3 Florida State Players that Need to Be Impactful vs. SMU

Florida State Seminoles and the SMU Mustangs will face off for only the secondtime ever on Monday, and for the first time within thefriendly confines of Doak Campbell Stadium.

TheSeminoles have the advantage of having played a game already, a week zerovictory over New Mexico State. The Labor Day battle will be the first game ofthe season for SMU, in addition to being a road game and the conference openerfor both teams. The pressure tr is on the Mustangs.

SMU is rankedNo. 19 in the country, and considered by many to be the second-best team in theACC this season, behind the Miami Hurricanes. In their first meeting, in 2024, SMUscored 28 points in the second-half to beat the Seminoles 42-16.

To avoid arepeat of that subpar performance, three Seminole players will be need to stepup and be impactful if Florida State is to secure a victory over the talented Mustangssquad on Monday.

Danielscompleted 63 percent of his passes against New Mexico State, and threw for 202yards and accounted for two touchdowns. A solid performance. But for Daniels tobe the impactful player he must be against SMU, Daniels needs to repeat his bestperformance from last season when he was at Auburn, against the No. 15 VanderbiltCommodores.

On the roadagainst the Commodores, Daniels accounted for 442 total yards and fourtouchdowns in a seven-point losing effort. That kind of dominance could propelthe Seminoles to victory over the Mustangs.

As one ofthe best receivers in college football, and the ACC, Robinson is a talented 6-foot-6weapon that coach Mike Norvell must unleash on the SMU defense. Robinson was a1,000-yard receiver and averaged 19.30 yards per catch last season, and was a first-teamAll-ACC performer. Against New Mexico State, Robinson caught three passes for50 yards, but did not score any touchdowns. In the offensive game plan againstSMU, Robinson needs more targets.

He is amismatch made in heaven against opposing defenders, and pulled down 18contested catches a season ago. That is the most of any returning receiver inthe ACC, and that is how Norvell should exploit the SMU defense.

Robinsonmust conjure up a repeat performance of his best game against a conference opponent from lastseason, Wake Forest. Against the Demon Deacons, Robinson caught fivecatches for 148 yards and a touchdown, and averaged 29.60 yards per catch,shredding the Wake Forest pass defense.

Will the2025 version of Mandrell Desir please stand up? Last season as a true freshman,Desir led the team in tackles (57), sacks (6.5) and tackles for loss (7.5). Desirwas uncharacteristically quiet against New Mexico, borderline non-existent, andposted just four tackles with zero sacks and zero tackles for loss. Norvell andthe Seminoles need the defensive monster inside Desir to manifest itself andterrorize the Mustangs into submission.

As statedabove, all three of these players have the talent to produce and dominate oncollege football's biggest stage. It is imperative that they step up and make theirpresence felt early and often if Florida State is to come away with a victoryover the No. 19 Mustangs.