# 2009 Florida State Seminoles football team

The 2009 Florida State Seminoles football team represented Florida State University during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team played their home games at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. They were members of the Atlantic Coast Conference ACC).
Head coach Bobby Bowden retired at the end of the 2009 season after 34 seasons at the helm for Florida State and 33 consecutive winning seasons. Offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher was named his successor.

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Final |
| AP | 18 | — | — | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Coaches | 19 | — | — | 25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Harris | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |
| BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 7 | 8:00 p.m. | Miami (FL) | No. 18 | Doak Campbell StadiumTallahassee, FL (rivalry) | ESPN Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge, Erin Andrews | L 34–38 | 81,077 |
| September 12 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 23 (FCS) Jacksonville State* | | Doak Campbell StadiumTallahassee, FL | ESPN360 Frank Giardina, Danny Kanell | W 19–9 | 71,420 |
| September 19 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 9 BYU* | | LaVell Edwards StadiumProvo, UT | Versus Joe Beninati, Glenn Parker, Lindy Thackson | W 54–28 | 64,209 |
| September 26 | 12:00 p.m. | South Florida* | No. 18 | Doak Campbell StadiumTallahassee, FL | ESPNU Clay Matvick, David Diaz-Infante | L 7–17 | 83,524 |
| October 3 | 3:30 p.m. | at Boston College | | Alumni StadiumChestnut Hill, MA (College GameDay) | ABC/ESPN Sean McDonough, Matt Millen, Holly Rowe | L 21–28 | 40,029 |
| October 10 | 8:00 p.m. | No. 23 Georgia Tech | | Doak Campbell StadiumTallahassee, FL | ESPN2 Mark Jones, Bob Davie | L 44–49 | 76,292 |
| October 22 | 8:00 p.m. | at North Carolina | | Kenan Memorial StadiumChapel Hill, NC | ESPN Chris Fowler, Craig James, Jesse Palmer, Erin Andrews | W 30–27 | 58,000 |
| October 31 | 12:00 p.m. | NC State | | Doak Campbell StadiumTallahassee, FL | Raycom Tim Brant, Rick Walker, Mike Hogewood | W 45–42 | 67,712 |
| November 7 | 7:45 p.m. | at Clemson | | Memorial StadiumClemson, SC (rivalry) | ESPN Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge, Erin Andrews | L 24–40 | 76,656 |
| November 14 | 12:00 p.m. | at Wake Forest | | BB&T FieldWinston-Salem, NC | ESPNU Clay Matvick, David Diaz-Infante | W 41–28 | 33,411 |
| November 21 | 12:00 p.m. | Maryland | | Doak Campbell StadiumTallahassee, FL | Raycom Tim Brant, Rick Walker, Mike Hogewood | W 29–26 | 66,042 |
| November 28 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 1 Florida* | | Ben Hill Griffin StadiumGainesville, FL (rivalry) (College GameDay) | CBS Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson, Tracy Wolfson | L 10–37 | 90,907 |
| January 1 | 1:00 p.m. | vs. No. 17 West Virginia* | | Jacksonville Municipal StadiumJacksonville, FL (Gator Bowl) | CBS/Westwood One Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson, Tracy Wolfson/John Tautges, Tony Boselli | W 33–21 | 84,129 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||

## Recruits

College recruiting information :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40$^‡$ | Commit date |
| Justin Bright DB | Duncan, South Carolina | Byrnes HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 184 lb (83 kg) | 4.5 | May 20, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 75 |||||||
| Christopher Hord OL | Panama City Beach, Florida | J.R Arnold HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 317 lb (144 kg) | 5.2 | May 3, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| Gerald Demps DB | Valdosta, Georgia | Lowndes HS | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 4.6 | Apr 9, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 82 |||||||
| Willie Downs ATH | Tallahassee, Florida | Godby HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 192 lb (87 kg) | N/A | Feb 11, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 80 |||||||
| Jajuan Harley DB | Tallahassee, Florida | Rickards HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 4.4 | Feb 13, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| Willie Haulstead WR | Titusville, Florida | Titusville HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | 4.5 | May 15, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79 |||||||
| Dan Hicks TE | Oxford, Mississippi | Oxford HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 242 lb (110 kg) | 4.6 | Feb 4, 2009 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| Dustin Hopkins K | Houston, Texas | Clear Lake HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | 4.6 | Jun 25, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 80 |||||||
| Brandon Jenkins DE | Tallahassee, Florida | Florida State University School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 218 lb (99 kg) | 4.7 | Mar 1, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 80 |||||||
| Demonte McAllister DE | Tampa, Florida | Alonso HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 263 lb (119 kg) | N/A | Jul 20, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 83 |||||||
| Jacobbi McDaniel DT | Greenville, Florida | Madison HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 267 lb (121 kg) | 4.8 | Feb 7, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 91 |||||||
| C.J. Mizell LB | Tallahassee, Florida | Leon HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 212 lb (96 kg) | 4.5 | Feb 20, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79 |||||||
| Henry Orelus OL | Belle Glade, Florida | Glades Central HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 292 lb (132 kg) | 5.5 | Jul 25, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| Aubrey Phillips OL | Olive Branch, Mississippi | Olive Branch HS | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 310 lb (140 kg) | 5.1 | Feb 3, 2009 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 75 |||||||
| John Prior OL | Portsmouth, Ohio | Portsmouth HS | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 283 lb (128 kg) | N/A | Jul 12, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| Lonnie Pryor RB | Okeechobee, Florida | Okeechobee HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | 4.5 | Jul 26, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79 |||||||
| Greg Reid DB | Valdosta, Georgia | Lowndes HS | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | 4.5 | Feb 3, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 85 |||||||
| Xavier Rhodes WR | Miami, Florida | Miami Norland HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 187 lb (85 kg) | 4.47 | Jul 26, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| Will Secord QB | Frisco, Texas | Wakeland HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | 4.7 | Feb 3, 2009 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 75 |||||||
| Rodney Smith WR | Miami, Florida | Archbishop Carroll HS | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | 4.53 | Jul 26, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 80 |||||||
| Bryan Stork TE | Vero Beach, Florida | Vero Beach HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 260 lb (120 kg) | 5.0 | May 23, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| Chris Thompson RB | Greenville, Florida | Madison HS | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | 4.4 | Feb 28, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79 |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: |||||||
| ‡ Refers to 40 yard dash Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Florida State 2009 Football Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 18, 2011. "2009 Florida State Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved January 18, 2011. "2009 Player Commitments – Florida State". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 18, 2011. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved January 18, 2011. "2009 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 18, 2011. |||||||

