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Florida State to be without key offensive player vs. Cal, per report
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Florida State will be severely shorthanded at running back on Saturday night against Cal, as the 0-3 Seminoles look to finally get their first victory of 2024 against the 3-0 Bears.
According to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Roydell Williams is injured and will miss the Week 4 home matchup. Florida State is already without Jaylin Lucas, who is done for the season after picking up an injury on Labor Day night against Boston College.
Sources: Florida State tailback Roydell Williams is injured and will be out against Cal. Also, reserve offensive lineman Robert Scott Jr. will be out, as is starting RT Jeremiah Byers. That means Jaylen Early will get the start at right tackle. pic.twitter.com/splbz5NLKd
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 21, 2024
A transfer from Alabama, Williams has started the Seminoles’ first 3 games of the season, rushing for 54 yards on 20 carries with a team-high 2 touchdowns.
Freshman Kam Davis has been listed behind Williams on the depth chart and should get a much bigger role in the offense on Saturday night with Williams out. Lawrance Toafili has been the Seminoles’ most productive back, with 67 yards on 13 carries through 3 games.
The latest running back injury wasn’t the only bad news for the struggling Seminoles on Saturday. According to Thamel, reserve offensive lineman Robert Scott Jr. will also miss the game against Cal, as will starting right tackle Jeremiah Byers.
With Byers out, sophomore Jaylen Early will get the start at right tackle.
Florida State is a slight favorite on Saturday against Cal (-2.5 via ESPN Bet) despite still being winless and despite the Bears being undefeated. FSU is looking for its first victory of 2024 after a crushing season-opening loss to Georgia Tech in Ireland, followed by home losses to Boston College and Memphis.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
