FSU running back Mario Pender recovering from collapsed lung

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Florida State backup running back Mario Pender is scheduled to make a quick return to the team after suffering a collapsed lung in practice this week.

Officials said that Pender suffered the injury when he ran into one of the offensive linemen blocking for him. Pender is expected to recover by next week and rejoin the team in time for the game against Wake Forest.

The contact was described as minor and he continued to practice. However, he had trouble breathing and was admitted to the hospital.

“He’s doing good, should be out of the hospital today,” coach Jimbo Fisher said Thursday. “There’s a possibility, they said he can play in 10-12 days so I don’t know. Saw him in the hospital last night, a freak thing. I mean just a bump, not even a hard shot.”

Pender is second on the team with 140 rushing yards and a touchdown on 30 carries.

Gary Shelton is one of the most recognized and honored sportswriters in the history of the state. He has won the APSE's national columnist of the year twice and finished in the top 10 eight times. He was named the Florida Sportswriter of the Year six times. Gary joined SaintPetersBlog in the spring, helping to bring a sports presence to the website. Over his time in sports writing, Gary has covered 29 Super Bowls, 10 Olympics, Final Fours, Masters, Wimbledons and college national championships. He was there when the Bucs won a Super Bowl, when the Lightning won a Stanley Cup and when the Rays went to a World Series. He has seen Florida, FSU and Miami all win national championships, and he covered Bear Bryant, Bobby Bowden and Don Shula along the way. He and his wife Janet have four children: Eric, Kevin, K.C. and Tori. To contact, visit [email protected].