FSU football has featured one of the better offensive rushing attacks under Mike Norvell. The team has averaged 5.11 and 4.78 yards per rush the past two seasons while running the ball on 56 percent of their plays.
If you want to know, what makes those stats even more impressive? They have had that level of success without any semblance of a consistent passing attack and a below average offensive line.
However, the coaching staff has done a good job plugging holes on the offensive line with players from the transfer portal.
Their leading rusher the past two seasons came from the transfer portal. They’ve tapped into the transfer portal again for both units, and one writer things the running backs can be special going into the 2022 season:
Guys, I'm starting to worry that I might like FSU's roster too much... and I've even done many of these rankings while sober!
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) June 17, 2022
And if I'm moderately high on their DBs or D-line... I'm outright jubilant about the backfield. Noles RB room can be special.
Before we get to the RBs though, let's mention Jordan Travis. Here's FSU's splits for JUST RB RUNS for past 2 seasons:
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) June 17, 2022
w/Travis on field: 6.46 yd/rush, 15.9% stuffed, 46.5% success, 17% explosive
w/o Travis on field: 5.67 yd/rush, 22.5% stuffed, 39.5% success, 12% explosive
Travis opens up a ton for RBs - and that's not even counting what he adds as a runner himself. Last year's RBs ranked 1st in yd/rush, YAC/run, explosive play% and blocking & while Corbin is gone, Benson/Ward/Toafali should make for 1 of deepest groups in the country.
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) June 17, 2022
Remember I called out that one guy a couple of weeks back when he said the Noles didn’t have a good rushing attack?
There’s more proof to prove he had no idea what he was talking about. Hale is correct regarding the effect Jordan Travis has on the rushing attack, and the hope is he continues to trend upwards in his ability to pass in the last three games in 2021.
The offensive line should have more depth and physical presence with the transfer additions and another year of strength and conditioning with Josh Storms. One reason the running game got stuffed was the inability to anchor at the center position.
FSU has looked to address that with the addition of Kayden Lyles. The other reason was the inability of FSU wide receivers to get open (who Hale correctly named the worst in the ACC before the 2021 season). FSU coaches added more talent to that unit from the transfer portal too.
The offense has all the ingredients to make a marked improvement over the last couple of seasons. Mike Norvell almost always has an effective rushing attack, and if all of these pieces to the puzzle fit as they think? The running game will be special.