Florida State’s Thomas and Chaplin Earn Weekly ACC Honors

Two of Florida State’s football players earned ACC Player of the Week honors for their respective performances in the Seminoles’ 31-24 win over Boston College.

Xavier Chaplin was named Offensive Lineman of the Week, and Amari Thomas was named Rookie of the Week. 

Xavier Chaplin earned a grade of 97 on 70 offensive snaps. Further, he recorded five pancake blocks, eight blocks that kept drives alive on third down or resulted in a touchdown.

Chaplin also threw the block that resulted in the game-winning score on the Seminoles final drive against Boston College.

As far as protecting his quarterback, Ashton Daniels, against the Eagles, Chaplin did not allow a sack or quarterback pressure.

At 6-foot-8, 346 pounds, Chaplin transferred to Florida State this season from Virginia Tech and Auburn, where he started 37 consecutive games for the Hokies and Tigers.

Amari Thomas posted career-highs of 98 yards and two touchdowns, which included the game-winner against the Eagles. 

Thomas posted a 20-yard touchdown run, which was the longest of his collegiate career. Thomas is the first freshman to have multiple touchdowns in a single game since Dalvin Cook in 2014.

It has been seven seasons since a Florida State running back was named ACC Rookie of the Week. Lawrence Toafili earned the honor in the 2020 season.

Thomas has now gained 110 yards rushing this season. He will have to carry more of the load in the rushing department because Ousmane Kromah and Sam Singleton Jr. are out for the season.

Both Thomas and Chaplin will be challenged Saturday by a tough Pittsburgh defense. The Panthers are stingy when it comes to opposing running backs gaining yardage.

Through nine games, Pittsburgh allowed a paltry 68 yards rushing. That is good enough for No. 2 nationally. They are also one of the best defenses in the ACC in multiple categories.

While Thomas will be trying to break the century mark, the Panthers will be trying to record their seventh game of less than 100 yards allowed this season.

Chaplin will be busy trying to hold his blocks long enough to allow Thomas to get to the second level and beyond.

The Panthers are good at stacking up negative plays. They are third in the ACC in sacks (25) and tackles for loss (61).

Pittsburgh has defeated the Seminoles in two of the last three meetings. The Panthers are a -3.5 point home favorites over Florida State.