While the Florida State offense is off to a strong start, it has a chance to be even more dangerous Saturday when the fifth-ranked Seminoles host Virginia Tech in Tallahassee, Fla.
After averaging 43.3 points through the first four games of the season, FSU (4-0, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) is expected to have receivers Ja’Khi Douglas and Deuce Spann back in the mix for the meeting with the Hokies.
Wideout Kentron Poitier also could make his return from an injury that has limited him to just one snap in the season opener.
Douglas has yet to appear in a game this season due to a preseason injury, while Spann missed the Seminoles’ most recent game — a 31-24 overtime victory at Clemson on Sept. 23 — due to an illness.
Despite the lack of depth at wide receiver, Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis has thrived (1,028 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, one interception), but coach Mike Norvell is looking forward to seeing what his offense can do at full strength.
“I’m excited to see those guys get out on the field, and I think they’re going to continue to build to our depth and to the playmaking ability that we have,” Norvell said. “Definitely excited for what they’re going to bring here as we continue on in the year.”
In addition to incorporating the trio of receivers into the offense, Norvell will also attempt to devise a plan to stop Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones, who completed 12 of 19 passes for 228 yards and three TDs in a 38-21 win over Pitt last weekend.
Drones also had 21 carries for 41 yards and a pair of scores and was named ACC Quarterback of the Week.
“He’s got a strong arm. He can throw it all over the field,” Norvell said of Drones. “This is a team that can present challenges for what they’re doing.”
The Hokies (2-3, 1-0) snapped a nine-game losing streak to Power 5 opponents by beating the Panthers, and Virginia Tech coach Brent Pry believes it gives his team some momentum heading into the thick of ACC play.
“It means a lot, just being 1-0 this week,” Pry said after the win. “It’s good to get a win, to me, the talking point is, over a good program.
“… I thought we did a great job responding and preparing. But again, there’s gonna be things on that film (Sunday) that we’re looking at and saying, ‘We got to get better here, let’s go be the best team we can be this weekend.’ And if we do that, we’ll have another opportunity.”
Defensively, the Hokies will try to apply pressure to Travis after recording four sacks against Pitt. Pheldarius Payne accounted for 1.5 of those sacks and now has three on the season.
Saturday marks the 38th meeting between Virginia Tech and FSU, and the Seminoles own a 23-13-1 advantage in the all-time series. The teams have not met since 2018, when the Hokies came away with a 24-3 road victory.
