TALLAHASSEE — Florida State honored some of its greats across all sports Saturday night. Sebastian Janikowski’s No. 38 jersey was retired. Four NBA players were recognized. U.S. Amateur champion Jack Whaley had a video message on the Jumbotron.
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But the most emotional return was by Ethan Pritchard, who was determined to walk back on to the field a year after he was shot in the neck in nearby Havana. Pritchard, a former Seminole High standout, walked alongside coach Mike Norvell to cheers from inside Doak Campbell Stadium before the Seminoles ran through the tunnel, across the field and to the sideline.
“That’s one of the most remarkable experiences that I’ve ever been a part of,” Norvell said. “Ethan told me, I guess it was eight, nine months ago, that he was going to do that. That was when he was confined to a wheelchair. To see his mental toughness, to see his work, to see his belief, his faith. The people surrounding him, he had a purpose of what he wanted to do. The good Lord, he guided and helped him along this journey. He’s our walking miracle.”
There were more than a few tears watching Pritchard, a Sanford native who arrived at FSU in January 2025 as a linebacker, back among his teammates.
Here are five things we learned from FSU’s season-opening 34-17 win over New Mexico State:
Daniels shows wheels, sluggish moments
Ashton Daniels’ debut at his third school was more than good enough to build six scoring drives and guide FSU to a win. Daniels wasn’t able to win often at Stanford and Auburn, so this start at FSU had to feel good.
Daniels completed 17 of 27 passes (63 percent) for a touchdown and an interception — a forced throw to the sideline that was an awful mistake. He also had a rushing touchdown. There are limitations with Daniels, but he connected with Micahi Danzy for a 44-yard pass, had good touch on a 24-yard pass to Duce Robinson and then connected with the senior again on a clutch fourth-and-4 pass that extended a touchdown drive.
OL must take steps forward
FSU hit the portal and started four transfers Saturday. While FSU accumulated 419 yards and averaged 6.3 yards per play, Daniels was constantly flushed from the pocket.
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Right tackle Chimdia Nwaiwu, a transfer from FCS Stephen F. Austin, was beaten often and FSU used a tight end to help with protection. Norvell could shift right guard Nate Pabst over to tackle, a position he played at Bowling Green. FSU needs to explore fixes before the SMU game. The Seminoles host the 19th-ranked Mustangs on Sept. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
Norvell the play caller
FSU wants to run to extend drives and score points and that was on display. The Seminoles had six chunk runs of 10 yards or more, including Ousmane Kromah’s 52-yarder. Kromah had 14 carries for 115 yards, his first 100-yard game, and Samuel Singleton had 54 rushing yards and a touchdown.
A run-pass balance of 39 to 27 shows what Norvell wants to call. He needs FSU to run at an efficient rate and take pressure off Daniels.
3rd-down defense, pass defense issues
Defensive coordinator Tony White is known for having quality run defenses, and on Saturday the Seminoles allowed just 47 yards on 23 carries. But the pass rush didn’t get enough pressure and Aggies quarterback Trey Hedden completed nine straight third-down passes.
FSU has quality corners in Ja’Bril Rawls and Quindarrius Jones, who had an interception and a pass breakup. But Hedden’s two touchdowns were over the middle (picking on linebackers and safeties) and he had six passes of 15 yards or more. White has some work to do.
Special teams a strength
If the Seminoles are going to improve off a 5-7 season, they will do so with a new group of specialists.
Gabe Panikowski made a pair of field-goal attempts (43 and 41) in his first kicks in a college football game since he went 15 of 15 at FCS Idaho State in 2024. Daniel Hughes had a pair of punts, including a 53-yarder (neither were returned). FSU made net punting a talking point and it was a positive start.
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