The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Florida State football programme has been in a state of flux recently dealing with key injuries and to a lack of activity due to the fallout of Hurricane Irma.

As the Seminoles get set to return to the field this weekend, Mavin Saunders was one of 11 players named to the Allstate American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team.

Saunders was nominated for the honour in July based off of his contributions to the surrounding community in Tallahassee, Florida as a volunteer mentor at Riley Elementary School.

He was also named to the Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Honour Roll.

According to a release issued by the organisation: "The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team recognises incredible stories of selflessness and community service and honours their dedication to volunteerism and enriching the lives of others. "The 2017 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team will be invited to New Orleans to participate in a special community service project ahead of the 2018 Allstate Sugar Bowl, where the entire team will also be recognised on the field at halftime.

"In addition, Allstate will honour Good Works Team players by creating special volunteer events in select markets throughout the season in conjunction with its All Hands In programme, which encourages the college football community to come together and do good."

On the field, the No.17 ranked Seminoles lost 24-7 to No.1 ranked Alabama in week one, followed by a cancelled week two game against the ULM Monroe Warhawks and a postponed week three matchup against the Miami Hurricanes.

FSU will host the North Carolina State Wolfpack at broadcast live at noon on ABC. The Seminoles will be without starting quarterback Deondre Francois, and will rely on true freshman quarterback James Blackman to fill the void in his first career start.

Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher said the tight ends - Saunders and Ryan Izzo - would be key to Blackman gaining comfort in the offence. "Mavin's starting to come back around, not struggled in camp but he was just off a little bit but he's starting to come back around and really starting to play and we'll have to have him because having two tight ends is very big," he said.

Like Nik O'Leary was for Jameis [Winston] with big completions, certain things he found Nik one on one. Izzo is one of those guys and Mavin is developing into that with that athleticism."