’Noles work to offset Marshall’s absence
TALLAHASSEE — The extent of FSU safety Trey Marshall’s injury was not known as he walked off Bobby Bowden Field Saturday while holding his limp left arm.
“It didn’t look good,” coach Jimbo Fisher said after the contest.
Fisher confirmed Monday during his weekly news conference Marshall’s injury — torn biceps — will keep him out for at least the remainder of the regular season. It is a deflating loss for FSU, with the sophomore safety/nickel back playing exceptionally well and rapidly becoming a steady pillar in FSU’s veteran-led secondary.
“Making calls, being physical, tackling in space, covering. ... This guy was doing everything right to play well,” Fisher said. “I hate that he got injured.
“Those guys are like losing quarterbacks back there. They’re tough and he managed us really well.”
No. 9 Florida State (6-0, 4-0 ACC) will likely turn to a committee approach that will include a couple of untested freshmen to replace Marshall at the hybrid nickel back — or “Star” — position when it plays at Georgia Tech (2-5, 0-4 ACC) Saturday at 7 p.m. The Yellow Jackets run an unorthodox triple-option offense, further complicating the fallout from Marshall’s injury.
Senior Tyler Hunter was asked to play Star the past two weeks when Marshall left early in the first quarter against Miami — due to a targeting penalty — and Louisville. With experience playing cornerback and safety, Hunter drew matchups against slot receivers James Quick of Louisville and Stacy Coley of Miami. Combined, the two receivers totaled 269 receiving yards and four touchdowns against the Seminoles, although not all of that was due to Hunter’s coverage.
But FSU was left searching for another option at Star after Quick burned Hunter for a touchdown on Saturday and the senior then exhibited his frustration by pushing Quick after the play, which drew a penalty.
The Seminoles, already short-handed with starting safety Nate Andrews limited by a knee injury, then went with former walk-on Javien Elliott to replace Hunter. A fifth-year senior, Elliott recorded the first interception of his career on an errant pass and could be called on to play in various substitution packages.
Fisher indicated the Seminoles will utilize different players at Star, depending on matchups. Elliott, for example, may be better served against pass-oriented teams while Hunter’s aggressive nature could make him an ideal fit against a runheavy team like Georgia Tech.
The other option for FSU could be to play true freshmen Marcus Lewis or Tarvarus McFadden. Both firstyear players were highly touted out of high school and drew praise from Fisher this preseason before missing time due to injuries.
“Those guys got healthy; that was the big thing,” Fisher said. “Marcus can play Star. He can play safety. He can play corner. You still have the ability to play Jalen [Ramsey at Star] if they’re playing well outside. There’s a multitude of things we can do and will do.”
Fisher said in recent weeks Lewis and McFadden were progressing in practice and he felt comfortable playing them in games, if necessary, but he wanted to bring them along slowly and integrate them into the lineup.
Patience no longer appears to be a viable choice, with Marshall out for the foreseeable future and Andrews still dealing with a deep bruise on his knee.
“They’re ready,” Fisher said of his freshmen. “They’re big, they’re long, they’re athletic and they can play multiple positions. And they’re very smart.
“We feel comfortable with them in that mix. It’s time.”