Florida State special teams coordinator John Papuchis is eager for Florida State to score a special teams touchdown this season.

So eager, in fact, that he apparently almost ran a red light on Sunday as he was thinking about FSU’s big play potential on special teams.

“That’s a longtime over due,” Papuchis said of FSU’s special teams touchdown drought. Florida State’s last punt return touchdown came on Oct. 6, 2018. DJ Matthew scored off a punt return in a loss to Miami. To find the most recent kick return TD, you’d have to go to 2013. Kermit Whitfield housed 2 kick returns for TD’s that season.

“I was actually thinking about that last night driving home. You kinda drift off in your train of thought and I almost ran a red light,” Papuchis said with a laugh.

Since 2013, FSU’s 4 total return touchdowns ranks second-to-last amongst all ACC teams. Only Clemson (3 punt return TD, 0 kick return TD) ranks lower.

Papuchis said he believes the Noles are close to ending that drought.

“We’re so close,” Papuchis added. “It’s hard to tell that at times. Because to have a kick return for a touchdown, there’s a reason why they’re infrequent. A lot of things have to happen. You got to get the right kick. You got to get everyone blocked. Everyone has to execute their assignment and then you have to have a guy with some instincts that’s running with the ball that can make it happen.”

Mycah Pittman, Deuce Spann and Sam McCall are all in the mix to return kicks this season. Pittman is expected to be FSU’s primary punt returner. He returned 15 punts at Oregon last season but did not score a touchdown.

Florida State opens the 2022 season with Duquesne on Aug. 27.