Defensive End Marvin Jones Jr. Discusses First Spring With FSU Football
"I feel like every day I learn something new, just trying to find a way to tweak my game a little bit, so I think every day I get one percent better for sure,"
In the midst of spring camp, the Florida State Seminoles are hard at work preparing for the 2024 season. After a historic 2023 campaign, it was clear that Mike Norvell has FSU back in the limelight for years to come. Although the team as a whole has achieved great success since Norvell arrived in Tallahassee, one position group in particular has dominated on the field, and it seems like it will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
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With two first-team All-American selections in the last three years, one, soon to be two, first-round NFL Draft picks, as well as a former ACC-Rookie of the year currently leading the position room, the defensive ends have been some of the team's most reliable playmakers.
In December, the Seminoles added former Georgia National Champion Marvin Jones, Jr. to the defensive end room. As the son of a two-time All-American and Seminole legend, Jones has made a name for himself since arriving in Tallahassee.
"I feel like every day I learn something new, just trying to find a way to tweak my game a little bit, so I think every day I get one percent better for sure," Jones said.
In 2023, Patrick Payton and Jared Verse made a mockery of offenses across the nation, and although Verse declared for the draft where he is a sure-fire first-round pick, Payton remains one of the best defensive ends in the country, and with Jones opposite of him, FSU will likely once again have one of, if not the best defensive end duo in the country.
"It's been a lot of fun, I think quarterbacks always have to worry about one of us on each side," Jones said. "You can't double-team both of us, so I think if we keep working, we'll raise hell for a lot of quarterbacks for sure."
Time and time again, players continue to praise the FSU locker room due to the brotherhood that is being built, and Jones added to that narrative, saying he views the defense as a family just a few months after coming to FSU.
"I've said it's like a big family already, a big brotherhood. Pat and I, we just hung out last weekend, and all the guys, we always get together on the weekends so it's been a big family for sure," Jones said.
Jones added that the comradery extends beyond the defensive side of the ball and onto the practice field with his opponents. Despite being foes during reps, he noted that he works with some of the offensive line figuring out what went right or wrong and how they can improve their game.
"I've been going against Jeremiah Byers a lot, I think he's very athletic, very smart, and we go back and forth," Jones said. "After practice too just going over what happened that day and how we can each improve."
The 15th and final spring practice will be held in Doak Campbell Stadium as the 2024 annual Spring Showcase; for players, it is the culmination of five weeks of hard work, and for the fans, it is a glimpse of what is to come in the fall. Jones shared his excitement about playing in front of fans for the first time in the garnet and gold.
"I can't wait. Obviously, it's been a lot of fun going through the spring so far, so I think putting it all together into one game will be a lot of fun," Jones said.
The 2024 annual Spring Showcase is on Saturday, April 20th, at 4:00 PM. It will feature Travis Minor, Tommy Polley, Corey Simon, and Peter Warrick as guest coaches, representing the 1999 national champion team and the first team ever to go wire-to-wire in college football.
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Stick with NoleGameday for more coverage of Florida State football throughout the spring.
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