## Game capsules
### Miami

Pregame line: FSU −4
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Miami | 7 | 7 | 3 | 21 | 38 |
| #19 Florida State | 7 | 3 | 13 | 11 | 34 |
Miami's defense stops Florida St. to back up Harris' final TD drive

### Jacksonville State

Pregame line: Lines are not released when an FCS team plays an FBS team.
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Jacksonville State | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Florida State | 7 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 19 |
Florida State steals win from lower-division Jacksonville State

### #9 BYU

Pregame line: BYU −6.5
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Florida State | 7 | 23 | 14 | 10 | 54 |
| #9 BYU | 0 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
Ponder drives Seminoles to decisive win over No. 7 Cougars

### South Florida

Pregame line: FSU −12
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| South Florida | 0 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
| #25 Florida State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
Daniels steps in for injured Grothe, lifts USF to first ever win over FSU.

### Boston College

Pregame line: FSU −5
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Florida State | 3 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 21 |
| Boston College | 7 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
BC blows 18-point lead, barely holds off FSU.

### #23 Georgia Tech

Pregame line: FSU −2.5
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #23 Georgia Tech | 14 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 49 |
| Florida State | 14 | 21 | 3 | 6 | 44 |
Nesbitt, Yellow Jackets hand third straight loss to Bowden's Seminoles.

### North Carolina

Pregame line: UNC −2.5
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Florida State | 3 | 3 | 14 | 10 | 30 |
| North Carolina | 14 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 27 |
Ponder rallies Seminoles from deficit to knock off North Carolina.

### NC State

Pregame line: FSU −7
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| NC State | 7 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 42 |
| Florida State | 7 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 45 |
Florida St. edges NC State late in barnburner

### Clemson

Pregame line: Clemson −8
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Florida State | 17 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
| Clemson | 6 | 8 | 7 | 19 | 40 |
Spiller rushes for 165 yards, touchdown as Clemson routs Florida St.
* FSU starting quarterback Christian Ponder was injured in the 4th quarter and had to leave the game. His injury required surgery and he did not return to participation until the teams non-contact drills in the spring of 2010.
* Redshirt Freshman E.J. Manuel took over for the injured Ponder, getting his first start the following week against Wake Forest.

### Wake Forest

Pregame line: Wake −5
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Florida State | 14 | 17 | 3 | 7 | 41 |
| Wake Forest | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
Thomas, Manuel help Florida State roll past Wake

### Maryland

Pregame line: FSU −17
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Maryland | 0 | 13 | 0 | 13 | 26 |
| Florida State | 7 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 29 |
Florida State edges Maryland on last-minute TD to become bowl eligible

### #1 Florida

Pregame line: Florida −21
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Florida State | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| #1 Florida | 7 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 37 |
Tebow accounts for five TDs in final home game as a Gator

### Gator Bowl vs. #16 West Virginia

Pregame line: WVU −3
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #16 West Virginia | 14 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| Florida State | 3 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 33 |
* The final game for Bobby Bowden, Mickey Andrews and Chuck Amato.
Bowden goes out a winner as Seminoles dispatch Mountaineers

## Statistics
### Team

| | Team | Opp |
| Scoring | 338 | 332 |
| Points per game | 30.73 | 30.18 |
| First downs | | |
| Rushing | | |
| Passing | | |
| Penalty | | |
| Total offense | | |
| Avg per play | | |
| Avg per game | | |
| Fumbles-lost | | |
| Penalties-yards | | |
| Avg per game | | |
* Punts-yards
* Avg per punt
* Time of possession/game
* 3rd down conversions
* 4th down conversions
* Touchdowns scored
* Field goals-attempts-long
* PAT-attempts
* Attendance
* Games/avg per game

