Scouting NC State football opponent: Florida State

NC State football is back on the road this Saturday at Florida State with a 4 p.m. kickoff on the ACC Network.

NC State is ranked No. 19 in the inaugural College Football Playoff poll with a 6-2 overall record and 3-1 mark in the ACC. Florida State is 3-5 overall and 2-3 in the conference, but it has played better football of late.

Here is a full scouting report on Florida State:

Five Florida State Players To Watch

Redshirt sophomore running back Jashaun Corbin (No. 0)

Corbin has gone over 100 yards rushing in four of the eight FSU games this season and is averaging an impressive 7.5 yards per carry, third best in the country at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level.

Corbin is on pace for 1,000 yards after rushing 95 times for 714 yards and six touchdowns with four regular-season games remaining. He is a big-play running back and has the two longest runs in the ACC this year — an 89-yard touchdown against Notre Dame and a 75-yard score vs. Louisville.

Corbin’s best game last season came against NC State, when he rushed 14 times for 77 yards and a touchdown.

Redshirt senior defensive end Jermaine Johnson (No. 11)

Johnson was a prized prospect in the transfer portal after he left Georgia last season, and he has provided a huge boost to Florida State’s defense. The 6-foot-5, 262-pounder has at least assisted on a sack in six of FSU’s eight games this year and has eight quarterback takedowns on the year. He’s also tallied 11 tackles for loss.

Both his sacks and tackles for loss totals lead the ACC. His 49 overall tackles are tops for defensive linemen among Power Five programs.

In the loss at Clemson, Johnson put FSU up in the fourth quarter with a strip sack that he picked up and returned for a score.

Johnson was selected to the Midseason All-American team by CBS Sports and is a semifinalists for the Bednarik Award given to the best defensive player in college football

Redshirt sophomore safety Jammie Robinson (No. 10)

Johnson was not the only impact transfer portal addition on the defense for Florida State. Robinson currently leads the team with 54 tackles, four of which went for loss. He also has a team-high two forced fumbles, and he’s intercepted a pass while breaking up three more.

Robinson arrived at FSU after two seasons at South Carolina, where he made the Freshman All-SEC team in 2019 and was named a second-team Freshman All-American by Pro Football Focus (PFF). He became a full-time starter for the Gamecocks in 2020 and was second on the team in tackles.

Junior quarterback Jordan Travis (No. 13)

Ever since the Noles have returned to Travis as their starting quarterback, the team has played better. Travis started the opener against Notre Dame, an overtime loss during which he was benched late in the fourth quarter in favor of McKenzie Milton, the feel-good story and transfer from UCF.

Milton continued as the starter for three straight losses before head coach Mike Norvell went back to Travis. In four starts since Travis’ return, FSU has gone 3-1, with its one loss a close one at Clemson.

Travis has not posted prolific passing numbers in that span, but he’s been efficient. In those four games, Travis was 52-of-77 passing (67.5 percent) for 575 yards and seven touchdowns with just one interception.

He also adds a dimension as a runner, rushing for over 100 yards in victories over Syracuse and UNC.

Redshirt freshman running back Treshaun Ward (No. 8)

Corbin gets much of the attention, but NC State football head coach Dave Doeren has also talked this week about how he’s been impressed with Ward.

Ward is averaging 7.1 yards per carry this year and has rushed for at least 45 yards in all but one contest. For the year, he’s carried 62 times for 440 yards and three scores, and has added a receiving touchdown.

Ward teams with Corbin and Travis to make up the identity of this FSU offense that has a heavy emphasis on rushing the football.

What To Watch For From Florida State Against NC State Football

1. A really good rushing attack: And it’s no secret that running the football is the key to FSU’s offensive success. Its three wins featured three of Florida State’s best four rushing outputs of the year. The lone exception was when it ran for 264 yards in what was an overtime loss to Notre Dame.

In its three-game winning streak prior to the loss to the Tigers, FSU ran for at least 238 yards every game.

Nationally, Florida State is No. 21 in rushing yards, averaging 209.4 per game, just ahead of No. 26 Louisville. The Cards ran for 215 yards on NC State football last weekend.

It is a big-play rushing attack, too. FSU is tied for second in the ACC and 11th nationally in carries of at least 30 yards (eight), and thanks to Corbin it is the only ACC team and one of just 15 nationally to have multiple 70-plus yard gains.

2. A less-potent passing attack: Florida State is No. 108 out of 130 teams at the FBS level in passing yards per game at 182.3. Only Clemson and Syracuse in the ACC average less per contest.

The Noles are efficient as a passing team. They have completed 63.5 percent of its passes, 46th in the FBS, and have a collective QB rating of 139.39, which is middle-of-the-pack nationally at No. 64.

Florida State though is only averaging 7.2 yards per pass attempt, 83rd in the country. Its two leading receivers — Corbin and redshirt junior tight end Camren McDonald — both average less than 10 yards per reception.

The Noles make no secret their identity is running the football. Its average pass attempts of 25.4 per game is second fewest in the ACC.

3. A strong pass rush: Led by Johnson, Florida State has 22 sacks in eight games. Its average of 2.75 sacks per contest is tied for 26th in the FBS and tied for fifth in the ACC.

The team it is tied with in the conference is Louisville, and NC State did a good job of keeping redshirt sophomore quarterback Devin Leary upright against the Cards. Louisville finished with just one sack in the game.

Three Keys To The Game For NC State Football

1. Stop the run: That’s the most obvious. Florida State’s offense scored just 14 points in a loss at Wake Forest and 13 points last week at Clemson. In those two games, it ran for 91 yards against the Deacs and 65 yards on the Tigers.

Tackling could be the key for NC State. Florida State leads the country in yards after contact on designed running plays this year at 4.01.

2. Score in the red zone: NC State had a perfect day in the red zone against Louisville. It did not allow a touchdown in the Cards’ two trips, and Louisville missed a field goal attempt in one of them. Conversely, NC State scored touchdowns on all four drives inside the 20 on offense.

That will be tested by Florida State. The Noles’ defense is seventh in country, allowing points on just 65.2 percent of possessions in the red zone.

3. Limit big plays: Louisville’s one touchdown was a 76-yard pass. If the Pack can stop the run and prevent the explosive plays, then NC State’s defense should have a good afternoon.

Corbin is a big-play running back, and any team that runs well is always dangerous with play-action passes. The Noles have scored six touchdowns that were 50 yards or more this year. That included a 75-yard scoring toss against Clemson, one of the just two offensive touchdowns it had in the game.

Three Numbers Of Note For NC State Football

30 The magic number of points for Florida State this year. It is 0-4 when held under 30 points, and 3-1 when it scores more. The one loss was a 44-38 overtime defeat to Notre Dame.

0-4 Florida State’s record when trailing at halftime.

3-1 Florida State’s record since an 0-4 start, with the one defeat coming by a deceptive 30-20 score at Clemson. The Noles had a 20-17 lead until the Tigers scored a touchdown with 2:53 left. The final score was cemented on a fumble return for a score by Clemson on the game’s last play.

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