Mike Norvell praises Jared Verse prioritizing performance over stats
It’s been a slow start to the season for Florida State defensive end Jared Verse. One of the top players in the sport and certainly one of the premiere edge rushers, Verse has yet to record a sack.
His head coach, Mike Norvell, isn’t worried about the dearth of counting stats. He knows Verse is doing his job and the reason Verse is so valuable is that he performs each and every snap.
“I think he’s really been great. Obviously you saw some explosive plays show up there with opportunities in the last game. And it’s the same for every one of our guys. You come into the season and you’ve got guys on this list and that list, and I’m happy for all of them, but it’s not stats that put you on a list. It’s performance,” Norvell said.
With Florida State playing Clemson at noon in Death Valley on Saturday, it would still certainly be an opportune time for Verse to pop with some sacks, turnovers or tackles for loss.
But even if he doesn’t show up in the stat sheet, Norvell is confident Verse will be performing up to his high standard and getting his job done for the Seminoles.
“And there’re guys that, some games are really good games where you get plenty of opportunities. But if you’re going out there and you’re doing your job and you’re executing and you’re playing at an elite level, you’re doing what you set out for,” Norvell said. “Everybody wants to have the stat that follows up with that but those will come and if somebody’s going to take two or three guys to stop one individual, that’s probably going to help the stats of somebody else, but you’re putting out your best and it’s seen, it’s appreciated, and it’s celebrated.”
Verse will have an opportunity against a weakened Clemson offensive line
Clemson will be down a starting offensive lineman for Saturday’s showdown with Florida State as right guard Walker Parks will miss the matchup, a school spokesperson confirmed on Friday.
“Coach has confirmed Walker will be unavailable Saturday with his lower-body injury,” a Clemson spokesperson said.
Parks started the first two games of the season but was injured Week 2 against Charleston Southern. He did not play last week against FAU and will also miss Saturday’s game against No. 4 Florida State.
With Parks out last week, Mitchell Mayes started at right guard against FAU and played 43 snaps in Clemson’s 48-14 win.
Walker Parks started all 13 games for Clemson in 2021 and started all 13 games he appeared in last season. He was banged up during fall camp but was healthy enough to start in the opener against Duke.