TALLAHASSEE — Florida State’s stats against East Texas A&M require the context that the totals were accumulated against an FCS program.
But the best stats within the 77-3 rout on Saturday are in the participation report, where more than 80 Seminoles played. This includes more than 17 true freshmen.
“We’re having to rely on some young guys this year,” FSU offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn said. “There’s nothing like getting them out there, seeing how they respond. I think for the most part, all the young guys played hard. There’s some little details, the techniques and the little things. We got to keep working.”
As No. 10 FSU (2-0) moves into the bye week, it’s a time to rest and allow bodies to heal. The Seminoles practiced on Tuesday and Wednesday but will then break before returning to the practice field Sunday night to begin preparations for Kent State, as well as the start of the ACC schedule at Virginia on Sept. 26.
Although FSU opened up against Alabama, the majority of the September schedule sets up well, as coaches were able to reward preseason camp effort with opportunities in games. One of FSU’s main preseason storylines was a lack of experience, especially among the second- and third-team players. Now, many younger players have earned their first playtime time or are enjoying their first extended snaps.
Four Seminoles who are true or redshirt freshmen scored touchdowns (Micahi Danzy, Jayvan Boggs, Ousmane Kromah and Zay Parks), while true freshman Kevin Sperry had a pair of touchdown passes. Sperry completed 4 of 5 passes for 61 yards and also ran three times for 23 yards.
“You don’t feel like he’s a freshman,” FSU coach Mike Norvell said of Sperry. “On the touchdown to Ous (Kromah), we knew it would be a free runner with the blitzer, and just calm, collected, put the right ball out there for the touchdown.”
The bye week is also a good time for injured Seminoles to recover. Norvell said wide receiver Lawayne McCoy returned to the practice on Tuesday after missing a chunk of preseason camp.
FSU’s rushing turnaround
The Seminoles’ pace isn’t realistic when factoring in an FCS opponent, but FSU already has 591 rushing yards — more than halfway to the team’s 2024 rushing total of 1,079 rushing yards.
FSU has dominated up front with bigger backs, used mobile quarterback Tommy Castellanos well and mixed in end arounds and misdirections to force defenses to watch plenty of things pre- and post-snap.
Gavin Sawchuk had eight carries for 35 yards, including an 11-yard gain, as he started in place of injured running back Roydell Williams. He also had six carries for 28 yards and a physical 14-yard touchdown run late against Alabama.
“We wanted to get him going obviously in Roydell’s absence,” Malzahn said. “We wanted to get him going early. He’s an experienced guy. It was good to get him behind our offensive line and get those carries early.”
A first for Amaree Williams
Tight end/defensive end Amaree Williams is the first FSU football player to record a touchdown and a sack in the same game. Williams had a 35-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter against East Texas A&M and then a few minutes later campaigned the coaches to put him in as edge rusher.
“He hasn’t even been over there for a couple weeks,” defensive coordinator Tony White said.
Williams spent most of the spring working on defense, and he was recruited as a defensive end. But Williams has focused on tight end in practices as a result of Randy Pittman’s knee injury.
Pittman played through the injury in the opener against Alabama but was on the sideline against East Texas A&M.
