KICKING BATTLE DOWN TO WIRE

TALLAHASSEE -- When Dustin Hopkins arrived on campus this summer as the nation's top-rated kicking prospect, it was assumed that the Texas native would be handed Florida State's place-kicker position.

But with just more than a week remaining before the Seminoles open the season against Miami, Hopkins instead is locked in a heated battle with sophomore walk-on James Esco.

``Usually, one's more consistent than the other, and it depends on which day it is,'' special teams coordinator Jody Allen said. ``We'll come out here one day and boy, Hopkins will look like gangbusters, and Esco will [struggle]. Then the next day, Hopkins will have a little bit of an off day.''

FSU will hold its final scrimmage Saturday, but Allen said the Seminoles might not decide on a kicker until minutes before the Miami game.

``We might just watch them in warm-ups and see who hits them the best in warm-ups,'' he said.

Regardless of that battle, the strong-legged Hopkins likely will handle FSU's kickoffs this fall. Esco kicked off 48 times last season but recorded only two touchbacks.

NOTEWORTHY

Defensive tackles Budd Thacker (toe) and Kendrick Stewart (knee) were held out again. . . . ESPN announcers Brad Nessler and Todd Blackledge visited Friday's practice in preparation for the Labor Day broadcast.

-- IRA SCHOFFEL