What, Shane, your trigger finger slipping a little here or you’re trying to see if we’re all reading these articles?
Oliver Barry CRS,GRI Real Estate Broker Bob Parks Realty 1517 Hunt Club Blvd Gallatin TN 37066 Phone: 615-826-4040 Fax: 615-822-2027 Mobile: 615-972-4239 Lake City standout chasing greatness at FSU By Corey Clark Tallahassee Democrat Published: Monday, August 20, 2012 at 2:15 p.m. Last Modified: Monday, August 20, 2012 at 2:15 p.m. TALLAHASSEE — He's familiar with the names: Simmons, Simon, Dockett, Bunkley, Johnson, etc. <http://www.gatorsports.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=GS&Date=20120820&Categ ory=WIRE&ArtNo=120829972&Ref=V1&Profile=1189&MaxW=128&border=0> Enlarge Sophomore Timmy Jernigan knows all about the great defensive tackles that came before him at Florida State. He respects what they accomplished. He just wants to be better than all of them. "I want to the best defensive tackle that ever played here," Jernigan said. "I don't want to be nothing short of that. I'm going to work every day to become that." Big words and big goals. From a big-time talent. Even on a defensive line that features a number of future NFL pros, the 6-foot-2, 300-pounder out of Columbia High School in Lake City has a way of standing out. During his true freshman season in 2011, he showed flashes of dominance, splitting double-teams to make a tackle in the backfield or slamming down a quarterback. All with the quickness and jersey number (No. 8) of someone much smaller. He didn't start a game in 2011, but still led all FSU interior linemen with 30 tackles, six tackles for loss and 2½ sacks. And he was named to a number of freshman All-America teams. Of all the great defensive tackles that have played at Florida State — including Jernigan's position coach, Odell Haggins — perhaps only Simmons had a better debut season than Jernigan. "Not really surprised," Jernigan said of his freshman production. "I'm confident in myself. Very confident. Not really cocky. But I have confidence in me, and my coaches had confidence in me. So I kind of knew what was coming." And naturally, Jernigan expects to be better as a sophomore. Because of the depth and talent Florida State has on the defensive line, Jernigan knows it might be difficult for him to rack up the eye-popping numbers some of his predecessors did. He doesn't care. "My biggest thing is being more consistent," Jernigan said. "And never taking plays off. A lot of the goals, like just stats and that type of thing, that will come. My biggest thing is just never taking a play off and being there for my teammates more. "And I feel like everything else will fall into place if I can accomplish that." Being there for his teammates was something Jernigan had to think about over the summer as well. The former U.S. Army All-American's eligibility came into question as classes wound down in August, and head coach Jimbo Fisher and his staff had to wait on final grades to be posted before they knew for sure their immensely talented tackle would be available in 2012. On Aug. 15, when the results came back, everyone associated with the Florida State football team - from coaches to players to fans - breathed a sigh of relief. "I knew that I had to grind even harder to get the work done and be there for my teammates," Jernigan said. "I knew I had it under control the entire time." Now, his attention is back to the field. He knows what kind of legacy those previous defensive tackles left at Florida State. And he knows how special it would be to be mentioned in their company some day. "I was well aware before I came here what kind of players played here before me," Jernigan said. "And that's what made me want to come here even more. That's what made me want to push myself to do even better and be even better. Because we've had some good ones come through here." -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us