#### Scores by quarter

* Updated after the November 21st, 2009 Maryland game.
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Florida State | 86 | 81 | 71 | 100 | 338 |
| Opponents | 68 | 111 | 52 | 101 | 332 |

### Offense
#### Passing

| Name | GP-GS | Effic | Att-Cmp-Int | Pct | Yds | TD | Lng | YPA |
| Christian Ponder | 9–9 | 147.70 | 330–227–7 | 68.8% | 2717 | 14 | 98 | 8.23 |
| E.J. Manuel | 7–4 | 124.7 | 106–69–6 | 65.1% | 817 | 2 | 43 | 8.11 |
| Total | 13–13 | 141.8 | 437–296–13 | 67.7% | 3147 | 16 | 98 | 8.22 |
| Opponents | | | | | | | | |

#### Rushing

| Name | Games Played | Carries | Yards | Fumbles Lost | YPC | TD | Long | Avg/Game |
| Jermaine Thomas | 11 | 163 | 832 | 0 | 5.1 | 9 | 54 | 62.73 |
| Ty Jones | 6 | 51 | 251 | 0 | 4.9 | 5 | 47 | 41.83 |
| E.J. Manuel | 7 | 44 | 195 | 0 | 4.4 | 2 | 24 | 19.8 |
| Christian Ponder | 9 | 72 | 179 | 0 | 2.5 | 2 | 30 | 19.89 |
| Lonnie Pryor | 9 | 27 | 156 | 0 | 5.8 | 4 | 50 | 15.11 |
| Chris Thompson | 8 | 23 | 120 | 0 | 5.2 | 2 | 49 | 12.5 |
| Bert Reed | 11 | 18 | 94 | 0 | 5.2 | 2 | 42 | 6.82 |
| Louis Givens | 6 | 8 | 58 | 0 | 7.3 | 1 | 15 | 9 |
| Tavares Pressley | 3 | 9 | 40 | 0 | 4.4 | 0 | 12 | 13.33 |
| Rodney Hudson | 11 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0.82 |
| Taiwan Easterling | 10 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0.10 |
| Jarmon Fortson | 11 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0.36 |
| Rod Owens | 11 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0.27 |
| Total | 11 | 352 | 1635 | 0 | 4.6 | 24 | 54 | 148.64 |
| Opponents | | | | | | | | |

#### Receiving

* Name
* Rod Owens
* Bert Reed
* Jarmon Fortson
* Taiwan Easterling
* Richard Goodman
* Caz Piurowski
* Lonnie Pryor
* Jermaine Thomas
* Beau Reliford
* Louis Givens
* Ty Jones
* Chris Thompson
* Willie Haulstead
* Rodney Smith
* Ja'Baris Little
* Total
* Opponents

### Defense

| Name | GP | Tackles | Tackles | Tackles | Tackles | Sacks | Pass defense | Pass defense | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Fumbles | Fumbles | Blkd Kick |
| Name | GP | Solo | Ast | Total | TFL-Yds | No-Yds | BrUp | QBH | No.-Yds | Avg | TD | Long | Rcv-Yds | FF | Blkd Kick |
| Total | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Special teams

| Name | Punting | Punting | Punting | Punting | Punting | Punting | Punting | Punting | Kickoffs | Kickoffs | Kickoffs | Kickoffs | Kickoffs |
| Name | No. | Yds | Avg | Long | TB | FC | I20 | Blkd | No. | Yds | Avg | TB | OB |
| Dustin Hopkins | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Name | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Total | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Name | Punt returns | Punt returns | Punt returns | Punt returns | Punt returns | Kick returns | Kick returns | Kick returns | Kick returns | Kick returns |
| Name | No. | Yds | Avg | TD | Long | No. | Yds | Avg | TD | Long |
| Name | | | | | | | | | | |
| Total | | | | | | | | | | |

## Projected 2009 depth chart
### Offensive

* QB – Christian Ponder Jr
* TB – Jermaine Thomas So
* FB – Marcus Sims Sr
* WR – Corey Surrency Sr
* WR – Taiwan Easterling So
* TE – Caz Piurowski Sr
* LT – Evan Bellamy So
* LG – Rodney Hudson Jr
* C – Ryan McMahon Jr
* RG – David Spurlock So
* RT – Zebrie Sanders So

### Defense

* DE – Kevin McNeil Sr
* DE – Markus White Jr
* DT – Kendrick Stewart Sr
* DT – Budd Thacker Sr
* LB – Dekoda Watson Sr
* LB – Nigel Bradham So
* LB – Kendall Smith Jr
* CB – Ochuko Jenije Jr
* CB – Patrick Robinson Sr
* S – Jamie Robinson Sr
* S – Korey Mangum Sr

### Special Teams

* K – Dustin Hopkins
* P – Shawn Powell