John Papuchis talks about how Jared Verse, Patrick Payton complement each other

No team in the country returns more production from a season ago than Florida State with the 2023 season around the corner, as the Seminoles bring back an absolutely loaded roster on both sides of the ball.

On defense, FSU returns nine starters from a season ago, including the edge rushing duo of Jared Verse and Patrick Payton. And at Florida State’s Preseason Coaches Luncheon, defensive ends coach John Papuchis spoke about his elite tandem on the edges.

“Their strengths are different,” Papuchis said. “I think Jared is a little bit more physical both in the run game and pass rushing, I mean that’s kind of where everything starts for him.”

Verse burst onto the scene last year for the Seminoles after transferring from Albany last offseason. He took the nation by storm recording 48 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, nine sacks, three quarterback hurries, one fumble recovery, and one blocked field goal in 2022.

He received First-Team All-American honors from The Athletic and earned a First-Team All-ACC selection after receiving the most All-ACC votes for any defensive player in the conference. He easily could’ve taken his talents to the NFL following last season, but chose to return to Tallahassee with his defensive end counterpart instead.

“Pat has a great feel, Pat has the ability to play physical which he’s really improved upon over the course of really the last year,” Papuchis explained. “But also he has a little bit of that feel and finesse game that is a little innate just to him. He has a great feel to the game, he has really good instincts, he has the ability to bend and turn the corner.”

Payton had a breakout year as well last season for the Seminoles, earning ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year after 31 tackles, including 6.0 for loss with 5.0 sacks, one forced fumble, three pass breakups, and one quarterback hurry in his redshirt freshman season.

He still has room to grow as a player, which is a scary thought for opposing defenses in the ACC, and defenses having to manage him and Verse at the same time will definitely only help in his growth and production heading into his redshirt-sophomore season.

“So their games are a little bit different, but in a sense they compliment each other because they are different and it’s hard to prepare for both,” Papuchis said.

Florida State held opponents to just 19.7 points and 307.3 yards last season, numbers that can get even lower in 2023 as offenses will have their hands full with the Seminoles’ defensive ends that bring contrasting but effective skillsets to the table.