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Florida State

D'Mitri Emmanuel reacts to getting NCAA waiver approved for 2023

On3-Social-Profile_GRAYby:On3 Staff Report•05/05/23
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FSU guard D'Mitri Emmanuel and the Seminoles' offensive line prepare during preseason drills last August. (Gene Williams/Warchant)

Florida State will be looking to make a push for the College Football Playoff in 2023 after winning 10 games a year ago, and the NCAA approving an eligibility waiver for offensive lineman D’Mitri Emmanuel should certainly help.

Emmanuel started all 13 games for the Seminoles last year after transferring in from Charlotte.

But it was unclear if Emmanuel would be able to play in 2023.

That changed during spring football practice, when Emmanuel finally got the word that he could suit up for another year in college.

“Coach (Alex) Atkins, he had called me yesterday like right before meetings with the good news,” D’Mitri Emmanuel said this spring. “He called me and we’ve been kind of like joking about it all spring and stuff. He called me and told me everything got approved, so it was really a relief, and just a great moment, honestly. Felt really good just to be back and help the team next season.”

Florida State will have the potential to keep a really good offense humming right along this season.

Quarterback Jordan Travis returns, as do a group of offensive linemen that combined for 44 starts last season on an offense that was among the nation’s best.

The Seminoles finished ranked 10th in total offense (484.2 yards per game), 13th in rushing offense (214.1 yards per game), 15th in scoring offense (36.1 points per game) and 28th in passing offense (270.2 yards per game) in 2022.

D’Mitri Emmanuel had an uncomfortable wait to find out if he’d be a part of the group that looked to build on that production. He even went through the team’s annual Pro Day just in case the NCAA didn’t acquiesce.

“I definitely felt good about it. There was obviously some days that were a little worse than others, but just trying to stay positive about everything,” he said. “But I always felt good, that’s why I kept coming around, because I didn’t want to miss anything with the team. I just wanted to still be around and still help out, regardless of the outcome.”

With the veteran offensive lineman back and most of the offense returning intact, Florida State could be headed for a special season.

“I’m just glad everything worked out so I could come back for another season,” D’Mitri Emmanuel said.