Florida State Seminoles football lost Duce Robinson for the season on Wednesday, when interim head coach Rick Stockstill said the player will need surgery after hurting his knee. Stockstill made the remarks before Florida State’s Saturday noon trip to Boston College.
“Duce Robinson is out for the year. He hurt his knee and he’ll end up having surgery,” Stockstill said. He added that Robinson is “a phenomenal player, a phenomenal man, a phenomenal person.”
Rick Stockstill in Tallahassee
Stockstill met with reporters in Tallahassee for his final availability before the Boston College game. He said Florida State’s players and coaches have handled the change well in the first two practices since he took over, pointing to the work ethic and leadership he has seen in that stretch.
“Been really pleased with how things have gone, how they’ve responded. Their work ethic, the leadership that we’re getting from our players, from our coaches. Proud of their response and how they’ve handled this situation,” he said.
Boston College on Saturday
Florida State enters the game 3-5 overall and 1-4 in the ACC. Boston College is 4-4 and 2-3 in the ACC, and Stockstill said the matchup will demand a physical response from his team.
“You go on the road, you got to pack your toughness. They pride themselves on physicality, that lunchbox mentality. They’re big, they’re physical. It’s going to be a street fight,” he said. He also said Ashton should “play lights out” this week and added, “I got a lot of confidence in Ashton.”
For Florida State, the immediate task is replacing Robinson’s production while keeping the same response Stockstill praised after the coaching change. Saturday at noon on ACC Network will show whether that holds under the pressure of a road game and a season-ending injury.
