ESPN College Football

Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder will miss the rest of the season with a separated right (throwing) shoulder that will need surgery, a school spokesman said on Monday.

Ponder's diagnosis opens the door for heralded redshirt freshman E.J. Manuel to start Saturday's game at Wake Forest.

"It's a shame, but it's part of ball," Florida State offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher said. "You always know you're one play away from being in there."

Ponder, after briefly considering the NFL draft, is "likely" to return for another season, the junior said Monday.

Ponder, who was ranked No. 17 in the nation in passing efficiency, hurt his shoulder in Saturday's loss to Clemson during a collision with safety DeAndre McDaniel. Ponder had just thrown his fourth interception of the game and was trying to tackle McDaniel on the return.

"During the game, I thought it was just a good collision," McDaniel said. "Then I saw he didn't come back in, and we just kept playing ball. Afterwards I tried to look for him to try and talk to him, but they had already taken him in. I heard he was out this week, and I want him to get well. I wasn't trying to injure him or anything, but I knew it was going to be a good collision."

Florida State (4-5, 2-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) must win two of its next three games to become bowl eligible and avoid its first losing season since 1976.

The 19-year-old Manuel was Fisher's prized recruit in his initial recruiting class at Florida State. Fisher is slated to become the Seminoles head coach in January 2011.

The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Manuel, who was redshirted last year, threw for nearly 7,400 yards and 68 touchdowns in high school.

Heather Dinich covers the ACC for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press and ESPN's Joe Schad was used in this report.