNC and made two of the biggest defensive plays of the game. He created two Tar Heel turnovers in the red zone, as he intercepted a pass in the end zone and stripped another ball out of the receiver’s hands at the NC State 10 and returned it to the 24. Wilson also tallied three tackles and broke up another pass in the contest.

SPECIALIST: Giovani Bernard, So., North Carolina, 5-10, 205, Davie, Fla.

Bernard had 304 all-purpose yards to lead North Carolina to a 43-25 victory over rival NC State. Bernard scored on a 74-yard punt return with 13 seconds to play to give the Tar Heels the victory and snap the Wolfpack’s five-game winning streak in the series. The punt return was Carolina's first for a score against NC State since 1986. It was Bernard’s second punt return touchdown of the season, tying the school record. Bernard finished with a game-high 135 rushing yards on 23 carries and two rushing touchdowns. He also had eight catches for a career-high 95 yards and led the Tar Heels in both rushing and receiving. He scored three touchdowns and has 15 for the season in seven games and has 29 touchdowns in 20 collegiate games. In the fourth quarter, Bernard had 89 yards rushing, a 19-yard reception and a 74-yard punt return for a total of 182 all-purpose yards in the final 15 minutes. Bernard has now rushed for 930 yards and 10 touchdowns, an ACC-leading average of 132.9 per game.

ROOKIE: Stefon Diggs, Maryland, Fr., WR, 6-0, 185, Gaithersburg, Md.

Diggs turned in his most productive receiving game this season, setting career marks with 152 receiving yards and 11 catches. The freshman caught a career-long 66-yard touchdown pass, marking the fourth time in the last five games he’s had a catch of at least 50 yards. It was the third 100-yard receiving game of the season for Diggs and vaulted him into 16th place on Maryland’s single-season receiving yards list with 666. That ranks second all-time among freshmen, trailing only Darrius Heyward-Bey’s 694 in 2006.