Florida State's season inches closer with each passing day, and the excitement continues to creep up. They kick off fall camp tomorrow on the 29th, and head coach Mike Norvell held his preseason presser on the 27th.
He covered a variety of topics and discussed the two freshman receivers, Jasen Lopez and Devin Carter. Norvell was asked if those guys will play early and often from what he's seen this offseason, and the lead man added steam to the engine of their hype train.
"I think you might ask me a question in spring; it's a quick, immediate yes. It hasn't changed. They've got to go do it. Once again, where that role is, is definitely on them, but there's been nothing that I've seen from them," Norvell said per Chris Nee of Noles247.
And he continued to express that he believes they can make a serious impact for this team in 2026 and beyond.
"You know, throughout the summer in our workouts, I mean, they are - these are guys that have potential and ability, you know; they are steadily learning, continuing to put in, they are. They are on the fast track to be able to play. Just how much that is goes down to, comes down to, their continued growth over the next month. I'm excited about what I've seen from them. Definitely high expectations."
Even though these two receivers have yet to play a meaningful snap for this team, Norvell believes there's a pathway to them getting on the field, and that should have fans excited.
Mike Norvell's excitement says everything about two Florida State newcomers
Duce Robinson will be the WR1 for this team, but behind him, the snaps are wide open. The Seminoles are ushering in Ashton Daniels as their QB1 and will certainly be a ground-and-pound offense, but when they drop back to throw the ball, most of the attention will be on Robinson. And that will open the door for other receivers to make plays, which could be great for both Lopez and Carter.
Lopez is a four-star receiver from Miami, Florida. He played his high school ball at Chaminade-Madonna, and during his time there, he showed he can be a smooth separator and can make some difficult catches in traffic. Coaches couldn't keep him off the field, as he got snaps as an 8th grader.
In his high school career, he finished with 320 receptions for 5,379 receiving yards and 61 touchdowns. He was also a basketball player in high school and landed multiple offers, including from Florida State.
As for Carter, he was a three-star recruit from Douglasville, GA. He played at Douglas County High School, where he was a vertical threat with strong hands at the high point. While he can attack the middle of the field, he'll likely be used as a field stretcher.
He suffered an injury in his senior year, but as a junior, he logged 41 catches for 670 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Carter was also a two-sport athlete, as he ran the 100-meter dash and did the long jump. In addition, football runs in his blood. His father, Dexter, ran track and played football at Florida State before being a first-round pick in the 1990 NFL draft. Meanwhile, his brother, Dexter Jr., played college football at Georgia Southern.
Carter and Lopez both have skill sets that will translate to the college game, and they wasted no time showcasing that to Norvell and the staff. What they do over the next month in camp can help springboard them up the depth chart and give them valuable roles in the offense.
That isn't easy to do as a true freshman, but the arrow is certainly pointing up for both Carter and Lopez if they take control of what's in front of them.
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