FSU Football Roundup: DJ Uiagalelei and Brock Glenn's Leadership Styles, Family Reunion, And (More Than) Speed

Kyle Morlock, Jaylin Lucas, Ja'Khi Douglas, and Chris Thomsen spoke about Florida State's progress this spring on Thursday.

The Florida State Seminoles concluded their seventh practice of the spring by having tight ends coach Chris Thomsen, redshirt senior tight end Kyle Morlock, redshirt senior wide receiver Ja'Khi Douglas, and junior running back Jaylin Lucas meet with the media on Thursday evening.

READ MORE: Two More FSU Football Players To Miss Remainder Of Spring Practice Due To Injury

There was plenty to take away from the availability, including an optimistic start from the tight ends, leadership styles between the two quarterbacks competing for the starting job, a family reunion, and much more.

Follow along for NoleGameday's roundup from the interviews.

The Contrast Between DJ Uiagalelei and Brock Glenn's Leadership Styles

The Seminoles have a true quarterback competition going on this offseason as graduate transfer DJ Uiagalelei and redshirt freshman Brock Glenn vie for the right to replace Jordan Travis. Through the halfway point of the spring, both players and have had impressive moments and displayed areas where they need to continue to improve.

Tight end Kyle Morlock has seen Glenn grow as a leader as he prepares for his second year with the program. The young quarterback is mature beyond his years - and he has to be - as he's already the longest-tenured signal-caller on the roster.

"Brock, definitely leadership," Morlock said. "He's totally stepped into the leadership role in that quarterback room and he's the guy that's bringing us together, rallying on the field, and he's really embraced that role."

On the flip-side, Morlock believes that Uiagalelei leads with his play on the field. He's been impressed with the former Oregon State and Clemson quarterback's execution between the lines. It's an aspect that has seemingly caught Morlock's eye.

"He's definitely a leader by example for sure," Morlock said. "He definitely talks a lot, he gets the guys up but when he takes the field, he goes out and executes. I feel like, you kind of watch a guy do that and it's kind of like 'alright, I want to be with that guy' so definitely I'll say that."

Wide receiver Ja'Khi Douglas has caught passes for multiple quarterbacks during his tenure at Florida State. He believes that Uiagalelei throws a 'beautiful ball' which can be quickly confirmed with some of the passes that have flown out of his hand during spring camp.

"He's another experienced quarterback that knows what he's doing," Douglas said. "He throws a beautiful ball, you just gotta get used to seeing that ball in the air and attack it."

Morlock is stepping into a leadership role himself after the tight end room lost faces such as Jaheim Bell, Markeston Douglas, and Preston Daniel. He's the only member of the unit to record 2+ catches at the college level.

"I do, especially in the tight end room with Jaheim leaving I kind of had to step up into a little bit of a leadership role," Morlock said. "Like I said, helping those younger guys learn the playbook, get comfortable in the offense, that's what I've been trying to do."

The goal this offseason is for Morlock to continue becoming more physical and hone in on his route-running. He praised tight ends coach Chris Thomsen for the leadership and attitude he guides his room with.

"Just keep improving my blocking game," Morlock said. "That's a way I can really help the offense and I can really contribute so that's been one my main focuses this year."

The tight ends are a thin unit with just five scholarship players this spring. That means the entire group from top to bottom needs to be ready to contribute at any given point of the season. Morlock went out of his way to compliment true freshman Landen Thomas for his work ethic and the way he's picked up the offense.

Watch Morlock's full interview by clicking HERE.

Jaylin Lucas and Ja'Khi Douglas Reunite In Garnet and Gold

There's a family reunion underway in Tallahassee after Indiana transfer Jaylin Lucas made his way to Florida State this offseason. Lucas is the younger brother of Ja'Khi Douglas which presents a pretty cool scenario as both players are expected to play big roles for the Seminoles in 2024.

Douglas is making it a point to set an example for his brother and young players on the team with his approach and consistency this spring. He feels like he's back at Terrebone High School in Louisiana where the siblings grew up.

"It's good. I was above him, so it feels good like back in high school," Douglas said. "I live with him and everything feels good to see him on the side of the ball and here at Florida State."

This is a moment that Lucas has dreamed about as he held an offer from FSU prior to signing with the Hoosiers in 2022. He's ready to take advantage of the second opportunity that he has to play with Douglas.

"Man it's been amazing, just getting the opportunity to play with my brother," Lucas said. "That's all I dreamed of coming out of high school. Having the opportunity again, I feel like I'll take advantage of it this time."

