Florida State’s running back room is heading into Tuesday’s scrimmage with a lot still to settle, and Kam Martin sounds eager to get some answers.
The Seminoles spent much of last season trying to piece together a backfield rotation that never really settled. Roydell Williams opened the year as the starter, but an injury in the opener against Alabama cut his role down to just nine carries over the five games he played after that.
Gavin Sawchuck ended up carrying the load by default, yet the production from Ousmane Kromah and Samuel Singleton Jr. made the pecking order even murkier. Kromah averaged 5.7 yards per carry and Singleton finished at 7.1, both ahead of Sawchuck’s 4.5.
Quarterback Tommy Castellanos wound up leading the team in carries, yards and touchdowns.
This season, the QB run game figures to matter again with Ashton Daniels taking over under center. But Florida State believes it has a clearer picture of the talent in the room now, and that should help the staff sort out who gets the first crack at New Mexico State later this month.
Martin, in his first season on the staff after coming over from Tulsa, said Monday that the job may come down to the hot hand from week to week. Even so, he sees the next stretch of camp as the chance for each back to make a real push, starting with Tuesday’s scrimmage.
"I feel like it's going to decide tomorrow," Martin said of the first scrimmage. "These guys, they've got to go out there and run the ball and protect and do all of the little things of what it takes to be the guy.
And I'm excited to see it. I'm excited to see who's gonna break tackles, I'm excited to see who's gonna protect the ball, I'm excited to see who's gonna make game-changing plays.
And I feel like these guys, they're willing to do it."
For now, the main contenders are Kromah, Singleton and Texas transfer Quintrevion Wisner. Kromah is back for his sophomore season after adding to an already powerful frame and checking in at 225 pounds this summer.
Singleton has kept developing physically and mentally since arriving in 2023 as a 178-pound four-star recruit. Wisner brings the most obvious transfer résumé of the group, having taken over as Texas’ starter in 2024 because of injuries, turned that into a 1,000-yard season, and then entered the portal after playing nine games, all starts.
Martin isn’t ready to declare a hierarchy yet, but he does like the mix. Florida State expects to use rotating backs to keep everyone fresh and fit the offense’s needs, and it should also feature plenty of 21-personnel looks with two backs on the field together. Offensive coordinator Tim Harris Jr. said last week the group’s receiving ability could lead to a split-back look on one snap and a spread look on the next, all in an effort to open up the ground game for Daniels.
"I think they all bring different skills," Martin said. "With the running back room that we have, I feel like all those guys you can put them in different situations to be on the field. I feel like you can see a lot of that coming up this season, a lot of 21."
Wisner has drawn plenty of attention because of his transfer status, but Kromah may be the most gifted pure runner in the room. He also may be the best pass-catcher. Kromah made that much clear on Monday.
"I'm a natural pass-catcher," Kromah said on Monday. "My hands are big, so it ain't never been hard for me to catch the football."
He arrived in Tallahassee as a more highly regarded high school prospect than Wisner, and his explosiveness shows up in ways the veteran’s game does not always. Kromah averaged over 16 yards per reception last season and was used on wheel routes and similar designs to take advantage of what he can do as a receiver. Wisner’s catches have mostly come on dump-offs from Arch Manning and others, with 66 receptions over the last two seasons.
Still, Wisner brings value that coaches notice quickly, especially in pass protection. That part of the job can be the toughest for a back to learn, and Wisner handled it well in 2024 and 2025, allowing just seven pressures across 107 pass-blocking snaps. PFF also graded him at 68.1 last season, which ranked him among the upper half of FBS backs.
Singleton has also put himself firmly into the conversation after finishing last season strong. Over Florida State’s final four games, he averaged nine carries and 48 yards, and Martin said his growth has shown up in every area since he arrived in January. That includes his work as a runner, receiver and pass-blocker.
"It goes all the way since I got here in January," Martin said. "Just his body, just him being in the building every day.
Sam is a guy I feel like he's gonna have a big year. He's got all the tools to be a real running back, man, and I'm excited to coach him.
All he does is smile, and I just love that guy."
There is also a broader offensive shift taking shape. With Mike Norvell back to calling plays after the retirement of OC Gus Malzahn, camp chatter has pointed toward an offense that resembles the one Norvell ran from 2020-24 when he handled those duties himself. During that stretch, Florida State used two-back sets at one of the highest rates in the country, and that kind of package should be back this fall.
At the same time, Herb Hand remains the offensive line coach, so much of the run-game structure is expected to stay close to what the Seminoles used last season, with inside zone as the foundation. Martin said that works for his group, especially given his relationship with Hand that dates back to Auburn and UCF. Kromah said there have been plenty of similarities to what he saw as a freshman, though he also described this year’s run game as having a "little twist to it," something Florida State hopes helps it finally find the consistency it was missing on the ground.
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