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Florida State Football: 3 takeaways from season-opening win vs. Duquesne

By John Scimeca

TALLAHASSEE, FL - AUGUST 27: Runningback Rodney Hill #29 of the Florida State Seminoles avoids a tackle by Cornerback Jaelen Carson #11 of the Duquesne Dukes during the game at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on August 27, 2022 in Tallahassee, Florida. The Seminoles defeated the Dukes 47 to 7. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - AUGUST 27: Runningback Rodney Hill #29 of the Florida State Seminoles avoids a tackle by Cornerback Jaelen Carson #11 of the Duquesne Dukes during the game at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on August 27, 2022 in Tallahassee, Florida. The Seminoles defeated the Dukes 47 to 7. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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New FSU wide receiver Mycah Pittman, a transfer from Oregon, had 12 catches for 197 yards for the Ducks in 2021. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
New FSU wide receiver Mycah Pittman, a transfer from Oregon, had 12 catches for 197 yards for the Ducks in 2021. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images) /

1. Newcomers make an impact

New faces on the roster have to make an impact for Florida State to improve this season after last year’s 5-7 record.

Among the most important arrivals were defensive end Jared Verse, offensive guard Dillan Gibbons, wide receiver Mycah Pittman, and linebacker Tatum Bethune.

On Saturday afternoon, Pittman had four catches for 44 yards during the rare flashes of the Seminoles’ passing game. The junior transfer from Oregon should bolster FSU’s passing attack in 2022 after it ranked No. 94 in the country last year.

Verse, a much-hyped edge rusher who transferred to FSU from Albany, was an FCS Freshman All-American after recording 53 tackles and 10.5 sacks in 2021. He showed on Saturday against Duquesne how he could help FSU improve its pass rush from last season, recording a sack in his first game with his new team.

The entire FSU offensive line did what it was supposed to, helping the Seminoles gain more than 400 rushing yards against the Dukes.

Defensively, Florida State only allowed Duquesne 164 total yards of offense, which is the lowest opponent total of the Mike Norvell era. Bethune, a transfer from Central Florida, had four tackles against Duquesne. The pass rush bothered Duquesne quarterback Joe Mischler all day long, as he ended up completing only 7-of-17 passes for 71 yards.

As a team, the Dukes managed only 93 rushing yards against the Seminoles.

Next. Ranking College Football's top 25 fanbases. dark

Optimism is high after the first season-opening win in six years for Florida State, and perhaps rightfully so — but the incoming transfers will have to make their mark as they did in Week 0.

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