Tate, Gavin listed as questionable
Where: FAUStadium TV: WTCN, ESPN3, cbssports.com Weather: 82 degrees, 20 percent chance of rain Online: Coverage at SunSentinel.com/fau; Twitter @ShandelRich
Quick slant: The Owls are 0-4 all-time against the Thundering Herd. Marshall won 33-17 the last time the teams met in 2015. Awinwould giveFAUa two-game lead in the ConferenceUSA East division standings.
About Marshall (5-2): Quarterback Chase Litton has completed 170 of 277 passes for 1,913 yards with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. Lastweek he threw for 363 yards in a loss to Florida International. The Thundering Herd have allowed just 17.6 points a game, which ranks second in the league.
AboutFAU(5-3): Running backDevin Singletary leads the Owls with 1,053 yards and national-best 18 rushing touchdowns. Singletary also ranks ninth nationally in rushing yards. The Owls lead the conference with 14 interceptions, led by Chris Tooley’s four. Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair is the only player in the league averaging 10 tackles a game. Three things towatch CantheThunderingHerdbecomethe firstC-USAteam to slowSingletary? No team has come close so far.
Marshall has given up a league-low three sacks this season but will be without suspended lineman Nate Devers.
FAU quarterback Jason Driskel is due for a bounceback game after struggling last week against Western Kentucky. He has battled inconsistency all season.
Shandel Richardson
TALLAHASSEE — The Florida State football team may be riddled by injuries, but Jimbo Fisher hopes several players who could possibly play despite injuries can send an inspiring message rest of the team.
Fisher said Thursday receivers Auden Tate (foot) and Keith Gavin (knee, ankle) are both questionable to play for the 2-5 Seminoles during Saturday’s game against Syracuse at Doak Campbell Stadium.
Junior running back Jacques Patrick, who had minor knee surgery on Oct. 24, will not play against Syracuse but could return for the Seminoles against Clemson onNov.11.
“You want to send a message? If you’re hurt or banged up and not wanting to go play, those guys are trying to crawl back in and get as healthy as they can,” Fisher said of all three players. “That sends as good a message about your team and what you’re doing as you possibly can.”
Tate, who leads the team has five touchdowns this season despite an AC separation in his left shoulder, is dealing with a recent foot injury thisweek.
“We don’t know if he’ll be able to play,” Fisher said Tate. “We don’t know. He’s banged up. But he’s going out there banging.”
Gavin, who has been sidelined since FSU’s loss to Miami on Oct. 7, returned to practice onWednesday and Thursday. Fisher saidhe did not expectGavin to return for at least two more weeks, and will wait to see howGavin’s body responds after practice before playing him Saturday.
Nextgame: FSUvs. Syracuse, Saturday,12:20p.m., ACC Network
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