Florida State Opener Suddenly Comes With A Troubling Availability Concern

Florida State faces roster challenges as Coach Norvell updates on key injuries before their clash with New Mexico State.

Mike Norvell said Wednesday that Florida State is heading into its season opener with a few health questions still hanging over the roster, but one absence already looks likely: wide receiver Devin Carter.

Carter has been slowed by an injury during camp, and Norvell made it clear the opener against New Mexico State may come too soon.

"Right now we have a couple guys that we'll see as it continues to progress. I think I mentioned earlier in the week, Devin Carter has been slowed due to injury, he'll probably be one that's unavailable this week," Norvell told reporters Wednesday.

There are still a few more names that won’t be decided until closer to kickoff.

"A couple other guys that I'm not ready to say whether they will or will not, I think it's going to be more coming down to a game-time decision. But have been really pleased with how things have progressed for the guys who were in question earlier in camp," Norvell said.

Running back Tre Wisner appears to be in better shape. Norvell was more direct earlier in the week when asked about him.

"He'll be available," Norvell said Monday.

Tight end Chase Loftin also worked through a minor injury during fall camp, but Norvell said he has been moving in the right direction over the last week. Loftin has also added size, now listed at over 230 pounds after playing receiver last season.

"He dealt with a little bit of injury during fall camp, but has really come back well here this last week," Norvell said.

Freshman linebacker Izayia Williams is another player coming off a minor injury, and Florida State will get a better read on his workload once the game is underway.

"He's just hit the ground running, coming back in. What that looks like throughout the course of a game, how many plays, we'll get a better sense of that as we continue, as it continues to unfold," Norvell said.

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