EJ Manuel: Meet Florida State's New Quarterback (PHOTO, POLL)

EJ Manuel: Meet Florida State's New Quarterback (PHOTO, POLL)

EJ Manuel, a freshman redshirt from Virginia Beach (Bayside), will make his first career start with the Florida State Seminoles in a key game at Wake Forest on Saturday.

Manuel was tapped to start in Winston-Salem, N.C., after junior starting QB Christian Ponder suffered a shoulder injury at the end of Florida State's game against Clemson.

Manuel was rated the nation's top prep quarterback in 2008 by some recruiting analysts, though he'll be filling in for the Atlantic Coast Conference's QB leader in passing, reports the Miami Herald.

One blogger noted he has high hopes for the "stud QB named EJ Manuel," predicting a Heisman in two years.

But College Fantasy Football Insider writes, "The loss of Ponder is a big blow for the Noles; while Manuel brings a great deal of potential, he is an inexperienced signal caller."

FSU Coach Bobby Bowden says that offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher will only feed Manuel "what he can handle" in terms of plays for his first start.

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