Ousmane Kromah prepares for dream matchup: Florida State vs. Alabama in Tallahassee

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Sitting in front of reporters after practice earlier this week, Ousmane Kromah flashed the big, familiar smile Lee County fans know so well. The true freshman running back admitted what was racing through his mind — in just days, he will live out a dream, making his Florida State debut in a nationally televised showdown against Alabama.

“This is a game I’ve dreamed about,” Kromah said, the grin widening. “Being in college is surreal, but being here is just different. I’m going to know the whole offense so I can perform the best I can. My goal is simple — do what they need me to do. I’m not here to be a savior. I’m just here to play football.”

If there were any first-week jitters, they didn’t last. Kromah began the press conference with a hint of nervousness but quickly relaxed — the same way he settled in on the field during FSU’s second fall scrimmage, when he powered in multiple goal-line touchdowns. Those short-yardage scores caught the attention of Seminoles coaches and analysts, an early sign they trust him when it matters most.

Kromah’s nervousness seemed to disappear when asked if he is happy with his choice to come to Florida Sate.

“Whaaaaat? You just don’t know,” Kromah said with his huge smile. “Being in college is surreal. Being here at Florida State, it’s just different. The guys here are always taking care of me. The people – that’s one of the big reasons I decided to come here.”

Kromah said the reason he is picking up Gus Malzahn’s offense so quickly is because much of it feels like home.

“I’m picking up the offense quicker and able to react,” he said. “The physical aspect of the game is not much different than high school. The offense is similar to what I ran at Lee County, so it’s easy to pick up several things because I’ve seen it before.”

That foundation came from years of preparation under former Lee County offensive coordinator Jonathan Thompson, who taught him advanced blocking and pass-protection schemes well before he graduated.

“Coach Thompson thought I could be a great first-round back,” Kromah said. “He was teaching me a lot of advanced stuff back then so I could have it when I came to college.”

At Florida State, he has found another support system.

“The older guys welcomed me. They made sure to take care of me,” Kromah said. “We have friendly competitions, we cheer for each other. We’re the loudest group. We have to work together to get to the goal we want.”

He is also taking to heart the advice to be patient with himself.

“They actually calm my nerves so I can be a freshman,” he said. “I love coaching. I’m not where I want to be football-knowledge-wise. If the coaches tell me something, I’m taking it down. I’m still a freshman. I’m still learning.”

On Saturdays this fall, the lights will be brighter, the crowd louder and the stakes higher. But for Kromah, the mindset is the same as it was in Leesburg — take the ball, trust the preparation and make the most of every carry.

Florida State opens its season against Alabama on Aug. 30 at 3:30 p.m. at Doak Campbell Stadium in a game that will be broadcast nationally on ABC.