Jack WilliamsTallahassee Democrat
Florida State football's spring season comes to a close on Saturday as it hosts its annual Spring Showcase at 4 p.m. at Doak Campbell Stadium.
While the stadium is still undergoing renovations, fans will get a preview of what may be in store for the Seminoles this fall.
Fan favorites like Patrick Payton, Lawrance Toafili and Shyheim Brown make their returns, but FSU football fans will get the chance to see transfers for the first time like DJ Uiagalelei, Malik Benson, Jaylin Lucas and many more.
In addition, the 1999 National Champion team will be recognized.
Honorary coaches from that team in the Showcase are defensive lineman and current state Sen. Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee, running back Travis Minor, linebacker Tommy Polley and receiver Peter Warrick.
"We'll roll through some modified timing and the main part of the scoring will be the grand finale," FSU head coach Mike Norvell said. "We're excited to get some of the past players from the 1999 team that was really special.
"It's going to be really fun seeing those guys coming back and being a part of it."
FSU players who will miss the Spring Showcase include quarterbacks Brock Glenn and Luke Kromenhoek, receiver Destyn Hill, tight end Jarrale Powers, offensive tackle Robert Scott, Jr., defensive tackle and former Gadsden County star Joshua Farmer and a handful of others.
The weather forecast calls for party cloudy skies with temperatures in the mid-80s.
Additionally, more than 50 recruits are scheduled to attend the event.
Michael Grant finds Vandrevius Jacobs for lone passing TD of day to end showcase
The Spring Showcase ends on a positive note as walk-on quarterback Redshirt freshman Grant airs it out to find Jacobs in the end zone for the touchdown.
It was the lone passing touchdown of the Spring Showcase among all the quarterbacks.
This could be used as momentum going into the fall season for both Grant and Jacobs, who are both looking to make a name for themselves on the team.
Players are gathered at midfield as FSU head coach Mike Norvell speaks to the team one more time before heading off the field.
The team has one more spring practice tomorrow before officially heading into the offseason. Final attendance for the Spring Showcase was 18,061.
Members of 1999 team being honored, taking over coaching duties
In the final 25 minutes of the Spring Showcase, legends Peter Warrick, Corey Simon, Travis Minor and Tommy Polley enter the showcase as guest coaches.
Warrick and Simon coaching the Garnet team. Minor and Polley are coaching the White team.
TJ Ferguson heads off field with apparent injury
Not long after Benson was carted off, offensive lineman Ferguson leaves the game and is getting evaluated in the medical tent.
Similar to Benson, he is also an Alabama transfer. The injury bug has not been good to FSU this spring season and that same thing has continued into the Spring Showcase.
It'll be interesting to see what the Seminoles depth chart looks like when fall rolls around.
Jaylin Lucas breaks free for first time today
Debatbily the fastest player on the roster, Lucas, breaks free for a long run before being slammed to the ground by defensive back Azareye'h Thomas.
Players in the secondary have talked all throughout the spring season about how fast Lucas is and how hard it's been to slow him down. This is Lucas's biggest gain today as defensive players have quickly gotten him on the ground or out of bounds.
Malik Benson leaves showcase after going down
Benson, who's been having a strong day, leaves the field after going down with an apparent injury. He's been a popular target for quarterback DJ Uiagalelei today and has made a handful of impressive grabs.
The Alabama transfer is in the running for one of the starting wide receiver spots this fall.
After being examined he left the stadium on a cart. Looks like an apparent left leg injury.
Big grab by Darion Williamson leads to Caziah Holmes touchdown
Williamson makes a big grab off the arm of Uiagalelei for a 40+ yard gain. In the next play, Holmes takes off and battles through a handful of defenders to break the plane for a touchdown.
While FSU has been favoring the running game a little more today, you can tell that Uiagalelei is beginning to settle in and locate passes.
Malik Benson makes an impressive grab from DJ Uiagalelei
Benson has the first impressive play of the day as he makes a long grab from DJ Uiagalelei on the sidelines over defensive back Fentrell Cypress II.
Next play, Roydell Williams runs in for a touchdown. Both are transfers from Alabama and are making introducing themselves to FSU fans early on.
The Benson catch was the first solid grab we've seen early on in the showcase.
Offense looking shakey early on
DJ Uiagalelei had two passes broken up, which were near picks, by linebacker DJ Lundy and defensive lineman Marvin Jones Jr.
It's been a similar theme to practice where the defense jumps out and the offense ends up playing catchup.
Between "action" drills, running back Jaylin Lucas is getting some reps on special teams, returning punts from Ryan Fitzgerald.
Ryan Fitzgerald hits from 42 yards, Shawn Murphy leaves game with injury
FSU's spring showcase is underway! Kicker Fitzgerald hits a 42-yard field goal to open up the event.
He was 19-of-21 in field goals last season and had a season-long of 48 yards. Fitzgerald was also a perfect 58-of-58 in points after.
On the next drive, redshirt sophom*ore linebacker Shawn Murphy left the game after going down with an injury. He is a first-year transfer from Alabama.
Murphy would return to the game.
More than 60 recruits in attendance for Spring Showcase
According to 247 Sports.com, three Tallahassee prospects have been on the visitors' list. Godby wide receiver Tylan Vickers, Gasden's County's Lamar Williams and Rickards defensive lineman Jalen Wiggins are among the local prospects that will be on the sidelines for the showcase.
Both Wiggins and Williams are in the class of 2025. Williams, a Miami commit, is rated as a four-star prospect who has received offers fromFSU, Florida A&M, Georgia Tech, Maryland and West Virginia. Wiggins, a Florida commit, is a four-star edge rusher who has received 26 FBS offers. Vickers, not rated by 247Sports, is being recruited from FSU, FAMU and Miami. - Peter Holland Jr.
More: Which FSU football prospects are at the 2024 spring game?
Showcase quarterback uniforms, weather forecast
FSU's quarterbacks will be wearing teal Seminole Heritage jerseys for today's showcase. This is the first time the football team has worn Seminole Heritage jerseys.
Defensive backs Kevin Knowles II, Earl Littler Jr. and Jayden Bradford are also wearing teal jerseys. Teal jerseys act as no-contact today.
It is currently 87 degrees and partly cloudy in Tallahassee. There is a 15% chance of precipitation and winds are gusting southwest at 10 miles per hour. The temperature is supposed to drop into the low 80s throughout the afternoon.
Injury report for FSU football Spring Showcase
The following players will not be participating in the Spring Showcase due to injury:
- Brock Glenn, QB
- Luke Kromenhoek, QB
- Joshua Farmer, DT
- Robert Scott, OT
- Jamari Howard, DB
- Destyn Hill, WR
- Jerrale Powers, TE
When is the FSU spring game today? Where can I watch it?
- When:4 p.m. Saturday, April 20
- Where:Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida
- TV:ACC Network (Channel 612 on DirecTV, Channel 402 on Dish)
- Streaming:WatchESPNand the ESPN app (TV provider subscription needed),fuboTV(7-dayfree trial),YouTube TV(2-week free trial),Hulu + Live TV(7-day free trial)
The Florida State football spring showcase will air on ACC Network.
Streaming options includefuboTV, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
Jack Williams covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at jwilliams@tallahassee.com oron X @jackgwilliams.
