Warrick Returns For Seminoles

Florida State's Peter Warrick waited until nearly the last minute before deciding to pass up an early shot at the NFL.

After days on indecision, the 6-foot, 190-pound junior All America wide receiver said Friday he would return to Florida State for his final season of eligibility.

"I've got a lot of goals left I want to accomplish," Warrick said. "We've got a lot of guys coming back and I care about those guys. The NFL will still be there."

However, all the news wasn't good for the Seminoles.

Junior defensive tackle Larry Smith, who missed the Fiesta Bowl with a sprained knee, said he would skip his final year of eligibility to enter the draft. The 6-5, 288-pound Smith made 47 tackles this season, including 10 for losses as part of a tackle triumvirate with Jerry Johnson and All American Corey Simon that comprised one of the nation's best defensive interiors.

Warrick said he had continually gone back-and-forth about his decision since Monday's 23-16 loss to Tennessee in the national championship game at the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Ariz., where he caught just one pass for seven yards.

"I'm happy in my heart," Warrick said. "That's all that matters right now."

Friday

Peter Warrick has some unfinished business to take care of at Florida State. (AP)

Warrick caught 61 passes for 1,232 yards and 11 ouchdowns last season. His 136 catches for 2,583 yards rank him fourth in each category on Florida State's career charts. Warrick's 24 touchdown catches put him in a third-place tie with Andre Cooper, just one behind Barry Smith and five behind career-leader E.G. Green.

"It's not all about me," Warrick said. "There are a lot of great guys around me."

Warrick also has returned 54 punts for 710 yards, averaging nearly 13 yards a return.

"What he just did will give everybody on this team more confidence about our future offensively," Florida State offensive coordinator Mark Richt said.

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