FSU football: Receivers beginning to answer the call as 2024 season approaches

FSU football is making preparations for its upcoming season opener against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Mike Norvell seems pleased with the team's progression, especially over the past few days. One of the biggest question marks going into the season is at wide receiver. It's a position where FSU lost over 50 percent of its production from a year ago, and some guys have been slow to emerge as consistent contributors. After transfer Malik Benson and veteran Ja'Khi Douglas, there's a mixture of extremely talented young players and older veterans who need to assert themselves as contributors. It's a unit Mike Norvell challenged in fall camp. The consistency day in and day out has to be there, and it sounds like they've started to answer the call.

Kentron Poiter and Darion Williamson have stepped up over the past week. Jalen Brown is another guy Mike Norvell feels can make an impact. He's not listed as a receiver, but I think tight-end Kyle Morlock will have a big year. I know fans worry because there's not a ton of production, but I wrote why that didn't stop the 2022 unit. I think there's more overall talent on this 2024 team than in 2022, and that offense finished No. 7 nationally via FEI advanced metrics. I expect Mike Norvell to get the ball to the receivers, but I expect the running backs to be involved in the passing game like last year. Lawrance Toafili and Trey Benson had 20+ receptions. If FSU gets that, and 25+ from Kyle Morlock, and 30 or more from a few receivers? The production would be right in line with what they had in 2022. That offense averaged 36.1 ppg, 6.96 yards per play, and converted third downs 51 percent. If they get anything close to that, FSU would have a great shot to go undefeated if the defense is anywhere near as good as we think.