The Daily Nole

FSU RB Mario Pender Dismissed from Team

wlpearce.com/FSU athletics

The embattled career of Florida State running back Mario Pender came to an end on Saturday after the fifth-year senior was arrested on charges of domestic violence by strangulation and resisting arrest without violence. Pender has since been dismissed from the program.

Pender missed time during each of his four seasons on campus, mostly to injury, but Pender was academically ineligible for the 2013 season. Pender’s first career carry went for a touchdown in the 2014 opener against Oklahoma State, but his inability to stay on the field cost the Cape Coral native a more productive career.

Pender finishes his FSU career with just 346 yards rushing and six total touchdowns. Pender appeared in just 12 career games for the Seminoles.

What it means: The dismissal of Pender serves as more of an unfortunate ending to a once promising career than a huge blow to the team. Pender missed significant time in the spring and some felt that sophomore Jacques Patrick and redshirt junior Ryan Green had lapped Pender in the quest for playing time behind starter Dalvin Cook at tailback. The loss of Pender will affect depth at running back a bit, but the on-field repercussions for FSU will be minimal.

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  1. Pingback: Blue Chip RBs Have Been Hit and Miss for FSU - Fifth Quarter

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