An injury to starting strong safety Tyler Hunter could lead to some shuffling in Florida State's secondary for Saturday's game at Boston College.
Hunter (5-feet-11, 198 pounds), a first-year starter, has eight tackles and an interception through three games despite missing most of last week's rout of Bethune-Cookman. The school called the injury a neck contusion, and coach Jimbo Fisher told reporters that Hunter continues to be evaluated by doctors.
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Boston College has a dangerous weapon at wide receiver in senior Alex Amidon (6-0, 182), who has 20 receptions and two TDs in three games. Amidon was a first-team All-ACC pick last season; he has good speed, can get deep and is effective over the middle. But BC has no real No. 2 receiving threat.
Florida State true freshman Jalen Ramsey (6-1, 195), who started the first three games at cornerback, has been working at safety this week. Hunter's listed backup is sophomore Keelin Smith (6-3, 185), who was converted from corner during spring practice.
If Ramsey ends up playing safety this week or in the future, FSU still looks fine at corner. Coaches have confidence in backups Nick Waisome (5-10, 176), a junior who started all 14 games last season, and P.J. Williams (6-0, 190), a sophomore.
"This is where [depth] comes in handy," Fisher told reporters. "You never know what's going to happen."
Redshirt freshman defensive end Chris Casher is an example of that. Sophomore defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. missed the Bethune-Cookman game while recovering from hand surgery, and Casher stepped in and played so well he was the coaching staff's pick as the defensive player of the week.
Casher (6-4, 260) had a career-high 10 tackles and two tackles for loss. He was a consensus top-30 national recruit in the 2012 recruiting cycle despite being forced to sit out his senior season in Mobile, Ala., for a contested switching of schools. He then missed last season with a knee injury, meaning Saturday's game was the first real action he had seen since 2010.
Edwards is expected back this week -- he will play with a cast on his hand -- but Casher's play gives FSU extra depth at end.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
