After enjoying the luxury of a Week 8 bye, Florida State needs to hit the ground running with the Clemson Tigers awaiting this weekend. The Seminoles fought hard in Week 7 against Miami before dropping the overtime contest in a game that will forever be remembered by the two unfortunate calls that ended a potential upset.
Despite dropping to a 3-4 record, Florida State does not have time to waste this season, with coach Mike Norvell expected to return. The administration has been dragging out the situation for months now, with no official decision being made in either direction. Norvell has not left yet, and if he truly is staying in Tallahassee, he needs to win quickly to make the decision look somewhat like the right one.
Playing the same personnel for the remainder of the season will not get the job done, as Norvell has had extremely mixed results with the current lineups. Between injuries and the likelihood of Florida State finishing 6-6 this season, it might be time to work more freshmen into the mix without anything serious left to play for.
Here are three freshmen who have already seen the field this season, but could become a larger part of the team moving forward.
1. WR Jasen Lopez - 4 receptions, 56 receiving yards
Arguably, the player on this list with the most snaps played this season, wide receiver Jasen Lopez, is someone Florida State needs to continue to get more involved moving forward. Lopez, a star dual-sport athlete, has spent much of the season as the Seminoles' punt returner, logging 11 returns for 108 yards. Now, Lopez could be stepping into a more serious role as a receiver with the season slowly coming to an end.
Lopez currently has four receptions for 56 yards this season, with much of that damage being done last time out against Miami. Lopez has been on the field a decent amount as a receiver this season, but Florida State has not been the most aggressive team through the air. When quarterback Ashton Daniels does pass, it is often to his favorite targets like Duce Robinson and Jayvan Boggs.
Florida State is in an interesting spot heading into the Week 9 game against Clemson, with Norvell likely staying put this season and the backfield completely decimated. The Seminoles need to win, or keeping Norvell will continue to look like a huge mistake, and it will take an improved passing attack to do so. More passes mean more opportunity for Lopez, who could be particularly dangerous in the screen game for the Seminoles.
2. RB Amari Thomas - 3 carries, 11 rushing yards
With Ousmane Kromah and Samuel Singleton Jr. sidelined, Florida State needs a second running back to step up behind Tre Wisner, and that man will be Thomas. Clearly, Norvell has already committed to giving Thomas more carries moving forward with dwindling options in the backfield, and Florida State needs to keep things that way.
The Seminoles additionally have Zay Parks on the roster, but the staff has not been very vocal about him, which might mean his performances in practice have not been up to par. Thomas, however, is someone the staff loves and a player who could have a serious impact with the right usage.
So far this season, Thomas has three carries for 11 rushing yards, which will certainly change in Week 9 against Clemson. Thomas is a dynamic back who can run through or run past opposing defenders, which is promising when paired with the physical running style of Wisner. On paper, Thomas should be able to step into the massive shoes of Kromah without watching the production fall too far behind.
Playing Thomas frequently moving forward is also the best thing the Florida State staff can do to potentially prepare the running back for the 2027 season. The roster for the season is nowhere near set, but if the Seminoles can head into the season with a running back like Thomas, who will have significant experience, then the room should be able to avoid this very situation from occurring again.
3. LB Karon Maycock - 2 solo tackles, 2 assisted tackles
Much like Thomas, Maycock is someone who could be thrown into the mix because of the number of injuries the linebackers have dealt with this season. Blake Nichelson and Izayia Williams have both missed virtually the entire season, while Daylen Green has also missed time. Almost every linebacker has found themselves on the injury report at some point this season, and with five games left, more injuries are bound to occur.
Maycock has seen the field sparingly this season, primarily coming into games during the garbage time. The linebacker has four total tackles, and with some of the flashes he has shown, it might make sense to the Florida State staff to throw Maycock onto the field for the final five games.
Yes, Florida State can still potentially qualify for a bowl game, and for that reason, the starters are going to play the majority of the final five games. However, Florida State has a tired, banged-up, and inconsistent team at the moment, and this is the time when the younger players can prove themselves. The bye week was needed, but it likely will not provide enough time for the Seminoles to return to full health.
In addition to giving some of the more experienced players much-needed rest, playing someone like Maycock gives the staff a chance to develop the 2027 roster early. Florida State is most likely going to deal with a large number of transfer portal losses, and retaining the younger players in particular is going to be key. Giving Maycock snaps and playing time will both develop him and allow the staff to see if the linebacker is someone who needs to be on the 2027 roster.
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