TALLAHASSEE -- With his right arm in a sling and a look of exasperation on his face, Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder blamed himself Monday for the play that led to his season-ending shoulder injury.

After throwing an interception in the waning minutes of Saturday's 40-24 loss at Clemson, Ponder raced toward Tigers defensive back DeAndre McDaniel and delivered a bone-jarring hit.

But instead of jolting the ball loose, the collision left Ponder with a grade-three separation of his throwing shoulder.

Speaking to reporters for the first time about the injury, Ponder said he regretted losing his cool and putting himself in harm's way.

``It was out of frustration,'' said Ponder, who threw a career-worst four interceptions in the loss. ``I let it get the best of me.''

Ponder, who leads the Atlantic Coast Conference in passing yards and total offense, is expected to undergo surgery in the next two weeks.

He will miss the Seminoles' final three regular-season games, but doctors have told him he could be throwing again in time for spring practice.

``I'm definitely upset, and I'm definitely frustrated,'' Ponder said.

``I wish I could be out there. I spent 10 months or whatever since last year getting ready for the season. And to see it go down the drain like this is difficult.''

With Ponder sidelined, FSU (4-5, 2-4 ACC) will turn its offense over to redshirt freshman E.J. Manuel, who has appeared in two games and attempted only four passes all season.

Offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher said he had hoped to get Manuel more action earlier in the year, but he didn't get a chance because only one of FSU's first eight games was decided by more than 10 points.

``I'm excited for him -- for him to have an opportunity to play,'' Fisher said.

``We'll get to see some of the things he does. I wish it was a different circumstance. [But] he's a mature young man.''

Fisher admitted he will have to restructure his game plan this Saturday against Wake Forest, a team that owns a three-game win streak against the Seminoles.

But he added that he doesn't expect to be overly conservative.

``You've got to play to win,'' Fisher said.

Ponder's injury likely will end any chance that he will leave following this season and apply for the NFL Draft.

Last week, the junior said he would wait until he received an evaluation from an NFL underclassmen advisory committee before making a decision.

``I think things have changed now,'' Ponder said at the time. ``We'll see toward the end of the season. I most likely will be back. I still have a lot to accomplish here.''

Other than Manuel, the Seminoles' only other scholarship quarterback is Will Secord, a freshman from Texas.

But Fisher said freshman walk-on Ryan Becker, a former Fort Lauderdale-St. Thomas Aquinas standout, will be the Seminoles' top backup Saturday at Wake Forest.

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