Florida State is almost complete with its spring practices. It is a shame that the fan base couldn't partake in a spring game, but that is the nature of college football, where the event that we love in April is slowly dying away.
It doesn't help that head coach Mike Norvell is currently on the hot seat by many outsiders, including the fan base. Norvell doesn't need to worry about the hot seat. The administration has expressed confidence in him, and he will succeed on his own.
Norvell will be responsible for the play-calling duties in 2026 after former offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn unexpectedly retired this offseason. While Norvell and Malzahn do have similar tendencies, there should be more focus on quicker passing concepts to get the football into the playmakers' hands.
Florida State seems to have found an electric playmaker in true freshman pass catcher Devin Carter
The wide receiver group is loaded with talent and is headlined by veteran Duce Robinson, who decided to return to Tallahassee for his senior year. We recently discussed it being a smart idea to limit Robinson in practice to allow other pass catchers the opportunity to shine.
With the talented playmaker not on the field as much, it has afforded true freshman Devin Carter to get significant reps. Carter was a former four-star prospect from the state of Georgia who enrolled to Florida State this January.
The former Douglas County High School standout is no stranger to the Seminoles, as his father (Dexter) played running back at Florida State from 1986 to 1989. However, the younger Carter has made his own impact while on the practice field.
Head coach Mike Norvell spoke to the media after Saturday's spring scrimmage and mentioned that Devin Carter had two deep vertical shots in the practice. The freshman has been able to make a difference and be a leader in the passing game because sophomore Jayvan Boggs (who he is competing for the number three receiver spot) is out with an injury for the rest of spring.
Norvell explained in an earlier media session that Devin Carter and Jasen Lopez are two true freshmen who will be getting significant playing time, and it wouldn't surprise me to see Carter being a starter when Florida State kicks off against New Mexico State on Saturday, August 29th.