Mike Norvell discusses how Jared Verse makes life hard for offensive players in practice

The Florida State Seminoles are less than a week away from their exciting season opener against the LSU Tigers. One Seminole that’s likely to have a huge impact on the game is defensive line star Jared Verse.

Following a recent practice, Florida State head coach Mike Norvell shared a few words about his star defensive lineman and revealed how Verse’s talent and ability have made things difficult for the Florida State offensive line during practice.

“He’s a guy that you have to prepare for,” said Norvell. “He’s definitely continued to improve and get better, and I think the things that we’re trying to do with him and against him offensively kind of prepare some for what he might see. But he’s a great player. He’s one that’s continuing to get better. There’s still some things, technique and fundamentally, that he’s gotta continue to grow in. But he’s embracing the work for that. And when you have somebody that does have that approach and has the talent and ability, it makes it scary.”

In his first season at Florida State, Verse put together a solid stat line. He finished the year with 48 tackles, 22 solo, 17 tackles for a loss, and nine sacks for the Seminole’s defense in 2022. His 48 tackles were the most on the defensive line, while his nine sacks were tops for Florida State.

Jared Verse says ‘I always felt like I belonged here’

Verse also spoke recently to On3’s Andy Staples on his decision to become a Seminole. A transfer is never easy, especially when making a jump from the FCS to Florida State. That transition came naturally to Jared Verse, though, considering how Tallahassee immediately felt like home to him.

Verse, the star of the Seminole’s defensive line, joined ‘Andy Staples On3’ and opened up about his arrival at FSU. He said he had no nerves about his leap from Albany to Florida State considering he always felt as though he belonged and that he could compete against the best of the best.

“A lot of people asked me was I nervous to get here before this and I was like, ‘Nah, I wasn’t nervous,’” said Verse. “I always felt like I belonged here, I always felt like I belonged to play against the best. Florida State has the best.”

Another reason why he fit right in with the Seminoles is because he didn’t really wait to get a feel for anything. He just put his head down and went right to work in order to improve his game and, in turn, improve the play of his new teammates.

“I was trying my hardest, I practiced hard, I worked hard,” Verse explained. “I wanted to show these guys, ‘Hey, I’m going to work. I’m going to bring y’all’s game up with me.’”