TALLAHASSEE — Florida State has had All-American operating backs and prolific offenses. However the Seminoles by no means featured one which had a sport like Saturday, racking up college data in speeding yards (498) and speeding touchdowns (eight) in a 66-10 rout of Kent State.
Quarterback Tommy Castellanos had two speeding touchdowns and is seen by teammates as one of the electrical gamers in school soccer. However he’s made certain to reward his linemen for his and FSU’s success.
“They’re large, they’re bodily, and so they transfer our bodies,” Castellanos mentioned.
The video games for Eighth-ranked FSU (3-0) will get harder, starting at Virginia within the ACC opener on Friday evening and towards Miami in a possible top-10 showdown on Oct. 4 in Tallahassee. However this has been a powerful offensive stretch.
The Seminoles’ 143 factors scored in back-to-back assure video games — together with 77 factors towards FCS program East Texas A&M — are essentially the most in a two-game stretch in class historical past. Listed below are 5 issues we realized in FSU’s thrashing of Kent State.
FSU made all the correct strikes within the portal
Coach Mike Norvell’s switch strikes have been hits (2022 and ’23) and misses (2024). The early returns on 2025 have been notable hits.
FSU landed 24 transfers within the offseason — a minimum of one in every place group — and the contributions are clear every week. However past the stats and factors, the match and management are there. The Seminoles are holding one another accountable.
It’s additionally evident within the errors inside a 56-point win, with Castellanos critiquing himself for an interception. And in James Williams pointing to errors on protection, even when the group allowed only a landing and a area objective.
The operating again depth is absurdly good
FSU isn’t simply operating the ball effectively. The Seminoles have 1,089 speeding yards and 17 speeding touchdowns by means of three video games — greater than the 12-game complete of 1,079 speeding yards and eight speeding touchdowns from 2024.
On a day when FSU’s floor assault set college data, Samuel Singleton had two speeding touchdowns. Singleton shouldn’t be even on FSU’s depth chart, which lists 5 operating backs. One other reserve tailback, Zay Parks, had 5 carries for 35 yards.
With Roydell Williams and Caziah Holmes out because of damage, FSU showcased six operating backs who acquired two or extra carries. It’s not sure how a lot they’ll play towards ACC groups, however they are going to be wanted if FSU is shorthanded because of damage.
Micahi Danzy is greater than a gadget choice
Redshirt freshman Micahi Danzy is the quickest 400-meter sprinter in ACC historical past. He’s additionally greater than a man who can simply take the ball on reverses, end-arounds and jet sweeps.
A operating again in 2024, Danzy is now a receiver. On Saturday, Danzy caught two downfield passes (65 yards and 47 yards). Whereas it confirmed Castellanos’ downfield accuracy, Danzy’s velocity and skill to win one-on-one matchups in protection makes him an added risk.
“You’ll be able to see the arrogance simply rising with each play that he will get,” Norvell mentioned.
FSU’s protection isn’t happy
The Seminoles allowed 75 yards on a busted-coverage landing cross and simply 131 yards on Kent State’s different 11 drives. Kent State additionally managed simply 43 speeding yards on 28 carries (1.5 yards). These numbers ought to make FSU’s gamers and coaches glad.
“I don’t care what the hell the rating mentioned,” defensive coordinator Tony White mentioned. “It’s about the way in which you play on the grass. The good factor is that they [players] felt that, too.”
White additionally mentioned Sunday he hasn’t been contacted by UCLA, his alma mater, in regards to the head teaching opening.
“There isn’t any different job,” White mentioned. “There isn’t any different privilege larger than the one I’ve proper now.”
FSU’s largest weak spot: Punt returns
There’s not a lot to critique within the large image from FSU’s 3-0 begin, however punt returns have been a sore spot. Jaylin Lucas struggled to area punts Saturday, with one going over his head for 63 yards. Lucas caught one other and misplaced six yards on his return.
FSU has tried BJ Gibson, a receiver who was additionally an outfielder on the baseball staff. The coaches should determine who’s their best choice.
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