DB Nasirildeen to miss opener
Senior still recovering from a knee injury and is not quite ready to go
Florida State will face off against Georgia Tech without senior defensive back Hamsah Nasirildeen in the lineup due to a knee injury.
Coach Mike Norvell, who entered game week with optimism and enthusiasm, acknowledged Monday that Nasirildeen wasn’t quite ready to play after recovering from a knee injury he sustained against Florida late last season.
“He is doing a great job in his rehabilitation,” Norvell said. “We feel like he’s really, really close. Just not going to be able to be available for this week, but we’re very hopeful for him to return in the extremely near future.”
Nasirildeen, who is 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, played in 12 games last season, making 10 starts. He has led the Seminoles in tackles the past two seasons, getting 101 stops in 2019. He had two tackles for a loss, three forced fumbles, two interceptions, three pass breakups and one fumble recovery last season. He was named to the preseason All-ACC team and earned spots on multiple national award watch lists.
Sophomore Renardo Green, a Wekiva High alum, and redshirt freshman Travis Jay are listed as co-starters in place of Nasirildeen, with senior Cyrus Fagan, of Daytona Beach Mainland High, listed as the backup.
FSU defensive coordinator Adam Fuller praised Nasirildeen for staying involved with the defense while he recovers from his knee injury.
“I hate that Ham can’t line up with us this first game,” Fuller said. “He is doing everything he can. We are trying to hold him back a little bit, which I don’t think he likes, but I think he respects.
“But Ham has been a great teammate. Just seeing him grow in his knowledge and just how he is doing things. He is always there. He is there for just support and energy. He is a smart football player. I know he is champing at
the bit. He’ll be back here on the field before we know it.”
Celebrating game week
Norvell said the 2020 football season obviously will present unique challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic, but he’s pleased his team is on track to finally play a football game.
“We have made it,” Norvell said with a grin Monday. “We have made it to game week. So very excited about the opportunity. Saturday, 3:30, national broadcast on ABC. It’s a great opportunity for our football team. I’m really excited for our players. All the work that’s gone into the offseason, all the work that’s gone into the response to the adversity we’ve seen, whether it’s quarantine to just some of the ups and downs that goes into every year. To be able to get to point to go out there and play the game they love to play.
“… Their approach this last week, I thought they came at a very high level each and every day.”