When Devonta Freeman came to the sideline after scoring his first touchdown Saturday — one that finally put a some distance between Florida State and Miami — he sought out running mate and mentor, senior Chris Thompson, to give him a hug.
The Seminoles suspected Thompson’s left knee injury suffered in the second quarter was not good and they got that confirmation late Sunday when it was learned Thompson tore his ACL and is out for the season.
This is the second straight year Thompson’s season has been cut short. He broke two vertebrate in his back in 2011 against Wake Forest, an injury that many believed had ended his career.
“It’s unbelievable,” coach Jimbo Fisher said Monday. “What that kid went through with the back. He is everything that is right about college football.
“This game takes no prisoners. It’s a very unforgiving game. That’s a very big blow to us.”
Thompson leads Florida State and is third in the ACC with rushing 687 yards. He is seventh in the conference in all-purpose yards with 935. Thompson became an emotional leader and an inspiration to his teammates after overcoming last season’s injury.
Freeman, a true sophomore, will move into the running back rotation with classmate James Wilder, who takes over as the starter.
“We have plenty to get through this,” Fisher said.
Freeman had 70 yards and two fourth quarter touchdowns Saturday in an emotional homecoming. He was playing for the first time in South Florida since his senior year at Miami Central High and five weeks after his cousin, Anthony Darling, was fatally shot following an altercation in Miami.
Darling, who was raised by Freeman’s mother, was 20.
“It’s been very difficult but I just talked to God about it,” Freeman said. “I was told a long time ago you can never clear a stormy cloud. You got to let it work out by itself. And I’ve been patient with that.”
Freeman’s workload decreased after he led the Seminoles with 579 yards as a true freshman in 2011. But Thompson’s return and Wilder’s emergence pushed Freeman to No. 3 on the depth chart. He had just 31 carries in four games entering Saturday.
But all of that was secondary when he received the call from his sister hours after Florida State’s Sept. 15 game against Wake Forest. He learned that Darling had been in a fight and his adversary returned with a gun.
Darling lived with Freeman last year, moving to Tallahassee with his cousin and enrolling at Rickards High where he played running back. Freeman refers to Darling as his “brother” and said they did everything together.
“Even though he isn’t here with me I talk to him all the time and tell him I’m here, I’m going to do everything you wanted to do,” Freeman said.
Freeman attended Darling’s funeral one week after the shooting. He was gone about two days, returning for practice on Tuesday.
“He wanted to get back into it bad and he did, he went out and practiced well,” Fisher said.
Fisher, like every college coach in the country, has experience with one of his players suddenly losing a loved one.
“It’s good to get him back in the mix but also you don’t want to put too much pressure on the kid when he comes off a situation like,” Fisher said. “Sometimes they don’t even know how much it is affecting them.”
Through the grieving and the heartache, Freeman had to deal with losing his starting job. Thompson’s return was unexpected considering the severity of his injury and Wilder moved into the No. 2 role. Wilder was rated higher than Freeman coming out of high school but fell behind Freeman last season.
“It was definitely a humbling experience,” Freeman said. “I did get down at first but I just learned to deal with it.”
Freeman’s opportunity Saturday was almost surreal, coming at home in front of friends and family who are still grieving their loss.
Five weeks ago Thompson was consoling Freeman, offering support. And although a season-ending injury cannot be compared to losing a loved one, Freeman said he will return the gesture.
“I will take on his role and talk to him every day and encourage him and any questions I have I will call him and ask him what to do,” Freeman said Saturday. “I will make him still feel a part.”
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