Florida State’s football season has taken a turn for the worse after dropping two consecutive conference games to Georgia Tech and Boston College in the first two weeks.
The situation worsened on Monday when head coach Mike Norvell announced that running back Jaylin Lucas would be out for the rest of the season due to an injury.
“I’m still very excited about his future as a Seminole,” Norvell said, according to ESPN’s David Hale. “But it’s unfortunate we’re losing him for the rest of the season.”
Lucas, who joined Florida State from Indiana this offseason, was a standout returner last season with 572 yards and a touchdown, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors. However, he has struggled to find his place in the Seminoles’ running back rotation this year, with only two carries for 13 yards and three receptions for 39 yards.
Lucas can use a redshirt this season to retain his eligibility, and he will have two years left when he returns for the 2025 season.
Florida State trying their non-conference luck against Memphis
Starting their season with two conference losses hasn’t gone well for 0-2 Florida State, who will now look to rebound in their matchup against Memphis this weekend in Tallahassee.
Despite facing a Group of Five opponent, Florida State needs to improve quickly to avoid a disastrous 0-3 start. Memphis, one of the top Group of Five teams, has its sights set on the College Football Playoff and has been impressive so far. The Tigers won 40-0 against North Alabama in Week 1 and followed up with a 38-17 victory over Troy.
Memphis is known for its pass-first approach, led by star quarterback Seth Henigan. Although Henigan hasn’t been heavily relied upon in the two blowout wins, he has still accumulated 469 yards and three touchdowns without any interceptions.
While Boston College and Georgia Tech exploited Florida State’s run defense, Memphis prefers passing. However, running back Mario Anderson has been effective this season, averaging over six yards per carry and scoring four touchdowns.
This game is crucial for Florida State as a chance to regain momentum against a strong opponent. If the same issues persist, another loss could further complicate their season.
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