FSU football's Roydell Williams injury update: RB out for 'an extended period of time'
(This story was updated to add new information.)
Florida State football has struggled to run the ball early in the 2024 college football season, and has now lost its leading rusher.
Alabama transfer Roydell Williams was ruled out for Saturday's game against Cal from Doak Campbell Stadium. Offensive Jeremiah Byers was also ruled out in pregame for an FSU team that has struggled to gain traction in the running game this season and is coming off a 20-12 loss to Memphis at home last week.
REQUIRED READING: FSU vs Cal score tonight: Live updates, highlights from Week 4 game
Williams leads FSU with 20 rushing attempts through three games but has accumulated just 54 yards, good for an average of 2.7 yards per rush, and two rushing touchdowns. Lawrance Toafili leads the team with 13 rushes for 67 yards and a TD, while freshman Kam Davis, listed as the direct backup to Williams, has nine rushes for 24 yards.
Florida State is off to a 0-3 start and looking to avoid its second 0-4 start under Norvell. The team also started 0-4 during the 2021 season, which included a loss to then-FCS Jacksonville State.
Here's the latest on Williams' injury:
REQUIRED READING: Mike Norvell contract, buyout details: What FSU owes if it fires Seminoles football coach
Roydell Williams injury update
All times Eastern
Monday, Sept. 23
Noon: At his weekly news conference on Monday, FSU coach Mike Norvell said Williams will be "out for an extended period." Williams was not listed on the FSU depth chart before Saturday's road game against SMU.
Mike Norvell said Roydell Williams will be out for an extended period of time.
Said the running backs are talented and they did some good things on Saturday. Said Micahi Danzy is pushing to get on the field, he was the only RB who didn't make it on the field vs. Cal— Liam Rooney (@__liamrooney) September 23, 2024
Williams previously had been ruled out for Saturday's game against Cal. Williams was the leading rusher for the Seminoles, though the running game has struggled this year.
According to Pro Football Focus, Williams has gained 46 yards after contact this season and has seven broken tackles. Williams rushed 112 times for 564 yards (roughly 5 yards per carry) and five touchdowns with the Crimson Tide last season. He was expected to offset the loss of Trey Benson role in the FSU offense this year after the latter was drafted in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals.
In addition to Williams' injury, the Seminoles are already without running back/wide receiver Jaylin Lucas. Lucas suffered an undisclosed injury against Boston College and was ruled out for the season by FSU coach Mike Norvell on Sept. 9.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football's Roydell Williams injury update: Will RB play vs SMU?
