TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida State football team kicked off spring practice on Wednesday at the Albert J. Dunlap Athletic Training Facility and head coach Jimbo Fisher was impressed with the effort of the new-look squad.
The Seminoles, who practiced in shorts and helmets, lost 12 starters off the 2014 squad and are expected to have at least 10 players drafted later this spring. Fisher has plenty of talented players to build around for the coming fall, however, including All-Americans Jalen Ramsey (junior defensive back) and Roberto Aguayo (redshirt junior kicker) as well as veteran defensive leaders Terrance Smith (redshirt senior linebacker) and Tyler Hunter (redshirt senior safety).
“I thought (they) executed better than I thought on the first day,” Fisher said. “I was very pleased with a lot of things that went on. Again, it was in shorts, but the tenacity of the way we went about things, we had a really good work day and you see a good base to build from and we can go forward.”
Fisher also liked what he saw from redshirt junior quarterback Sean Maguire. The veteran from Sparta, N.J. will have the early lead in the battle to replace Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston after throwing for 304 yards against Clemson’s top-ranked defense in his lone start in 2014.
“Sean Maguire, I was very impressed (with him),” Fisher said. “I thought he had a great day. I thought his temperament and demeanor, you could tell he’s been in the film room and studying things.
“It looked like he wanted that job and was in control of things and (I’m) very pleased from that (standpoint). Again, it’s day one. But I was very pleased with his demeanor and execution and decision-making.”
*FSU Sports Information
