A former 1,000-yard rusher with the mighty Texas Longhorns, Quintrevion Wisner was rubber-stamped as expendable by coach Steve Sarkisian.
After suffering injuries last season that limited his playing time, Wisner entered the transfer portal. Florida State coach Mike Norvell plucked him from that talent black hole with hopes Wisner could return to the 2024 version of himself. So far in fall camp, that has not happened.
Norvell is allowed to have two full scrimmages in fall camp, per NCAA rules. The Seminoles held both within the same practice week. Wisner was a no-show at both. Whatever they paid to bring Wisner to Tallahassee, Norvell and the Seminoles may be experiencing sticker shock.
It has been said in football circles that the best ability is availability. Portal acquisitions still have to prove themselves to their new coaches and new team. In addition, Norvell’s decision to bring in Wisner was questioned when the Seminoles already had two talented running backs returning in Sam Singleton and Ousmane Kromah.
Last season, Florida State led the ACC in rushing offense, and ranked No. 11 nationally in rushing offense at 218 yards per game, with 2,624 total yards and 31 touchdowns. Kromah is the leading returning rusher for the Seminoles after rushing for 408 yards last season, and no touchdowns. Singleton gained 360 yards and scored four touchdowns, and averaged a whopping 7.06 yards per carry.
Wisner led the Longhorns in rushing last season with 597 yards, but only found the end zone three times in only nine games, with injuries getting in the way of his production. By contrast, starting quarterback Arch Manning led the scoring barrage on the ground with 10 rushing touchdowns. That right there may have been the catalyst for Wisner being told his services were no longer needed in the burnt orange.
In fall camp, Kromah may have played himself into a starting job. He has lost weight on his 6-foot-1 frame, ready to hit the holes faster and gain big yardage and make big plays. Kromah has gained the attention and respect of his coaches and teammates. Safety Ashlynd Barker has said Kromah was “the hardest person I’ve ever had to tackle in my life.”
Kromah and the rest of the running back room will be operating behind a rebuilt, but experienced offensive line that has 107 career starts, led by Xavier Chaplin and Nate Pabst. Both Chaplin and Pabst have NFL potential, according to college football analyst Phil Steele. Pabst was a second-team All-MAC selection last season at Bowling Green.
With the season opener with New Mexico State fast approaching, Kromah has become the security blanket for the Seminoles to reduce that nagging feeling of buyer’s remorse that can hang over the program like bad weather. Kromah will be counted on to part those gray clouds and let the sun shine down on a talented football team that Norvell said “has the opportunity to do something special.”