Injury impact: Ponder looks for Chick-fil-A bounce back.

When a player has to get in a rhythm to succeed, any small issue could be damning.

For Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder, the issue was injury. Ponder was never really himself after developing a right forearm injury that eventually required two surgeries.

Ponder's passes fluttered. His arm looked weaker than many already consider it to be. It knocked him out of games against Clemson and Virginia Tech.

Gil Brandt of NFL.com recently said that Ponder is a guy you take late in the first round. I'm not sure he'll go that high, but the late second may be more apt.

Of course, a bad game tonight and a poor showing in the offseason could be problematic.

Making quick reads and throws is Ponder's specialty and he'll have to do that tonight against the Gamecocks. If his arm doesn't allow him to do that, he'll be feeling the impact of his injury in April.