The Tribune

by RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

MAVIN Saunders and his Florida State Seminoles are expected to be one of the top teams in NCAA Division I football this season and the redshirt junior tight end is also expected to continue his progression.

The Seminoles opened the season ranked at No.3 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll when it was released yesterday.

The third ranked spot marks Seminoles' highest preseason ranking in the last three years and the sixth time in eight seasons under head coach Jimbo Fisher that the team will open in the top 10.

The Seminoles open the season with the highest ranked college football matchup in nearly 70 years when they face the No.1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide on September 2 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are ranked second, the USC Trojans are fourth and the defending champion Clemson Tigers round out the top five teams.

It begins a strong schedule for the 'Noles that includes matchups against five ranked teams - Clemson, Louisville Cardinals (No.16), Florida Gators (No.17) and Miami Hurricanes (No.18).

Saunders heads into the season second on the depth chart at tight end behind fellow redshirt junior Ryan Izzo. Izzo said he has seen dramatic improvement from Saunders in the last few seasons.

"Definitely maturing a lot more," Izzo said. "(From) when we both came in as freshmen, he's come light years. He's athletically a freaky guy. To see him really just taking coaching and focusing on details is special. I think he's going to have a good year."

He also looks forward to the Seminoles' offence using more two tight end sets to have both players more involved in the passing game this season.

"I think it just created mismatches," Izzo said. "Having two 6-5, 255-guys out there who are able to create mismatches on bigger linebackers. And also in the run game, having those two big bodies creating holes for Dalvin(Cook) last year and even for Jacques (Patrick) and Cam (Akers) this year, just creates mismatches."

Saunders' offseason has been filled with off-the-field accolades thus far. In consecutive weeks, Saunders has been named to the Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Honour Roll and was also nominated to the Allstate Insurance Company/American Football Coaches Association 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.

To receive the honour, students have to maintain a 3.0-grade point average or better in the classroom.

Saunders' nomination to the prestigious Good Works Team was based on his contributions to the surrounding community in Tallahassee, Florida. He served as a volunteer mentor at Riley Elementary School in Tallahassee, Florida for over 18 months. He began the initiative to earn extra credit for a criminology course but has discretely continued his role well beyond the intended completion date of the mandated programme.

The Seminoles finished 10-3 last season, capped by a win over the Michigan Wolverines in the Orange Bowl.

The 6'6", 258-pound Bimini native finished his sophomore season with 10 receptions for 182 yards, both career highs.