Florida State’s trip to Chestnut Hill turned into more than just a bounce-back win. In the first game after Mike Norvell was fired, the Seminoles leaned hard on younger players, and a few of them answered in a way that could shape the rest of the season.
Interim coach Rick Stockstill made changes before the Boston College game, and the most important ones came in the form of expanded roles for underclassmen. Florida State still needs to keep winning to reach a bowl for the first time in three years, and that means these younger pieces are no longer just depth options. They have to matter now.
Amari Thomas made the strongest case of all. The freshman running back scored two touchdowns against Boston College and looked like the more natural fit in the backfield.
He ran with confidence, chose his moments well and averaged 5.2 yards per carry. That was better production than Tre Wisner, the current starter and Texas transfer, who has 25 carries for 101 yards and no scores since taking over the job against Clemson.
Wisner left that game early, and while he remains a talented back who should still be involved, Thomas looks like the runner who should get the bulk of the carries over the final three games.
Florida State also may have found a new answer at receiver after Duce Robinson’s ACL tear. Jasen Lopez got his chance against Boston College and did his best to fill the same kind of role Robinson had been playing.
Ashton Daniels and Robinson had built a connection on deep balls, and the Seminoles needed someone who could threaten defenses in a similar way. Lopez is only 6-foot, so he does not offer Robinson’s size or catch radius, which puts more pressure on Daniels to place the ball perfectly.
But Lopez brings speed and separation, and there were moments against Boston College that suggested he can help cover the loss. The performance was not explosive, but the flashes were enough to stand out.
Devin Carter was part of that same freshman wave, too. He saw the field as a kick returner, and while Micahi Danzy and Jayvan Boggs remain important pieces of the offense, Carter appears close to becoming a pass-catching option for Daniels as well.
The offensive line situation gave Florida State another look at a possible long-term answer. Starters Xavier Chaplin and Bradyn Welch-Joiner were injured against Boston College, though Chaplin returned.
Welch-Joiner, meanwhile, left on a cart after an aircast was applied, and it is safe to say he will spend the rest of the season recovering. That opened the door for Chavez “Sandman” Thompson, who stepped in right away and made an impact.
That matters now, and it may matter even more later. Florida State has already seen enough roster turnover this season, and more players are expected to leave through the transfer portal at the end of the year.
This stretch gives young players a chance to lock down roles and give the next coach a reason to keep them around. If Thompson keeps playing like this, Florida State will have a much harder time losing him.
In Other News...
Florida States Ground Game Faces A Brutal Test At Pitt
Florida State heads to Pittsburgh off a needed win over Boston College, but the Seminoles ground game is walking into one of its toughest assignments of the season. The running back room has been hit by injuries, and that puts even more pressure on an offense trying to find balance on the road against a Panthers defense that has made a habit of shutting down the run.
Pittsburgh is allowing just 68 rushing yards per game, a number that underscores how difficult it has been to move the ball on the ground against the Panthers. They also arrive with a little momentum after ending their losing streak against Georgia Tech, and their recent success against Florida State only adds to the challenge for a Seminoles team that may need to win this game in less familiar ways. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Finally Found A Spark It Desperately Needed On The Road
For a team that had spent so long searching for anything to jolt its season on the road, Florida State found a much-needed lift at Boston College. The Seminoles snapped a 12-game road losing streak and carried a 21-17 lead into halftime, with the kind of early momentum that had been missing away from Tallahassee. A fake field goal helped set the tone, and interim coach Rick Stockstill said offensive line coach Herb Hand was the one who brought the trick play to the table.
Gabe Panikowski finished the play in style, turning the surprise call into a touchdown, while freshman Amari Thomas gave Florida State another boost with 98 rushing yards and two scores. For a team still trying to build something sturdier under Stockstill, the win offered a rare road breakthrough and a reminder that the Seminoles can still find answers in unexpected places. The next test comes Nov. 13 against Pittsburgh, where Florida State will try to make this one feel like the start of something. [Read more 🡒]
Florida States Youth Movement Just Changed The Feel Of This Team
Florida States win over Boston College had the feel of a team trying to reset itself in real time. With interim head coach Rick Stockstill guiding the sideline after the dismissal of Mike Norvell, the Seminoles leaned on a younger look and a next-man-up approach to survive the kind of game that can easily slip away when injuries start piling up.
Amari Thomas became the central figure in that response, carrying the offense with 19 rushes for 98 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner. In a 31-24 finish, Florida State showed enough resilience to get through the chaos and enough fresh energy to hint at what this roster might look like as it keeps moving forward. [Read more 🡒]