Five FSU players who could give SMU fits on Saturday
The SMU Mustangs get primetime billing for their first game in the ACC this weekend. Coming off of an explosive performance against the TCU Horned Frogs in the Battle for the Iron Skillet, SMU is 3-1 as it prepares to host FSU.
The Seminoles had the worst start to their season imaginable, dropping three straight games before finally breaking through against Cal in Week 3. With a 1-3 record, Mike Norvell’s squad is trying to pick up the pieces as they head into the thick of ACC play.
Despite their unexpected start, the Seminoles have several players that could cause problems for the Mustangs on Saturday night in Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
QB D.J. Uiagalelei
Seminole fans soured a bit on quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei after the 0-3 start, some even booed him ahead of their Week 3 game, but Mike Norvell stuck with his starter and was rewarded with a win against Cal. The former Clemson-turned Oregon State QB has a completion rate of 57.1% this season, which he improved significantly on Saturday by completing 70% of his passes.
Uiagalelei has thrown for 843 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions so far. FSU’s opponents punished him in the first three games, tallying 10 sacks, but the offensive line held up better against Cal, giving up just one sack. The results have been rough this season, but the former blue-chip prospect has the tools to make teams pay.
RB Lawrance Toafili
Though the Seminoles have spread out their rushing carries, Lawrence Toafili leads the group with 30 carries for 147 yards and two touchdowns after breaking out with 80 yards against Cal. He’s averaging 4.9 yards per carry. Toafili also gets involved in the Seminoles passing game. So far, he’s sixth on the team in receptions with nine for 53 yards. With Jaylin Lucas and Roydell Williams out in the backfield, his role is going to only increase alongside former blue-chip prospect, Kam Davis.
WR Ja’Khi Douglas
Only two Seminoles receivers have caught a touchdown pass through four games and Ja’Khi Douglas is one of them. He is second on FSU’s team in catches (13) behind Alabama transfer Malik Benson (14) but leads in yards with 224. Douglas, a senior, is averaging 17.2 yards per catch. Douglas caught the game-winning score against Cal last week.
Though it’s possible SMU fans will hear Douglas’ or Benson’s or Toafili’s names on Saturday, the team leader in scoring so far is kicker Ryan Fitzgerald. He’s 6-for-6 this season with three makes from 50 or more yards.
DE Patrick Payton
Despite finding little offensive success so far this season, the Seminoles defense is capable of ruining their opponent’s day – starting with Patrick Payton. Payton leads the defense in sacks with four. He also has 12 total tackles. The junior from Miami had seven sacks last season, which was second behind first-rounder Jared Verse. Even though he’s established as a special talent, Florida State defensive ends coach John Papuchis says Patrick Payton works like he’s a reserve trying to crack the starting lineup every day in practice. He came off an All-ACC performance in the 2023 season and was named the 2022 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year.
DE Marvin Jones Jr.
Coming at the quarterback from the other side of the defensive line, Marvin Jones Jr. has two sacks on the year. Jones spent two seasons with the Georgia Bulldogs, tallying two sacks while snagging one National Championship ring, before transferring to FSU. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound DE had a career day against Cal, posting four tackles with two sacks, as well as a forced fumble. The former five-star prospect is an NFL legacy and if he puts it together again like he did against Cal, that’ll be an issue for SMU’s offensive line.
