FSU football vs New Mexico State: Five Aggies to know

After a long offseason, the Florida State football program returns to action on Saturday when they play the New Mexico State Aggies at Doak Campbell Stadium.

The Seminoles are the heavy favorites and are looking to start the year 1-0 before two tough matchups against the SMU Mustangs and Alabama Crimson Tide. Despite several disadvantages, New Mexico State has talented players FSU will need to contain to win.

The Aggies were well represented on the Conference USA preseason watch list, with five different players making the list, including one on offense, three defenders, and a special teams player. While they lost their leading passer, rusher, receiver, and tackler from last year's team, their roster has a combined 215 starts at FBS after they plucked several proven players out of the transfer portal.

With newcomers at several key spots and returning players looking to go from contributors to stars, here are five New Mexico State Aggies to know.

King was limited to just eight games last year for the Aggies, but he made his presence felt. He finished the year with 41 catches for 588 yards and three touchdowns, and is primed to be even better in his fifth and final season playing college football.

The 5-foot-9, 180-pounder will be a good test for FSU's secondary to start the season and is also a threat in the return game. He averaged 19.5 yards per kick return and 8.6 yards per punt return last year; he was the All-Mountain West First Team kick returner in 2024 and will look to flip field position for the Aggies.

Aupiu is entering his fifth season with the Aggies and his fourth as a starter. The veteran has played in 42 games for New Mexico State, recording 170 tackles, 16.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, two interceptions, and 11 pass breakups.

He was named to the Conference USA preseason watch list and has a team-high 36 starts. The 6-foot-1, 225-pounder can struggle to make tackles, missing 18 last year according to PFF, the second most on the team.

Hedden won the starting job after transferring in from Furman. While he will be making his first start for the Aggies, he started 20 games as a freshman and sophomore at Furman, making the Southern Conference All-Freshman Team in 2024.

The Tampa native has completed 65.6% of his passes for 4,734 yards, 30 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. He is not much of a running threat, rushing for just 65 yards and two touchdowns during his career. This will be his third time playing a power conference opponent, with him playing the Clemson Tigers last year and the Ole Miss Rebels the year before.

He struggled in both contests, completing 31 of his 47 passes for 206 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. While Furman lost both contests, the experience should allow Hedden to be comfortable in Doak Campbell Stadium, something FSU's defense will look to change.

Davis is entering his third season for the Aggies and his first as a starter. The 6-foot-2, 280-pounder started his career at Palomar C.C. and has played in 17 games over the past two seasons, but recorded just 17 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss, and 1.0 sack.

However, they are expecting him to take a leap as a senior, with him set to serve as a captain against FSU and a leader in the defense after making the Conference USA preseason watch list.

While Davis is looking to prove he can be a starter, Peterson enters the season as a known commodity. The fifth-year player spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons at New Mexico State before transferring to Utah State in 2024, but spent just one season with them before returning for the 2025 season.

He plays defensive end/jack for the Aggies and is someone FSU's offensive line will need to account for. His best season came in 2023, with him recording 55 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and two blocked kicks. The 6-foot-2, 255-pounder has played in 42 games during his career, making 108 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks.

This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: FSU football vs New Mexico State: Five Aggies to know