Florida State football is set to kick off their season against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in Dublin, Ireland, on Saturday, August 24th, at noon EST. However, the Seminoles will be without a key member of their coaching staff—offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Alex Atkins, who has been suspended by the NCAA for the first three games of the 2024 season due to recruiting violations.
Although Atkins can still practice with the team, he will not be allowed to coach during the games. Head coach Mike Norvell addressed the situation, stating that they have a plan in place to manage without Atkins on game day. Offensive senior analyst Gabe Fertitta will step in for gameday operations. Both Atkins and Norvell have expressed confidence in Fertitta’s ability to contribute effectively to the team.
Fertitta, according to his Seminoles.com biography, joined Florida State after spending the 2021 season at Louisville as a quality control assistant. Prior to that, he had a successful tenure as head coach at Catholic High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Despite the absence of Atkins, the Seminoles’ veteran offensive line, which includes experienced players like Darius Washington, Maurice Smith, Jeremiah Byers, Robert Scott Jr., Keiondre Jones, Richie Leonard IV, Jacob Rizy, and Bryson Estes, should be well-prepared to face Georgia Tech. The game plan will likely focus on a strong running attack, as the Yellow Jackets’ defense struggled against the run last season, allowing 221.3 rushing yards per game (128th in the FBS).
With a straightforward blocking scheme, the offensive line should perform well in the upcoming games against Georgia Tech, Boston College, and Memphis. As for play-calling duties, Norvell is expected to take the lead, given that the offensive scheme is primarily his own.
