There were not many positives on Florida State football's 24-21 upset loss to Georgia Tech on Saturday in Dublin, Ireland.
However, some Seminoles stood out.
FSU starts the year 0-1 overall and in the ACC. It is the first time Georgia Tech defeated a top-10 team since 2015.
Millions of viewers got a chance to see what this year's FSU team looked like after losing 15 starters from last season. Some FSU players made impactful plays, and some have yet to live up to the hype.
FSU will be looking for its first win on Labor Day against Boston College at 7:30 p.m. at Doak Campbell Stadium.
Here is a look at FSUs top performers, who are on the rise and who are on the decline.
FSU football's top performers
Ryan Fitzgerald , placekicker
Ryan Fitzgerald had a career game during the season opener. It was the first time since 2021 that the senior kicker has kicked over 50 yards.
His two field goals were 52 yards and 59 yards. His 59-yard field goal that tied the game at 14 to end the first half was his career-best and the second-longest in FSU history. He was just named ACC's Special Team Player of the Week.
Last year, Fitzgerald knocked 90 percent of his field-goal attempts and is currently on the Ray Guy Award Watch List.
Ja'Khi Douglas , wide receiver
Wide receiver Ja'Khi Douglas was a reliable target for quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. He led FSU with four catches for 51 yards. He averaged 13.8 yards a catch.
Two of those four catches were crucial plays downfield that extended the drive and put the Seminoles in a scoring position in the fourth quarter. His last catch was on a 20-yard post on 4th & 7.
Shyheim Brown , safety
FSU safety Shyheim Bro https://www.tallahassee.com/story/sports/college/fsu/football/2024/08/05/florida-state-football-secondary-running-backs-scrimmage-mike-norvell-shyheim-brown-fall-camp/74665096007/ wn was one of the brighter spots on defense. As the last line of defense, the junior led the Seminoles with 13 total tackles and a tackle for loss.
Brown is expected to take another leap this year after making All-ACC last season when he recorded 53 tackles, four pass deflections, two sacks and an interception.
Brown was named ACC Player of the Week on Tuesday. He is currently on the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List for best DBs.
On the rise
Edwin Joseph , cornerback
There were tons of plays made on special teams for FSU. Redshirt freshman Edwin Joseph's only tackle was the biggest hit of the day.
Joseph, a backup cornerback, was on the punt team. As Alex Mastronmanno punted all the way to Georgia Tech's 10-yard line, Joseph was the first one there and laid the wood on the Yellow Jackets' return man, Rodney Shelly.
There's a good chance there could be more plays like that this season.
Conrad Hussey , safety
The stat sheet might not do Conrad Hussey any justice with just two tackles, but Hussey hustled downfield once he was subbed in for Davonte Brown at free safety.
Hussey has been raved about during the camp as he enters his sophomore season and has been pushing for the starting job through camp.
Lawrance Toafili , running back
Senior running back Lawrance Toafili had a strong first half. He set the tone for the Seminoles with a 28-yard touchdown on the opening drive.
Toafili showed versatility in the passing game when he recorded three catches for 25 yards. On the ground, he rushed for 32 yards on eight carries.
Roydell Williams, FSU's top rusher with 38 yards on Saturday, and Toafili could be a good pair in the backfield as the offense continues to develop its rhythm.
On the decline
DJ Uiagalelei , quarterback
It is a shaky start in the era of quarterback Uiagalelei. In his FSU debut, he completed 19 of his 27 passes for 193 yards. He recorded a QBR of 78.8 on Saturday's loss.
Uiagalelei is still struggling with consistency and accuracy. He was late on throws and timing passes, especially under pressure.
Fortunately for the Oregon State transfer, Uiagalelei found his rhythm in the fourth quarter, leading to a touchdown drive that tied the game. That includes completing two deep-ball passes on fourth down.
While it is too early to count Uiagalelei out, falling to Georgia Tech as the 10th-ranked team is not what any quarterback would want to start the year.
Patrick Payton , defensive line
FSU's defensive line was the biggest disappointment of the game. It starts with edge rusher Patrick Payton . As a projected first-rounder for the NFL Draft next year.
He was nearly a nearly nonfactor in the season opener. Georgia Tech's front line found ways to kick Payton out of the play and created open lanes for the running game.
Payton finished the game with one tackle.
Joshua Farmer , defensive line
On the interior side of the defensive front, Joshua Farmer struggled to find pressure against the Yellow Jackets' offensive line.
At the same time, he and the rest of the defensive line were pushed to the side, leading the running game to open up and putting the linebackers in a tough position to make a play.
Farmer finished the day with two tackles. FSU's defense allowed 336 total yards of offense, including 190 yards on the ground.
FSU's defense did not register a sack against GT's quarterback, Haynes King.
How can I watch FSU football vs. Boston College
- Date: Monday, Sept. 2
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Where: Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida
- TV: ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN+ ($10.99 per month), WatchESPN and the ESPN app (TV provider subscription needed), fuboTV (7-day free trial ), YouTube TV (2-week free trial), Hulu + Live TV (7-day free trial)
FSU football schedule 2024: TV channels, dates and start times
All times Eastern
- 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 )
- Saturday, Sept. 7: Bye
- Saturday, Sept. 14: vs. Memphis | Noon | ESPN ( Fubo )
- Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. Cal *
- Saturday, Sept. 28: at SMU *
- Saturday, Oct. 5: vs. No. 14 Clemson *
- Saturday, Oct. 12: Bye
- Friday, Oct. 18: at Duke * | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 ( Fubo )
- Saturday, Oct. 26: at No. 19 Miami *
- Saturday, Nov. 2: vs. North Carolina *
- Saturday, Nov. 9: at No. 7 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.)
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: Top performers, on the rise, decline, after Georgia Tech's loss
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