’Noles have pieces to repeat

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida State players quietly stood grouped together, watching a TV in the corner of the Rose Bowl locker room.

The serene moment came minutes after the Seminoles celebrated at midfield beneath a downpour of confetti. Together, they watched the highlights of their national-championship win over Auburn, trying to take in the serendipitous outcome following their dramatic comeback.

Rashad Greene, normally stoic, had to flash a slight grin at the scene before diverting his attention back to reporters.

“It definitely will be motivation coming into next year,” said Greene, who had 147 receiving yards in the title game. “It’s a totally new team, so that team next year hasn’t done anything yet. We definitely have to start over.”

The remnants of a 34-31victory in the national championship game will be felt for some time in Tallahassee. There will chances to reflect on the 14-0 season. But then it will be time to look toward the future.

Florida State loses several key components from its championship squad, but the Seminoles return enough talent to be considered favorites to repeat in 2014.

“This team is definitely going to keep going,” said junior running back James Wilder Jr., who is leaving FSU to enter the NFL draft.

The Seminoles lose four senior starters - defensive back Lamarcus Joyner, safety Terrence Brooks, defensive end Christian Jones and linebacker Telvin Smith - from a group that led the country in scoring defense. Defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan announced he is entering the NFL draft as well, leaving a big void in the middle of FSU’s defense.

Losing Jernigan and the seniors hurts, but FSU Coach Jimbo Fisher has integrated younger players into the lineup to help offset departures.

Freshmen defensive backs Jalen Ramsey and Nate Andrews both started games this season. Sophomore linebacker Reggie Northrup earned enough playing time to have a grasp of the defense and step in for Smith while freshmen Ukeme Eligwe and Matthew Thomas showed some promise as rush ends.

“We knew in camp; we saw what these young guys could do,” Jones said. “It’s a talented freshman class and all we had to do was be examples for them, and they did a good job of falling in behind us. They’re going to be great players in the future, and it’s going to be exciting to see how the program goes after we leave.”