Jared Verse discusses bowl game, NFL Draft decision

Florida State defensive end Jared Verse had a breakout debut season for the Seminoles, terrorizing ACC offenses all season by living in their backfields. Verse’s play has garnered attention of the NFL, as he’s now a prospect for the 2023 draft that has some decisions to make regarding returning to Tallahassee or declaring for the NFL Draft. Verse hasn’t quite made his mind up on whether to stay or go, but he seems to have made his mind up on if he will play in the Seminoles bowl game to end the season.

“Through everything I’ve just planned on playing in the bowl game no matter what, try to give my best effort,”Verse said. “I’m still deciding what I’ll do for the future and everything like that, but most likely I will play in the bowl game.”

Verse finished the season leading the Seminoles in sacks with 7.5 and adding 14.5 tackles for loss, 41 tackles, a blocked field goal, and a fumble recovery to his amazing season. He ranks within the top-five of the ACC leaders in sacks and tackles for loss, and looks to bring that same level of production in Florida State’s bowl game as he still sorts out his future with the program.

“Nothing’s been different, I’m just still preparing, making my decision, talking to people close to me, talking to those around me that have more information than me, trying to know what the best situation for me is,” Verse said.

Verse’s story is truly remarkable, graduating from Central Columbia high school in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania with zero scholarship offers as a tight end. FCS Albany took a chance on him as a defensive end, as he learned the new position and added 40-pounds to his frame, leading to his breakout 2021 season where he recorded 53 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks and 13 quarterback hurries.

He secured CAA Defensive Rookie of the Year and FCS Freshman All-American honors and in his lone year at FSU added All-ACC First-Team Honors to his resume, receiving the most votes of any defensive player this season.

Verse’s hard work has now put him in quite a favorable position, and it will be interesting to see what path he decides to go down in the near future.

“There’s a lot going into it, the play time’s never been an issue for me, thank god, but you know injury risk, what could happen, the chances I fall, the chances I could increase, chance of everything like that so it’s just a lot of different decisions,” Verse said.