Mike Norvell calls Wake Forest wide receivers 'a really talented group'

No. 23 Florida State is set to take on No. 22 Wake Forest on Saturday afternoon, and coach Mike Norvell is focused on one especially dangerous matchup going into the key conference clash: Wake Forest’s wide receivers.

There are several extremely dangerous threats, but it can be hard to draw a bead on which one is most likely to have a big day for the Demon Deacons.

“I mean it’s a really talented group,” Norvell said. “They were really talented last year without a couple guys, the guys that emerged kind of on the scene this year, then this year you’ve got them back and you see the depth. They’re going to run at you and you’ve got to go compete.”

Veteran Donavon Greene missed the entire 2021 season due to injury for the Demon Deacons. He’s back. And he’s only the team’s third-leading receiver so far this season.

Wake Forest boasts five receivers who have logged at least 10 catches and at least 150 yards. Meanwhile, seven different players have already caught a touchdown pass this year for the Demon Deacons.

Having so many capable threats makes life really difficult on opposing defenses.

“There’s going to be a lot of one-on-one matchups just by the nature of what they do,” Norvell explained. “So you’ve got to compete and they’re a talented receiving corps.”

FSU defensive backs must challenge Wake Forest wide receivers

One thing Norvell has been especially pleased with so far at Florida State has been his secondary’s ability to be disruptive in the passing game.

That secondary helped seal a key road win at Louisville with a vital late-game interception. It’s also a unit that has broken up 14 passes now in the first month of the season.

Being disruptive will be key once again against Wake Forest’s wide receivers.

“When you get to the catch point you just have to have a different mentality and you have to do everything you can to get the ball out,” Norvell said. “Being able to, whether you’re in zone coverage, man coverage, whatever you’re playing, you just have to be extremely aggressive. And our guys are working hard at it.”

Wake Forest has thrown for at least 300 yards in each of its last three games, while finding the end zone through the air 13 times in that span.

It’ll be no easy task for Florida State. The two teams are scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff on Saturday with a broadcast on ABC, assuming Hurricane Ian doesn’t impact the game.