Gavin, Terry could offset loss of WR Tate
Taggart hopes to take advantage of their size in offensive scheme
TALLAHASSEE — Florida State coach Willie Taggart remembers when redshirt freshman receiver Tamorrion Terry first caught his eye.
It was during FSU’s bowl practice sessions at the end of last season, where Taggart noticed Terry developing a healthy rapport with quarterback James Blackman.
“[He] and Blackman connected a couple times down the field, and I was really impressed,” Taggart said before Friday’s spring practice.
“I knew his name really quickly, and I remember his name really quickly.”
Taggart said Terry (6-foot-4, 197 pounds) and junior Keith Gavin (6-foot-3, 217 pounds) have the potential to be the next standout deep threats in FSU’s offense.
“[They] could be a very big asset for us,” Taggart said of both players. “Those guys are strong and physical. Whenever you’ve got strong, physical receivers that can catch the ball, they can do a lot of damage for you. Both of those guys are having a good spring.”
With senior Nyqwan “Noonie”
Murray out this spring, recovering from surgery to repair a torn meniscus, the Seminoles have only four scholarship receivers in action: Gavin, Terry, sophomore D.J. Matthews and redshirt freshman Ontaria Wilson, who converted from defensive back.
The lack of depth has presented each player with added opportunities to gain experience in the new offense Taggart is installing for the Seminoles.
“We’re doing really [well],” Gavin said. “Noonie is going to be back real soon. He’s going to be back and better than ever. … The receiver corp is getting their positions down, and getting the playbook. Everything is going really well.”
Gavin hopes to take full advantage of his chances in practice, especially with junior receiver Auden Tate leaving for the NFL and the way his sophomore season unfolded last year.
Gavin started the season with an impressive outing (seven receptions for 50 yards against Alabama), but knee and ankle injuries hampered his production despite appearing in 10 games last season. Gavin finished with 27 catches for 278 yards with no touchdowns for the Seminoles.
With Tate (40 receptions, 548 yards and 10 touchdowns) no longer in the mix, Gavin could be a beneficiary in the passing game.
“I’m just trying to become my own person,” Gavin said when asked if he could fill Tate’s role next season.
“Every chance I get the ball, I want to do something with it, especially in the red zone. I want to be a red zone threat, and a field threat too. I feel like I can do both.”
As for Terry, he did not see the field much as a freshman — like Matthews last season — because of the complex pro-style offense former coach Jimbo Fisher utilized.
Terry has helped stay on Taggart’s radar this spring by catching a touchdown pass during every practice session, the coach said.
“I was surprised, but I got to learn from it,” Terry said of his lack of playing time in 2017. “I didn’t get to see the field last year, but I’m trying to work so hard to see the field this year.”
Gavin says he loves several new aspects of FSU’s offense, including lining up outside the numbers for one-on-one matchups with defensive backs. And Gavin believes the playmakers on offense — at receiver and running back — can benefit from Taggart’s offense being spread across the field.
“I think it’s pretty easy,” Gavin said of learning the new offense. “Everybody is catching onto it really fast. I don’t think there are no setbacks right now. Everybody is getting everything well.”