If you haven’t heard, the NCAA changed its eligibility rules this offseason. By doing away with redshirts, college sports have moved to an age-based eligibility model, giving athletes five years from their high school graduation to complete five seasons.
Refusing to grandfather in the Class of 2022 has created more legal troubles for the NCAA, but luckily, the issue of whether or not players who were in NFL training camps can return to college football is a one-year problem. Ultimately, the five-in-five rule should be a net positive for college sports, and Florida State will reap the benefits with its promising young wide receiver Devin Carter.
Carter reportedly suffered a back injury at the end of fall camp and is expected to miss multiple weeks. On Wednesday, Mike Norvell told the media that he will “probably be unavailable” for the season opener.
Based on early indications, he’s underselling the severity, but either way, Carter won’t be shut down for the season because FSU doesn’t have to worry about preserving a season of eligibility or dealing with redshirts for anyone in its freshman class or on its roster at all.
Devin Carter expected to miss season opener but won’t be out for the season
Carter was one of the standouts from the Class of 2026 in Spring Ball, and though Jasen Lopez passed him in fall camp as the most likely freshman contributor in the wide receiver room, he is still expected to make an impact. The son of former FSU running back Dexter Carter, Devin was a four-star and the eighth-highest-ranked player in the Noles’ 34-player incoming class.
In the past, a preseason injury like this would likely make a coaching staff consider a medical redshirt. If Carter misses Week 0 against New Mexico State and is still unable to go against Central Arkansas in Week 4, he’ll miss the best two opportunities for playing time. And with a four-game limit to preserve a redshirt, it may have been worth it to bring him back for the ACC slate.
Now, there’s no question Carter will be back, and if he’s one of the best players in FSU’s wide receiver room, there’s no downside to throwing him out on the field. Rather than this injury delaying his development and forcing him to redshirt, he’ll get meaningful game reps at some point this year, and FSU won’t lose any depth in its wide receiver room.
Devin Carter isn’t FSU’s only potential freshman contributor
It’s not just Carter. Lopez, linebacker Izayia Williams, safety Jordan Crutchfield, and Jaemin Pinckney will likely all see playing time this season, and it doesn’t need to be limited to just four games. Even a player like three-star linebacker Daylen Green may see some special teams work because of the new rules.
Of course, Norvell needs to win this season, or he won’t be the head coach of the Seminoles much longer, so he may not have been concerned much with preserving eligibility down the road if a player could help him this year. Still, it’s a benefit for all parties involved that freshmen can see the field with no repercussions.
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