Jared Verse leads group of 12 Seminoles into this week's NFL Scouting Combine

The NFL Scouting Combine begins on Monday in Indianapolis, and Florida State will be very well-represented with 12 players participating.

After the initial team interviews, physical measurements and medical testing, more than 300 NFL prospects will run the 40-yard dash and take part in drills on the field later in the week. The defensive linemen and linebackers will be on the field on Thursday, followed by the defensive backs and tight ends on Friday. Then the quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs will go on Saturday, followed by offensive linemen on Sunday.

With Jared Verse being the only Florida State player projected as a sure-fire first-round pick on most NFL mock drafts, this week will be a great opportunity for the Seminoles’ other 11 standouts to make a big impression.

In anticipation of the Combine, NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein recently released his evaluations for all Combine participants, including the dozen former Florida State stars. Some players, like Verse and cornerback Renardo Green, were graded very favorably by Zierlein. Wide receiver Johnny Wilson and a few others were not.

Here’s a look at highlights (and lowlights) from Zierlein’s evaluations:

Jared Verse, defensive end

Verse received a grade of 6.71 on Zierlein’s scale, which goes up to 8.0 for a “perfect prospect” (Note: The highest grade in this year’s class is WR Malik Nabers at 6.86). The former FSU star also is listed as the No. 1 defensive end on the board, and Zierlein gave him a player comparison of former Steelers star LaMarr Woodley. According to Zierlein’s scale, a 6.71 equates to a “Year 1 starter.”

“He’s twitchy and compact, with explosiveness featured at the point of attack and in his upfield burst as a pass rusher,” Zierlein wrote. “He’s great with his hands and does a nice job of diagnosing plays quickly and staying out of the clinches of offensive linemen looking to snatch him up.”

Here’s the full Verse evaluation

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Renardo Green, cornerback

Green received the second-highest grade of the Florida State players with a 6.31. That equates to an eventual “plus-starter” in the NFL. He is the No. 7 cornerback available, according to Zierlein, and the analyst heaped major praise on Green for his play in the LSU game.

“Elite body control allows him to phase double moves and route breaks,” Zierlein wrote. “He’s quick to close and tackle when beaten. … He can improve in run support, but he’s more than willing.”

Here’s the full Green evaluation

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Keon Coleman, wide receiver

Though some early mock drafts have had Coleman in the first round, Zierlein rates him as the No. 10 WR in this class. He received a grade of 6.29, which would classify him as an “average starter” in the NFL.

“Coleman has excellent size and ball skills. He’s not sudden and doesn’t have great speed, so beating press and creating breathing room against tight man coverages will depend on his ability to improve as a route-runner,” Zierlein wrote.

Here’s the full Coleman evaluation

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Braden Fiske, defensive tackle

Fiske is rated the No. 5 defensive tackle in this class with a grade of 6.28, which would classify him as an “average starter.”

“Defensive tackle with below-average mass and length who makes up for it with above-average quickness and a constantly revving engine,” Zierlein said. “Fiske uses sudden hands and nimble feet to whip single blocks.”

Here’s the full Fiske evaluation

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Fabien Lovett, defensive tackle

With a grade of 6.20, which equates to being an average starter in the NFL, Lovett checks in as the No. 7 defensive tackle on Zierlein’s list. He also was given a player comparison to former Florida State and NFL player Eddie Goldman.

“He blends long arms, big hands and a powerful lower half to withstand double-teams and leverage his gap with consistency,” Zierlein wrote.

Here’s the full Lovett evaluation

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Trey Benson, running back

Benson is the No. 3 running back on Zierlein’s board, and he was given a grade of 6.19, which rates as a “good backup” with the potential to become an NFL starter.

“He has creative athleticism but lacks creative vision, so he would be wise to keep more runs on track and finish with consistent authority rather than searching for greener grass,” Zierlein wrote.

Here’s the full Benson evaluation

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Jarrian Jones, cornerback

While Jones enjoyed an outstanding senior season at Florida State, Zierlein has him listed as the 28th cornerback available with a 5.96 grade, which equates to an average backup or special-teams player.

“He’s aggressive in run support and battles for positioning in coverage,” Zierlein wrote. “Jones’ limitations might be mitigated and his strengths maximized as a nickel cornerback playing forward from a zone-heavy cover scheme.”

Here’s the full Jones evaluation

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Tatum Bethune, linebacker

Bethune was rated the No. 13 linebacker in this class with a grade of 5.91, which equates to an average backup or special-teamer.

“He’s an inside linebacker with average size and questionable top-end speed, but he plays with reaction quickness,” Zierlein wrote. “He’ll take on blocks with aggression and plays with decent tackle strength in space.”

Here’s the full Bethune evaluation

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Jordan Travis, quarterback

Travis, who is still recovering from the leg injury he sustained late last season, received a grade of 5.89 and is rated the No. 8 quarterback in the draft. A 5.89 grade rates as an average NFL backup.

“In a career marked with challenges, Travis showed the resilience to overcome and finish his career playing his best football,” Zierlein wrote. “He’s undersized but has an adequate arm and can help protect himself with his legs.”

Here’s the full Travis evaluation

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Jaheim Bell, tight end

Bell is rated the No. 13 tight end with a grade of 5.89 (average backup). Zierlein praises Bell’s speed but questions his ability to block in space and says he is somewhat of a “tweener” between a tight end and big back.

“Undersized as a tight end and lacking instincts as a lead blocker out of the backfield, Bell is a player without a clean positional fit after playing all over the field at South Carolina and Florida State,” Zierlein wrote.

Here’s the full Bell evaluation 

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Kalen DeLoach, linebacker

With a grade of 5.88 (average backup or special-teamer), DeLoach was profiled just behind Bethune as the No. 14 linebacker available.

“Undersized linebacker who needs a team willing to work around his size deficiencies and find a way to emphasize his playmaking mentality,” Zierlein wrote. “DeLoach is built like a strong safety and zooms around the line of scrimmage, darting into gaps and disrupting play designs, but he’ll have issues holding up when blockers find him.”

Here’s the full DeLoach evaluation

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Johnny Wilson, wide receiver

Perhaps the most surprising of Zierlein’s evaluations, he has Wilson outside the top 30 at wide receiver. He gives him a grade of 5.87, which equates to an average backup or special-teamer.

“He flashes impressive catches here and there but generally fails to impose his frame and strength on defenders, leading to a disappointing contested-catch rate for such a big man,” Zierlein wrote.

Here’s the full Wilson evaluation

Talk about this story with other die-hard Florida State football fans on the Tribal Council.