Florida State coach Mike Norvell delivered some unfortunate injury news at running back just two days after breakout starter Ousmane Kromah was ruled out for the season. Backup running back Samuel Singleton Jr., who suffered an injury against Alabama, was never fully ruled out for the season, but a comeback does not seem likely in the coming weeks.
A scary situation occurred on the field over the weekend during the game against Miami when the cart came out. Kromah was taken off the field and quickly received surgery for a lower-body injury he suffered.
The injury to Kromah means Florida State is incredibly thin at running back at the moment, with Tre Wisner stepping into the starting role and the need for a true backup. There are not many options, which means the freshman Amari Thomas will have to step up in a big way for Florida State.
Florida State does not expect Samuel Singleton Jr. to return anytime soon, putting the spotlight on backup Amari Thomas
Norvell revealed during his preliminary bye week press conference that despite some initial hope surrounding Singleton, the running back will not be available in the near future. Norvell stated that the running back will continue to miss "the next few weeks" with his injury.
Singleton has not played since the game against Alabama, and he recorded 73 rushing yards, a rushing touchdown, 126 receiving yards, and two receiving scores before going down with an injury.
The loss of Singleton hurt at the time due to the one-two punch that was being developed with Kromah. Unfortunately for Florida State, both parts of that package will likely miss the rest of the season, with Kromah already officially ruled out after his surgery. The Seminoles were relying on the duo to continue to keep the run game alive, but with each player sidelined, the attention will shift to Thomas and Wisner.
Wisner, a former starter for Texas, has a productive past despite suffering through a tumultuous 2025 season. Wisner recorded 1064 yards and five touchdowns during the 2024 season with the Longhorns, and there is no reason to expect a healthy version of him to fumble away the starting role in Tallahassee.
Florida State is going to feed the rock to Wisner moving forward, as he is the lone running back with legitimate collegiate experience. However, Thomas is someone who needs to step up with only three natural running backs left on the roster. Given the flashes Thomas showed during camp, the Seminoles' staff is likely going to lean on him as Wisner's relief.
Wisner is a capable running back, but he hasn't carried the football more than nine times in a game since November of 2025. It has been awhile since Wisner was the primary back within an offense, which is exactly why having another capable running back alongside him will be important.
Additionally, the success of Thomas and Wisner could go hand-in-hand moving forward due to their similar rushing styles. Wisner hits the gaps with a combination of speed and power, while Thomas is more of a pure bruiser on the field. Both running backs wear down defenses, and both running backs capitalize with big runs when the defense is tired.
Florida State also has another option at running back in Zay Parks, but Thomas has seen the field this season while Parks has not. One of the two needs to step up moving forward, and it will likely be the guy who has already proven himself to the coaching staff behind the scenes.
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