Jasen Lopez Is Channeling Charlie Ward - And Florida State Fans Are Watching Closely
It’s been more than three decades since Florida State saw an athlete juggle football and basketball at the collegiate level. The last time it happened, a guy named Charlie Ward was running the show - and he didn’t just dabble in both sports. He won the Heisman Trophy and then turned around and ran point for the Seminoles, leaving a legacy that still echoes through Tallahassee.
Now, FSU might just have another two-sport phenom in the making.
Enter Jasen Lopez.
The freshman wide receiver isn’t just a prized four-star recruit for Mike Norvell’s football program - he’s also suiting up for Luke Loucks and the Seminoles basketball team. And while the comparisons to Ward are inevitable, Lopez is carving out his own path, one practice - and one sport - at a time.
Adjusting to ACC Basketball
Lopez arrived early on campus, and instead of easing into college life, he jumped straight into the fire. ACC basketball is no joke, and Lopez admits the transition from Chaminade-Madonna High School to the college hardwood has been a learning curve.
“Obviously, these guys are way bigger, lengthier, smarter, so the game is definitely quicker,” Lopez said. “But I’d say I’ve definitely grown as a player mentally and physically.
Each and every day going against these guys that play in the ACC, it’s only getting me better. And I’m grateful for the opportunity that I was able to get up here early and get in the gym with these guys.”
That kind of humility and work ethic is what’s already turning heads around the program. Lopez isn’t just here to fill a roster spot - he’s here to compete. And he’s doing it against some of the best talent in the country.
Football Awaits
But soon, the cleats come back on.
Once basketball winds down, Lopez will shift gears and step into a wide receiver room that’s already buzzing with potential. He’s confident that the footwork and quick-twitch movement he’s honed on the hardwood will translate seamlessly to the gridiron.
“You’re trying to get by your defender constantly with the positions that I play,” Lopez said. “So, the quickness, the footwork, the balance - it all goes hand in hand.”
That crossover skillset is part of what intrigued FSU’s offensive staff, especially wide receivers coach Tim Harris Jr., who’s also taking on offensive coordinator duties. The relationship between Lopez and the coaching staff was built early and often, and that consistency played a major role in his recruitment.
“When they were recruiting me, they were constantly in contact even before I got up here,” Lopez said. “They consistently showed how good they would be with each other when I was here. That played a big factor in my recruiting process.”
The Plan Moving Forward
Lopez isn’t just testing the waters in both sports - he’s diving in. And while balancing two demanding programs is no small feat, he’s embracing the challenge head-on.
“The plan is to get in right after basketball season,” Lopez said, referring to spring football practices.
As for the long-term outlook? Lopez isn’t putting a cap on anything just yet.
“I do plan on doing this for the rest of my college career, but we’ll just see what the future holds,” he said.
It’s early, and there’s a long road ahead, but the potential is impossible to ignore. Lopez has the athleticism, the mindset, and the opportunity to do something special in Tallahassee. And if history is any indication, the last time FSU had a two-sport athlete of this caliber, it ended with a Heisman.
No pressure, right?
But for now, Lopez is focused on the day-to-day grind - one practice, one rep, one game at a time. And Florida State fans? They’ll be watching closely, wondering if they’re witnessing the start of something rare and remarkable.