Florida State doesn’t need a complicated answer for Clemson. It needs Duce Robinson involved early and often.
The 6-foot-6 receiver already showed what that can look like in last year’s matchup on the road, when he hauled in nine catches for 134 yards in a 24-10 loss to the Tigers. Now the teams meet again Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium, and Robinson has the chance to be the difference-maker that tilts the game Florida State’s way.
If that happens, it would give Mike Norvell only his second win over Clemson and deliver Florida State’s first victory over the Tigers in Tallahassee since 2014.
Robinson’s return to campus came with real expectations. He was a 1,000-yard receiver last season and earned first-team All-ACC honors, and in hindsight, he probably should have entered the NFL Draft. Instead, he came back to Florida State, leaving money on the table for another year in garnet and gold.
His numbers have dipped this season, but the story isn’t all on Robinson. Norvell and quarterback Ashton Daniels have played a big part in that, too. The offense has been slowed by poor play-calling from Norvell and by Daniels, who has completed less than 60 percent of his passes and thrown eight interceptions.
That said, Daniels arrives off his best performance of the season. Against Miami, he threw for 298 yards and four touchdowns, a showing that earned him ACC Quarterback of the Week honors.
Robinson has still found ways to produce. He has 22 catches for 407 yards and four touchdowns, and his 18.50 yards per catch ranks fourth in the ACC. He has only had two 100-yard receiving games this season, but one of them came last week against Miami, when he posted five catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns.
Clemson, though, presents a far tougher test. Its defense has been the backbone of the team this season, and the front has been wrecking games lately with 10 sacks and 23 tackles for loss over its last two contests. The secondary has done its part as well, generating four interceptions while giving up only seven touchdown passes in seven games.
Still, Robinson brings a problem Clemson can’t ignore. His size makes him a natural fit against smaller defenders, especially on contested catches, and he looks like the kind of weapon that belongs in the red zone. He entered the season with 18 contested catches, the most of any returning receiver in the ACC, and he’s the type of target Florida State should lean on more as the year goes on.
For that to work, the Seminoles’ offensive line has to hold up. Daniels needs time.
Robinson needs chances. And Florida State needs its best mismatch to show up when it matters most.
In Other News...
Florida State Clemson Week Just Got Bigger Than The Game
Florida States Halloween home date with Clemson is shaping up to be more than just a rivalry game. The school is planning themed events around the matchup, including a drone show and a Trunk or Treat, giving the night a little extra pageantry before the Seminoles even take the field. On top of the holiday atmosphere, the program will also honor Peter Warrick with an NFF College Football Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute during the game, adding a nod to one of the programs most recognizable former stars.
The bigger off-field storyline, though, may be what comes next for the athletic department. Florida State president Richard McCullough said the search for a new athletic director will begin soon, an important step as the school looks to steady its leadership picture while the football program keeps moving through a pivotal stretch. With Clemson coming to town on a night packed with events and recognition, it is the kind of weekend that blends celebration, tradition and a little uncertainty in Tallahassee. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Fans Just Turned On Mike Norvell In Public
Frustration around Florida States football program has spilled beyond social media and into a public campaign aimed directly at Mike Norvell. Ahead of the upcoming game against Clemson, fans have started a GoFundMe to hire an aircraft to fly a banner over campus reading FIRE MIKE NORVELL, a stark sign of how quickly patience has worn thin as the Seminoles have struggled under the current regime.
The move also speaks to a broader sense that university leadership has not done enough to answer the programs slide, even with Norvells contract extension and buyout factors in the background. Whether the banner ever flies or not, the message is clear: a vocal segment of the fan base wants a much faster response to the on-field problems, and they are now making sure everyone inside and outside the stadium knows it. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Line Faces A Brutal Test With Ashton Daniels At Risk
Florida States offensive line has become the obvious pressure point as the Seminoles head into a matchup that will ask a lot more of Ashton Daniels than simply extending plays with his legs. Coach Hand has been clear that the group has to do a better job in pass protection if Daniels is going to work from a cleaner pocket, and the stakes are easy to see. Daniels has been one of Florida States most dangerous threats with 354 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, but the protection issues have also helped contribute to eight interceptions under pressure.
Clemson is hardly the kind of defense that lets an offensive line ease into anything. The Tigers have piled up 20 sacks this season and have recently been smothering opponents on the ground, holding them to low rushing totals and keeping them out of the end zone. For Florida State, the challenge is bigger than just surviving a pass rush, because Daniels best traits and the Seminoles overall rhythm may depend on whether the pocket holds long enough for the offense to function the way it wants to. [Read more 🡒]