Jared Verse using LSU opener to measure growth: 'I came back for a reason'

Jared Verse emerged as one of the best defensive linemen in the country last season for Florida State. Expectations are through the roof heading into the new season, but he isn’t letting the pressure get to him.

On3’s Andy Staples traveled to Tallahassee to discuss the upcoming season with Verse, and how he’s gotten along this offseason. All signs point toward a breakout season in 2023, and it starts during Week 1 against LSU.

“You think about it the whole season. Everybody’s been talking about what we’re able to do, what we’re capable of doing,” Verse told Staples. “A lot of people are expecting us to go all the way, to go the distance — but our main focus has always been, ‘What can we do?’ Now, we finally have a chance to showcase it.

“LSU is a very good team. They were one of the top teams in the SEC last year. They want to come back and get us for what happened last year. We want to prove that they got better, but we got better, too. It’s a big game in all factors, but what I’m excited about is just to see how much I’ve grown as a player.”

FSU ended up taking home the season-opening victory in a 24-23 thriller thanks to a last-second missed extra point attempt that bounced Florida State’s way. Despite the defense giving up 323 total offensive yards and two scores to LSU star QB Jayden Daniels, the ‘Noles ultimately held on defensively, which proved enough to get the job done. 

Verse ended that game having provided two of his nine sacks from last season. He went on to finish the season as one of the best defensive linemen in the country, also totaling 17.5 tackles for loss in 2022. He expects another leap in 2023.

“I came back for a reason,” Verse said. “I’ve gotten faster and stronger; I’ve gained 10 pounds. I’ve gotten quicker, and now it’s time to showcase it.”

Verse’s goal was the hit 260 pounds by the end of the offseason, and worked directly with Florida State’s strength and conditioning coach Josh Storms during the process. Month by month, Verse gained a couple of pounds and by the time fall camp came around, he hit his weight goal. It wasn’t until he was clocked on the radar doing a “crazy number,” as Verse described. Although, he didn’t disclose any specifics.

Despite the immense expectations he’s been handed this season, Verse said he is managing it just fine.

“The main thing is to keep doing me,” Verse said. “I expect so much of myself, no one can expect more of myself than I do of myself. … I expected to do well last year but it wasn’t good enough, so I had to do better.”