Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Football

– With ESPN’s ACC staff highlighting who could be the conference’s biggest contributors in 2016, the Seminoles have players on the lists of possible 3,000 yard passers, potential 1,000 yard rushers, and the most likely 1,000 yard receivers in the Atlantic Coast Conference next season. It seems clear to me that the most probable of these three possibilities is a running back with 1,000 yards for the fourth straight season but after that, much debate can be made of if a 3,000-yard passer or 1,000-yard receiver is more likely.

6. Deondre Francois, Florida State. Best guess here is both Sean Maguire and Francois will play for the Seminoles this season, and Francois eventually emerges as the starter. I am banking on him getting enough attempts to be able to make it to 3,000 yards — though I remain uncertain he gets there because we have no idea how coach Jimbo Fisher will handle the QBs for the fall.

1. Dalvin Cook, Florida State: Cook led the league in rushing last season with 1,691 yards despite missing parts of several games with various injuries. Cook had offseason shoulder surgery but is expected to be completely healthy when 2016 season begins. With Heisman buzz starting to swirl, an even bigger year is anticipated. Perhaps 2,000 yards could be in the cards.

2. Travis Rudolph, Florida State. Rudolph quietly hauled in the third-most receiving yards in the ACC last season (916), and he is the second-leading returning receiver in the league. Modest improvement from his sophomore year should have Rudolph firmly in the mix for 1,000 yards in 2016.

6. Kermit Whitfield, Florida State. Like Switzer, Whitfield’s biggest moments have come in special teams, but that shouldn’t overshadow the work he’s done in the passing game: Whitfield had 798 receiving yards last season. If FSU gets its quarterback situation settled and the offense takes off this year, that number could grow in 2016.

– Chase Goodbread of CFB 24/7 includes Florida State defensive end DeMarcus Walker on his list of the top 16 players in college football who spurned the 2015 draft to return for their senior seasons.

9. DeMarcus Walker, DE, Florida State

A program known for having a sack master on the edge found another one last year in Walker, who delivered 10.5 of them among 15.5 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles. His return gives Jimbo Fisher a cornerstone defender for 2016. He’ll test offensive tackles throughout the ACC this year and should garner heavy scouting attention.

NFL

– Former Seminole running back Devonta Freeman came in at the exact halfway point of NFL Network’s list of the top 100 players for the upcoming NFL season.

Other Sports

– As postseason honors continue to come in for the collegiate baseball ranks, Florida State catcher Cal Raleigh was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American.

– Unconquered Magazine takes a look behind the scenes at the renovations which are underway on the Donald L. Tucker Center and the nearby FSU Basketball Training Center.