Florida State Star Receiver Johnny Wilson Discusses Team's Desire To Finish Strong After a 12-0 Start
The Florida State Seminoles are 12-0 after their first undefeated regular season since 2014, and while they may be going into the conference championship without quarterback Jordan Travis, the team is filled with players who stayed or transferred in with the desire to win a national title.
One of those players is wide receiver Johnny Wilson, who, despite being widely regarded as a top receiver in 2022, stayed with FSU to continue to help the program move back to the top of the country.
"I mean, that was one of the big reasons why a lot of us came back. It felt like last year there were a lot of opportunities we missed out on, and we knew what this team was capable of so just coming back this year and trying to get what we ultimately came back for, it's just a matter of putting everything back together," Wilson said. "No one wants to leave here without a championship at the end of the day, so we just have to keep working."
With Travis' Seminole career having come to an end with his injury, the offense lies in the hands of Tate Rodemaker, who has thrown for 351 yards and two touchdowns in his last two games. While he may lack the experience Travis has, the team is confident in his abilities as they know what he can do when his number is called.
"Tate's been prepared for moments like this. It's one thing Coach Norvell does great, no matter where you're at in the depth chart or what your role is, everyone has a job to do and you've got to be ready for your moment. That's one thing I praise Tate on is he got in there, he didn't panic, he stayed poised and did what he had to do."
The minute Travis went down, shockwaves were sent throughout Doak Campbell Stadium and even more so on the sidelines. Since joining the team in 2022, Wilson and Travis have had a bond that was seen on and off the field. While Travis may no longer be the one under center during games, there was never one player in particular that has been the reason FSU is 12-0; it was accomplished by working as a unit.
"Of course, I feel for him, and I'm praying for him, but in the position we're in, it's very unfortunate what happened had happened at the time it happened, but I mean, we're 12-0, we've got a championship coming up, so you've got to keep going," Wilson said. "One guy goes down, the next guy goes up, and everyone has to stay ready and prepared. Of course, you know, it hurts, it sucks, and at the end of the day, that's one of my best friends to see him go through something like that. It sucks, but we've got to keep going for the team and get this win as a collective group and keep going after that."
As many Seminole fans remember, in the 2022 season Travis went down in the middle of a crucial road game against Louisville, and it was the connection between Rodemaker and Wilson that ultimately led the team to a hard-fought victory. As they now face the Cardinals in the ACC Championship, one can only wonder if that connection between the new starting quarterback and receiver will once again be a key factor in a 13th victory.
"It's never really about the team we're playing, we're always focused on what we've got to do and the plays we've got to make, and that's something Coach Norvell preaches all the time," Wilson said. "We played them last year. So what you had a good game last year? I mean, that's last year. You've got to do it again this year, so that's one thing I love about it, just getting another opportunity to go out there and showcase what this team could do on a big stage."
The Seminoles and Cardinals will face off at 8:00 PM on Saturday, December 2nd, in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the ACC Championship. The fourth-ranked Seminoles are looking for a 16th ACC title and a spot in the college football playoffs. The game will be broadcast on ABC.
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