Mobile's Chris Casher, former 5-star recruit, no longer on team at Florida State (original) (raw)
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FSU Media Day
Florida State defensive end Chris Casher (21) talks to reporters during Florida State's media day Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, in Newport Beach, Calif. Auburn will take on FSU in the BCS National Championship on Monday. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)
Mobile native Chris Casher has left the football team at Florida State, Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher said Friday.
Fisher did not give a reason for Casher's departure, but a source indicated to AL.com that the decision was related to academics. It was not immediately clear where, if anywhere, Casher planned to continue his college football career.
Casher, a fifth-year senior and former top recruit, has seen his career marred by injury. He moved to tight end in the spring, but was not listed on the fall roster released earlier this week.
Casher was a five-star defensive end and a Top 30 national recruit in the Class of 2012 after playing at Faith Academy through his junior year of high school. He then transferred to Davidson High School, but was not able to gain eligibility and sat out his senior season.
Casher joined the Seminoles in the same recruiting class as future Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston. The two were roommates at FSU as freshmen.
Casher's on-field career never reached the height of Winston's, largely due to injury. He played in three games as a true freshman in 2012 before suffering a season-ending knee injury and taking a redshirt year.
He played in 13 games as a redshirt freshman in 2013, when the Seminoles won the national championship. Casher totaled 25 tackles, two sacks and returned a fumble for a touchdown as a rotation player at defensive end.
Casher also saw action in 13 games in 2014, finishing with 28 tackles and one sack. His 2015 season was marred by knee surgery that limited him to eight games.
Casher's Florida State career was also marked by a number of off-field incidents, most of them also involving Winston. The two were briefly detained by police twice during their freshman years following a pair of pellet gun related incidents, one on campus and one at an off-campus apartment complex.
Casher was also present on the infamous night on which Winston was accused of rape. Casher told authorities he walked in on the sexual encounter between Winston and Erica Kinsman (who later settled a Title IX lawsuit against Florida State), but insisted the encounter was consensual.
Casher soon after issued a public apology for his actions.
Casher has one season of eligibility remaining. Should he transfer to an FCS or lower school, he could be immediately eligible to play this fall.
Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher is expected to address reporters at ACC Media Days on Friday.
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