Florida State’s ground attack in 2024 was, to be frank, a big disappointment. With a 2.9 yards-per-play average, the Seminoles were ranked 132nd among 134 FBS programs in rushing. For a program with a tradition of struggling-but-brutal ground attacks, this was unexpected.
Opponents were well aware, and FSU’s offense became one-dimensional, obliged to rely heavily on the passing game. But 2025 heralds a new dawn. Say hello to Ousmane Kromah, the redshirt freshman who appears to be a physical combination of Nick Chubb and Saquon Barkley, poised to explode for the ‘Noles.
Does Florida State Have “Nick Chubb 2.0?” Freshman Ousmane Kromah Set to Reshape Seminoles’ Offense
In plain terms, Florida State’s run game last season was poor. It posted 89.9 yards per contest and an awful 2.85 yards per attempt. The Seminoles were unable to maintain drives or manage the clock.
This forced Seminole quarterbacks and the passing attack to bear the brunt, becoming predictable and easy to defend. The result? Just 15.4 points per game, which ranked 131st in the country.
This was a giant issue for a team that specialized in trench warfare and brute power. They were unable to wear down opposing defenses or keep their own defense rested. It was obvious something needed to change.
Florida State’s response to the rushing woes? True freshman Kromah, who enrolled in June 2025 and became a head-turner with his unusual combination of size, strength, and versatility.
Can finally post this. FSU RB Ousmane Kromah is a super star IMO.
Watch these clips from his junior year and tell me they’re not some of the best highlights you’ve ever seen from a HS RB.
And then you remember the freakish physical traits (6’1 w/ 6’8 wing and 22.6 MPH Speed). pic.twitter.com/uvwBNO1FwX
— Clay Fink (@clay_fink) December 5, 2024
In the above tweet from December, Kromah was a high school junior with a speed of 22.6 miles per hour.
Now, look at this. Kromah squatted an eye-opening 445 pounds in high school. It’s not an arbitrary figure, but a merciless exhibition of unadulterated lower-body strength that feeds his run-after-contact prowess. For perspective, legendary Georgia RB Nick Chubb squatted 675 pounds, but Kromah’s figure is mind-bogglingly impressive for a high school athlete.
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His numbers confirm this as well. As a senior at Lee County High in Georgia, he ran for 1,356 yards and 15 touchdowns on only 168 carries. Kromah had an astounding 8.1 yards-per-carry average.
But wait, he’s no one-dimensional pony. Kromah also hauled in 34 receptions for 741 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging close to 22 per catch. That’s a running back who can damage you both on the ground and in the air.
His junior season was even more spectacular: Almost 1,800 yards rushing and 20 rushing touchdowns, and more than 500 receiving yards and nine touchdown catches. That dual-threat package? Pure gold in contemporary college football.
Why Kromah Is the Missing Piece in Mike Norvell’s Florida State Offense
Florida State head coach Mike Norvell’s philosophy is built around versatility, tempo, and play-action. He requires a back capable of doing more than grinding—it’s about making defenses respect all aspects of the offense.
Kromah embodies that description. He has the power to maintain consistently hard yards after contact, the explosiveness to break tackles and convert short gains into big plays, and the sure hands and route-running to be a true receiving threat.
His presence will unveil play-action passes, providing quarterbacks with extra time and room to dissect defenses. And those prolonged drives will result in more first downs, longer possession times, and a rested defense.
Physically, Kromah is a linebacker-enforcer monster, measuring 6’0″ and 205 pounds, but scouts think he can easily bear 220-plus pounds. He can run with a low center of gravity and drive through using his legs for raw strength. That makes him difficult to tackle and impossible to floor with an arm tackle.
He has a dirty stiff-arm and great eyesight, always searching for cutback opportunities—even when the play seems stuffed at first glance. His receiving talent brings a surprising touch of finesse to a back who otherwise plows through defenders.
Florida State already has a fairly full running back room. There are older guys like redshirt senior and Alabama transfer Roydell Williams, redshirt junior and Indiana transfer Jaylin Lucas, redshirt senior Caziah Holmes, and sophomore Kam Davis who bring experience to the table.
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Still, Kromah’s youth, strength, and athletic ability make him the perfect guy to challenge this room and possibly assume the top spot earlier rather than later.
The chief obstacles? Adapting to the ACC pace and physical demands of a full college season. But preliminary indications from summer drills and fall camp indicate he’s making the transition nicely.
Florida State has a rich tradition of dominant backs—ranging from Warrick Dunn to Dalvin Cook—sturdy players who epitomized grit and burst. Kromah’s signing marks the potential revival of that persona: a blue-collar, inside-out running game that dictates the tempo on the floor.
The change is important as the Seminoles seek to challenge the ACC throne and make a splash in the expanded College Football Playoff.
Based on the offensive line’s renewal and the skilled backfield, many have already had FSU projected to “improve mightily” in 2025. Still, adding freshman powerhouse Ousmane Kromah will be a deciding factor.
If Kromah averages 4.8-plus yards per carry and gains more than 900 rushing yards while exceeding 1,200 all-purpose yards in 2025, then take notice. He won’t merely fix Florida State’s rushing issue; he could be an All-American candidate and a physical presence that defines the Seminoles’ offense for years to come.
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