Florida State may have a new option ready to join the receiver mix just in time for Clemson.
Head coach Mike Norvell said Wednesday that freshman wideout Devin Carter is expected to be available this week after missing the start of the season with an upper-body injury suffered in the preseason. Carter, a true freshman from the 2026 class, is back in his first week practicing with the offense, and Norvell said he has already started to flash the talent that made him a highly regarded recruit.
“Devin, I’m expecting to be available this week. What that looks like, he’s been able to get out there," Norvell said.
"This is his first week back and practicing with the offense. He’s gone out there and showed some of the flashes, which we know when it comes to his ability."
How much Carter will actually play remains to be seen, but even a limited debut would add another name to an offense already leaning on Duce Robinson. Robinson leads the Seminoles with 22 catches for 407 yards and four touchdowns, while Jayvan Boggs has 351 receiving yards and Micahi Danzy has 293. Florida State is averaging 234.1 passing yards and 414.3 total yards per game.
Robinson said Carter already looks comfortable again after his return to practice.
"It looks like he never left. He's been out there making plays, running around like a chicken with its head cut off," Senior wide receiver Duce Robinson said after practice. "I'm really happy to have him back."
Carter came to Florida State as a four-star prospect out of Douglas County High School in Georgia. ESPN listed him as the No. 136 player nationally and the No. 20 wide receiver in the 2026 class.
His high school production backed up that ranking. During his senior season, even with an early injury, Carter still hauled in 26 catches for 431 yards and five touchdowns and helped Douglas County reach the third round of the state playoffs. As a sophomore at Cedar Grove, he posted 51 receptions for 895 yards and 13 touchdowns while helping his team win a state championship.
Carter is also the son of former Florida State All-American and first-round NFL draft pick Dexter Carter, who won a Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers.
Florida State faces Clemson at 7:00 p.m. ET on Halloween night.
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 🡒]