Three plays. That’s how far from 6-1 Florida State is, according to head coach Willie Taggart. 

Instead, the Seminoles (3-4, 2-3 Atlantic Coast) sit fifth in the ACC Atlantic division. They were projected to finish fifth in the entire conference ahead of this season, but injuries and untimely penalties have handicapped FSU. 

One constant for Florida State, though, has been sophomore receiver Tamorrion Terry. The wideout finished with 744 yards receiving his freshman season, breaking a school record that stood for 41 years. This season, after just seven games, Terry has already eclipsed 500 yards once again. On Saturday against Syracuse (3-4, 0-3), Terry will need to fill the void left by the absence of FSU’s No. 2 and No. 3 receivers, who are both injured.

The Seminoles lost second receiver Keyshawn Helton when the sophomore injured his knee on Oct. 12 in the second quarter against Clemson. Helton and sophomore quarterback James Blackman were pursuing a Clemson defender after an interception when Blackmon dove into Helton’s left knee. Taggart told reporters after the game that Helton was “probably going to be out for the season.” 

The following game, the team’s newly-promoted No. 2 receiver Ontaria Wilson – who played high school football with Terry – went down with a shoulder injury in the second half. 

“When I first saw it, I felt bad. Other than that I just wanted to go out there and make a play for him, play hard for him,” Terry said on Tuesday through Florida State Athletics. He was not made available for this story by FSU Athletics. 

Courtesy of Derek Satterfield | Florida State Athletics

Wilson is also likely done for the season with what appears to be a “shoulder break,” according to Noles 247. The injuries leave Terry as FSU’s main option. 247sports ranked Terry the No. 32 receiver in the country coming out of Turner County (Georgia) High School. As a senior, Terry finished with 40 receptions for 1,187 yards – 29.7 yards per reception. He then was forced to redshirt his freshman season at Tallahassee in 2017. 

“I woulda thought I would’ve been able to play last year, but stuff happens,” Terry said following FSU’s spring game in 2018. “So I’m trying to show everybody what I really could do this year.” 

The Georgia native quickly emerged as one of senior quarterback Deondre Francios’ top targets in 2018, setting a freshman record with two 100-yard receiving games. Terry has yet to top 100 yards in a game this season, but he’s totaled more than 50 yards every week. 

Despite his consistent production, the Seminoles have been mired in inconsistency. Dating back to last season, Florida State has won back-to-back games only once.

To compound matters, Terry has over 300 more receiving yards than the next active target. The Seminoles will need to lean on some inexperienced playmakers to step up going forward. 

“They all want to play,” Taggart said. “They want to get out and help this football team, and I’m excited about it.” 

The Seminoles young receiving corps will get their first chance against a Syracuse secondary that’s been hampered with injuries in its own right. Ifeatu Melifonwu, Andre Cisco and Antwan Cordy all missed time earlier this season, and sophomore Trill Williams will miss this game with an ankle injury. 

“I feel like we just have to come out as a whole and just play a hundred percent,” Terry said, “Play as one, and if we do that I feel like we’ll come out with a victory.” 

Published on October 26, 2019 at 12:41 am

Contact Tim: tnolan@syr.edu