Florida State’s injury list has turned Saturday’s trip to Boston College into something more than just another ACC game. It’s a chance for the Seminoles’ younger players to step into bigger jobs, and maybe give a preview of what the roster could look like down the stretch of the 2026 season.
FSU comes in at 3-5 overall and 1-4 in league play, riding a three-game losing streak and trying to patch together answers as the injuries keep piling up on both sides of the ball. The offense has already lost senior wide receiver Duce Robinson for the season, and the running back room has thinned out with Tre Wisner dealing with an injury. That has forced the Seminoles to lean harder on youth, and a few names are suddenly in line for real snaps.
One of the biggest opportunities belongs to freshman running back Amari Thomas. The former four-star prospect from Blountstown has mostly been tucked behind Ousmane Kromah, Wisner and Samuel Singleton, but that depth chart has been wiped out for now.
With all three unavailable, Thomas is expected to carry a much larger load against the Eagles. Coaches and teammates have praised his explosiveness and his ability to make defenders miss in space, and now he gets the chance to show it in a bigger role.
The receiver group is also changing fast. With Robinson out for the rest of the season, freshman Jasen Lopez should see more work alongside Micahi Danzy and Jayvan Boggs.
Lopez has already flashed in recent weeks, and his best moment came against Clemson, when he hauled in a 41-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter. He finished that game with season highs in catches, yards and touchdowns - four receptions, 52 yards and a score - and now his target share figures to rise.
Another young receiver worth watching is Devin Carter, who made his season debut against Clemson after missing time with multiple injuries. He wasn’t targeted in that game, but just getting on the field mattered after he was sidelined through fall camp and much of the season. Carter had created plenty of buzz during spring practice before the injuries hit, and Saturday could be the first real chance for him to get his first collegiate catch.
Up front, sophomore defensive tackle Kevin JuJu Wynn is also in position for more responsibility. Wynn has 15 tackles and one sack this season while working back from injuries that slowed the start of his college career.
Florida State has long considered him an important piece on the defensive line, and that need only grows with Deante McCray unavailable against Boston College. With the defensive front looking for more consistency, Wynn and the Desir twins will be asked to help steady things.
In the secondary, junior cornerback Charles Lester has been one of the players making the most of the extra snaps created by injuries. He has 12 tackles on the season and posted a season-high four tackles in a recent game. After waiting much of his career for a real opening, Lester is starting to turn that opportunity into production, and with four games left, he has a chance to keep building his case for a bigger role next season.
Florida State’s lineup is changing because it has to. Against Boston College, that means the spotlight shifts to the young players who have been waiting for their turn.
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Florida State Just Gave Its Interim Defense Some Needed Veteran Help
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Jameis Winston Just Took On A New Role In FSUs Reset
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The move comes as Florida State sorts through major changes after firing Mike Norvell, with interim coach Rick Stockstill guiding the team into its next stretch of games. It also comes alongside a new partnership between the university and its NIL arm, Battles End, a sign the Seminoles are trying to tighten the alignment around the program while leaning on familiar faces who still carry weight with the fan base. [Read more 🡒]