Florida State may be getting a little healthier in time for Saturday’s home game against Central Arkansas, and Mike Norvell’s Wednesday update pointed to several names worth watching.
The biggest immediate boost could come from freshman defensive back Jordan Crutchfield, whom Norvell said should factor on special teams and may also get a look in the secondary. That would be a welcome development for a Seminoles defense that has already been stretched through three games, allowing 340.7 passing yards per game.
“I think you’ll see some work definitely in special teams,” Norvell said. “Hopefully, he will be able to get some plays there in the defensive backfield.”
Norvell also said he expects Rylan Kennedy to be available this week. A wrap on Kennedy’s leg raised questions after the Alabama game, but the FSU coach made it clear he believes the starter is on track to play, though he didn’t specify how much he would be used.
“full expectations for him this week.”
Wide receiver Tae’Shaun Gelsey is trending in the right direction as well, but Norvell stopped short of saying the receiver will be active against Central Arkansas. Gelsey has missed Florida State’s first three games, and Norvell said he is “getting close to being able to get back.”
"I think Tae is getting close to being able to get back," Norvell continued. "We’ll see what that looks like, and then, you know, the rest of it we’ll see. You know, guys that might be limited or not available we’ll see where that is."
There’s also a longer runway for running back Samuel Singleton Jr. and linebacker Blake Nichelson, both of whom Florida State hopes to have back later this season.
Up front, defensive lineman Kevin Wynn could be in line for a bigger workload after playing 16 snaps against the Crimson Tide. Norvell said the staff wants to keep building him up, especially with other players limited on the defensive line.
“Yeah, he’s coming along. He’s a guy we’ve had to kind of manage a little bit.
Obviously, he’s a big presence. He's done a great job with his body," Norvell said.
"Hopefully we’ll be able to continue to see that progression where you get in 20, 25 snaps in the game. [It] would help us there on the defensive front, as we’ve had some guys with limited availability."
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FSUs Coaching Future May Come Down To One Brutal Money Reality
Florida States football future is no longer just about wins and losses, because any serious conversation about Mike Norvell now runs straight into the money. The Seminoles have poured heavily into facilities and support around the program, and that commitment has made the coaching seat feel even more expensive to touch. Firing Norvell would not be a simple reset, but a major financial decision layered on top of the pressure that comes with trying to keep pace in a demanding era.
Jimbo Fishers name naturally surfaces in that kind of talk because of his history in Tallahassee and the strange economics attached to his situation at Texas A&M. The idea is tempting in a nostalgic, budget-conscious sort of way, but it also underscores how tightly Florida States next move could be tied to buyout math as much as football logic. For a program trying to chart its next step, the real issue may be whether it can afford a change before it can even decide what kind of change it wants. [Read more 🡒]
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ESPNs Kyle Bonagura has already penciled Florida State into the Frisco Bowl against Memphis, which would add an extra layer of intrigue because the Tigers were once coached by Mike Norvell. Memphis is off to a 3-1 start under first-year coach Charles Huff and remains a program with a recent habit of reaching the postseason, so if that projection holds, it would give Seminoles fans a familiar name on the other sideline in a game with a bit more personal texture than usual. [Read more 🡒]
Norvells QB Backing Puts Florida State Under Pressure This Week
Ashton Daniels left Florida States opener with plenty of volume and even more to sort through after a 50-36 loss to Alabama, but Mike Norvell was quick to point out the positives as the Seminoles turn the page. Daniels threw for 377 yards and accounted for four total touchdowns, and even with three interceptions, Norvell highlighted the quarterbacks confidence and decision-making as reasons to believe the performance was more encouraging than the final score suggested.
Now the challenge shifts to what comes next, because Central Arkansas is the kind of opponent that can test a team in a different way. Florida State has the talent to move past the Alabama loss quickly, but it also has to show it can stay sharp and locked in against a lower-ranked team, especially with the season still in its early stages and the margin for a slow start already in the rearview mirror. [Read more 🡒]