TALLAHASSEE -- If Florida State is going to break its three-game losing streak to Wake Forest, the Seminoles are going to have to do it with a new starting quarterback.

Redshirt freshman E.J. Manuel, who has attempted four passes all season, will make his first career start Saturday when the Seminoles travel to Winston-Salem, N.C. Manuel is being rushed into duty because FSU lost junior starter Christian Ponder to a shoulder injury in last Saturday's 40-24 loss at Clemson.

The Seminoles won't know if Ponder will be back in time for their final two games -- at home against Maryland or in the regular-season finale at Florida -- until he undergoes further examinations Monday.

In the meantime, they will work to create a game plan that Manuel can manage.

``We will cut things back,'' offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher said. ``We will find out what E.J. does and does well, because everybody is different. We will try to put him in a position to be successful.''

Ponder, who leads the Atlantic Coast Conference in passing, has been one of the few bright spots for Florida State (4-5, 2-4 ACC) this season. But after missing considerable practice time last week with bruised ribs, he struggled at Clemson and threw four interceptions.

Ponder then sustained a separated right shoulder while making a tackle after his final interception.

If there is a bright side to Manuel's move up the depth chart, it's that he took most of the snaps with the first-team offense last week while Ponder rested his rib injury. And FSU coach Bobby Bowden said those reps appeared to make a world of difference in the young signal-caller's development.

``He looked pretty good,'' Bowden said. ``It's just different in the game. I felt like watching him last week that he has really improved. I think Coach Fisher feels the same way. But when you get into a ballgame, that's much different.''

Though he hasn't played much yet on the college level, Manuel has a solid pedigree. The Virginia Beach, Va., product was rated by some recruiting analysts as the nation's top prep quarterback in 2008, and he was Fisher's first quarterback recruit at Florida State. Though Bowden acknowledged it would be difficult to predict that Manuel will have success against a Wake Forest team that has given FSU quarterbacks fits in recent years, he said he wouldn't rule it out.

``You never know -- some kids really play out in that situation,'' Bowden said. ``How is he going to do? I don't know, but I am anxious to see.''

Though he feels badly for Ponder, Manuel is excited about the opportunity.

``Christian's done an awesome job, and I've learned so much from him and I feel I'm ready,'' Manuel said. ``I'm sure Coach Fisher is going to put us all in positions we need to be in in order to be successful, and we'll be fine.''

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