We've often enjoyed watching Lawrance Toafili and Ja'Khi Douglas these last five years. And we've often viewed them as complementary pieces in the FSU offense.
Now they're taking on considerably larger roles in 2024. Each scored touchdowns in the 14-9 win over Cal on Saturday.
Toafili leads FSU in rushing yards (147 and 4.9 yards per carry), and Douglas leads FSU in receiving yards (224) while averaging 17.2 yards per reception (second on the team).
This is likely where we say that Toafili and Douglas can't be primary pieces of FSU's offense. And they shouldn't be. FSU needs to keep pushing freshman Elijah Moore, redshirt freshman Jalen Brown and sophomore Hykeem Williams. (And, yes, Douglas needs to improve as a blocker, as do all of the receivers.) FSU also needs to get more carries for Kam Davis, Caziah Holmes, Sam Singleton and Micahi Danzy.
But the Seminoles also need Toafili and Douglas. Toafili undoubtedly should be in FSU's three-back rotation. And Douglas should be among the three-receiver sets.
Douglas has accumulated 961 career receiving yards and six touchdowns going into Saturday’s game at SMU. That doesn’t sound like much of a career over five seasons, but it has includes some crucial catches in big moments.
On Saturday, it was a game-winning 36-yard touchdown grab against Cal. Last year, it was a six-catch, 115-yard game at Pitt when FSU leaned on him while Coleman and Johnny Wilson were out due to injury. In 2021, he had a 59-yard reception on the game-winning drive as FSU defeated Miami.
“Just being me in the moments,” Douglas said. “When my number’s called, going out there and making the play. … When opportunity comes, make the play and make the best of it. That’s what I did.”
With Roydell Williams out for what Norvell has said is an “extended” period of time, Toafili is FSU’s leader in the running back room and in line to get significant rotational carries. Toafili now has 1,586 rushing yards, and he is less than 200 rushing yards away from joining the top 20 on FSU’s all-time list.
Toafili’s 17 carries against Cal were a career high. His 80 rushing yards were the most by a Seminole in a game this fall.
FSU's offense hasn't been fun to watch in 2024. (Here's hoping it gets better - soon.) We thought in the spring that Roydell Williams would be more impactful, that Jaylin Lucas would be a playmaker and Destyn Hill would deliver a productive year 2 at FSU. Injuries have changed the outlook of FSU's offense, not an excuse but a development that has forced the coaches to evaluate their personnel options.
Toafili and Douglas are part of the solution. Likely it's as bigger pieces to the puzzle than we figured. But they're essential pieces.
Now they're taking on considerably larger roles in 2024. Each scored touchdowns in the 14-9 win over Cal on Saturday.
Toafili leads FSU in rushing yards (147 and 4.9 yards per carry), and Douglas leads FSU in receiving yards (224) while averaging 17.2 yards per reception (second on the team).
This is likely where we say that Toafili and Douglas can't be primary pieces of FSU's offense. And they shouldn't be. FSU needs to keep pushing freshman Elijah Moore, redshirt freshman Jalen Brown and sophomore Hykeem Williams. (And, yes, Douglas needs to improve as a blocker, as do all of the receivers.) FSU also needs to get more carries for Kam Davis, Caziah Holmes, Sam Singleton and Micahi Danzy.
But the Seminoles also need Toafili and Douglas. Toafili undoubtedly should be in FSU's three-back rotation. And Douglas should be among the three-receiver sets.
Douglas has accumulated 961 career receiving yards and six touchdowns going into Saturday’s game at SMU. That doesn’t sound like much of a career over five seasons, but it has includes some crucial catches in big moments.
On Saturday, it was a game-winning 36-yard touchdown grab against Cal. Last year, it was a six-catch, 115-yard game at Pitt when FSU leaned on him while Coleman and Johnny Wilson were out due to injury. In 2021, he had a 59-yard reception on the game-winning drive as FSU defeated Miami.
“Just being me in the moments,” Douglas said. “When my number’s called, going out there and making the play. … When opportunity comes, make the play and make the best of it. That’s what I did.”
With Roydell Williams out for what Norvell has said is an “extended” period of time, Toafili is FSU’s leader in the running back room and in line to get significant rotational carries. Toafili now has 1,586 rushing yards, and he is less than 200 rushing yards away from joining the top 20 on FSU’s all-time list.
Toafili’s 17 carries against Cal were a career high. His 80 rushing yards were the most by a Seminole in a game this fall.
FSU's offense hasn't been fun to watch in 2024. (Here's hoping it gets better - soon.) We thought in the spring that Roydell Williams would be more impactful, that Jaylin Lucas would be a playmaker and Destyn Hill would deliver a productive year 2 at FSU. Injuries have changed the outlook of FSU's offense, not an excuse but a development that has forced the coaches to evaluate their personnel options.
Toafili and Douglas are part of the solution. Likely it's as bigger pieces to the puzzle than we figured. But they're essential pieces.
