Florida State football overreaction: Brock Glenn is the answer at quarterback
Florida State football (1-5, 1-4 in the ACC) is still struggling, but at least it has found its starting quarterback.
In FSU's loss to Clemson, Brock Glenn was among the few brighter spots in his third career start. The redshirt freshman completed 23 of his 41 passes for 222 passing yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
Glenn answered all FSU loyalists' prayers despite the offense remaining one of the worst in the country. As the Seminoles enter its second bye of the season, at least now, there is something to work with to create another spark on offense.
"I think there's a lot that I can learn from in that and a lot a lot that the whole offense can learn from as a whole, so we'll be able to use this buy to clean up some details and clean up everything that that we got to fix," Glenn said.
FSU youngsters are playing well. There should be more on the way
The term "out with the old, in with the new" fits the mood for FSU, given the season's progress.
Glenn may be the youth movement leader for coach Mike Norvell, but other notable underclassmen have stepped up and earned their way to bigger roles for the Seminoles.
Freshman tight end Landen Thomas is a prime example. In his first start against Clemson, the Seminole had seven catches for 87 yards. Sophomore receiver Hykeem Williams also performed well and built a good rapport with Glenn.
On the defensive side, Omar Graham Jr. led the Seminoles in tackles with eight. Cornerback Edwin Joseph had been on the rise on defense and special teams.
Andre Otto also made his first start at right guard and held his own for the most part. Glenn, who is in the same recruiting class as Otto, credited the lineman for his performance.
“I thought he had a good game,” Glenn said about Otto.
“I thought he did, and you can see where we can go with this thing, and I think just cutting into the details and the fundamentals and putting it all together, we can be a really explosive offense, and we're young, but we got a lot of talent, and all we got to do is just put it together.”
Freshman Kam Davis hasn't shown much but can carry the load. Florida High grad Micahi Danzy has been mostly utilized in wheel route plays. Norvell should look into giving the Tallahassee native some actual carries.
The senior group has been the biggest disappointment
On a sour note.
The senior group has fallen backward this season. Norvell was high on the offensive line, stating it could be the best O-line he has ever had. It turned out to be the total opposite.
Starting left tackle Darius Washington and center Maurice Smith have not lived up to its All-ACC standard after returning for another season.
Washington may or may not cut out as the left tackle and should look into focusing on playing in the interior. Washington has played center earlier in his six-year career at FSU.
On the other hand, Smith struggled to snap the ball to Glenn. Against Clemson, he had three costly snaps that put FSU in a tough-field position.
It could be a tough conversation for Norvell, but he might consider sitting the two seniors or making the competition pen as he did with the guards.
Sophomore Jaylen Early has seen time at both left and right tackle for the Seminoles. Jacob Rizy, a Harvard transfer, has been practicing all year at center but has yet to make a snap during a game.
Another upperclassman who has been regressed is Darion Williamson, who has dropped passes on offense.
Willamson is another fifth-year senior who has been with Norvell since day one.
Malik Benson, an Alabama transfer supposedly the go-to target after a productive spring, has been inconsistent and looked more like a third option instead of the primary.
There might still be hope for Ja'Khi Douglas and Kentron Poitier. Douglas is tied with Benson with 18 catches but leads the Seminoles with 306 receiving yards, averaging 17.0 yards a catch. Poitier and Douglas each have two touchdowns.
Running back Lawrance Toafili was flashy and is FSU's top rusher with 230 yards. However, FSU is ranked second to last in the rushing category, averaging 2.2 yards a carry.
FSU football can still turn its season around
Another bye week can do FSU some wonders. However, as the season looks like it is going down the tubes, an offense led by Glenn could be the sole reason that FSU can turn its season around and end on a high note.
For that to happen, FSU must win five of the next six games to be eligible for a bowl game, which seems out of reach at this point.
The next three games for FSU are Duke, Miami and North Carolina. Both Duke and Miami are on the road. The Blue Devils suffered its first loss to Georgia Tech.
The Hurricanes survived in back-to-back thrillers against mediocre ACC teams, Virginia Tech and Cal. The Tar Heels may be the most winnable game of the three.
It could be heavy momentum if the Seminoles go on a three-game winning streak heading to the Notre Dame game on Nov. 9. Again, all bets are off if FSU remains subpar, but the season may not go to waste.
FSU football schedule 2024: TV channels, dates and start times
Saturday, Aug. 24: vs. Georgia Tech* (Aer Lingus College Football Classic) Lost 24-21
Monday, Sept. 2: vs. Boston College* | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo) Lost 28-13
Saturday, Sept. 7: Bye
Saturday, Sept. 14: vs. Memphis | Noon | ESPN (Fubo) Lost 20-12
Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. Cal* | 7 p.m.| ESPN2 (Fubo) Won 14-9
Saturday, Sept. 28: at No. 25 SMU* | 8 p.m. EST | ACC Network Lost 42-16
Saturday, Oct. 5: vs. No. 11 Clemson* | 7 p.m.| ESPN (Fubo) Lost 29-13
Saturday, Oct. 12: Bye
Saturday, Oct. 26: at No. 6 Miami*
Saturday, Nov. 2: vs. North Carolina*
Saturday, Nov. 9: at No. 12 Notre Dame | 7:30 p.m. | NBC (Fubo, Peacock)
Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. Charleston Southern
Saturday, Nov. 30: vs. Florida
Saturday, Dec. 6: ACC championship game (Charlotte, N.C)
All times Eastern
BOLD = ACC
* = Neutral Site
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State football overreaction: Brock Glenn is QB of the future
