Florida state linebacker Ukeme Eligwe has been dismissed from the team due to a violation of team rules, head coach Jimbo Fisher announced Thursday. The specific violation or violations remain unknown as well as if it was Eligwe’s first infraction of team rules.
“Just a violation of team rules,” Fisher said when approached by reporters about Eligwe’s inactivity.
Eligwe was a part of the number two ranked 2012 recruiting class and was expected to compete for a starting position this past fall. Instead, the redshirt sophomore suffered a Lisfranc injury and missed key spring practices as well as the first four games of this season. Eligwe returned to action October 4 against Wake Forest and recorded two tackles. Still, this would be the last time Seminoles fans would see Eligwe in the FSU uniform as he has not played in another game since.
A year ago, the 6’2” 239 pound linebacker played in 12 of 13 games and became a key part of the teams BCS national championship team collecting 26 tackles and two sacks.
Despite the dismissal, coach Fisher and Florida State return four key contributors within the linebacking corps for the team’s upcoming game against Virginia Saturday.
The Seminoles currently sit comfortably at No. 2 in the nation, one of three remaining undefeated teams in the Top 25 – the others being No. 1 Mississippi State and No. 23 Marshall. Should they continue at their current pace, they will be standing among the final four when the College Football Playoff rolls around. With tough but manageable contests ahead in Virginia, Miami (FL), Boston College and their north Florida rivals over in Gainesville, their bid is certainly not locked up. But an undefeated Seminoles team would surely be postseason bound.
*Section Photo credit to 247 Sports; Featured Photo (above) credit to Seminoles.com