Douglas and Lucas are the first pair of brothers to play for Florida State at the same time since Cam and Nolan McDonald in 2018-19.

Watch Douglas's full interview by clicking HERE.

More Than Speed

Speaking of Lucas, if you've followed NoleGameday's coverage to this point of the spring, there's a pretty good understanding of the speed that he brings to the field. Time and time again, Lucas has exploded into the open field and turned on the jets to make big plays. In fact, he's probably been better than expected as a dynamic weapon.

Safety Shyheim Brown even noted that he believed Lucas set a GPS record in practice after being clocked at 22.6 or 22.8 MPH. Douglas thought it was 22.6 or 22.9 MPH. Either way, it's clear that Lucas can move at an elite level. That's something he isn't thinking about too much despite staking his claim as the fastest player on the team earlier this week.

"I really don't get that in my head. That's something I've been doing, I did that at Indiana," Lucas said. "I'm just fast, I'm just fast."

Lucas clearly knows he can run but now he wants to show everyone else how complete the rest of his game is. He wants to be respected as an offensive threat - not just a kick returner.

"I want to be known for way more than that," Lucas said. "I feel like everybody just looks at me as a special teams guy but I'm not just a special teams guy, I'm an explosive player. Just put the ball in my hands and I'll go and make something happen."

Standing at 5-foot-9, 175-pounds, Lucas obviously isn't the biggest running back. He's actually tied with his brother Ja'Khi Douglas and walk-on linebacker Emile Aime as one of the three shortest players on the team. Regardless, Lucas has come in with a chip on his shoulder and isn't afraid to throw his face in the fire. That mentality comes from his mom.

"It comes from my mother," Lucas said. "My mother just tells 'always stay tough' you know I'm not one of the biggest running backs but I just have to use my speed as my advantage and stay true to the game."

Lucas's speed hasn't come without plenty of hard work on and off the field. However, he also credits his mother - a former track standout - for his all natural ability.

"I can say it's something I'm born with - I get it from my momma," Lucas said. "She was very fast at track. It's natural, it's all-natural."

Watch Lucas's full interview by clicking HERE.

Early Production By Tight Ends Impressing Chris Thomsen

The tight ends are a major question mark on Florida State's offense with the lack of on-field experience returning to the roster. The Seminoles have to replace three of the top four members of the depth chart with Jaheim Bell, Markeston Douglas, and Preston Daniel no longer with the program.

That's forced Kyle Morlock and redshirt junior Jackson West to step up as leaders of the room. Tight ends coach Chris Thomsen likes what he's seen so far.

"They have, they're older, more experienced guys so they definitely have done that and they were already doing that with Jaheim in there," Thomsen said. "The dynamic's really good, they're all pushing and working but there is a leadership element with the guys who have been in the game more and they're showing that."

Thomsen wants Kyle Morlock to become a more dominant blocker in his second season with the Seminoles. He's also hoping to see the redshirt senior progress into a more complete receiver and playmaker. Thomsen is happy with where West is as a blocker but notes the next step is improving as a pass-catcher.

The early signs this spring have been positive from the top to the bottom of the unit. Thomsen says his group hauled in 16 total passes across five guys in the first scrimmage. Multiple tight ends are progressing in the right direction.

"The scrimmage was what stood out to me," Thomsen said. "We caught 16 balls spread out across five guys so just to see those guys go out and perform in that first scrimmage the way you want them to, catching the football. Just the collective work ethic of the group, guys are working hard and getting better and working at all the things we need to work on so seeing a lot of improvements."

There are a few players who have battled through injuries such as Jerrale Powers and West. Powers will actually miss the remainder of the spring, further limiting a unit that is already scarce on bodies. His absence will mean that Florida State needs the players behind him to step up even faster.

The ceiling of the room changes drastically depending on the progression of true freshman Landen Thomas. The blue-chip prospect was one of the top recruits at his position in the 2024 class. He didn't blink when going into Doak Campbell Stadium for his first competitive action at the college level last weekend.

"He's done a really good job considering he should still be in high school," Thomsen said. "The way he's come in and worked to pick things up from the standpoint of just the assignment but also the technique part of what we're asking him to do. I think he caught five balls in the first scrimmage so a young guy to come in for his first scrimmage in Doak and come in and perform, did some good things in the run game as well, he's right where we want him to be. Just got to keep improving and getting better, adding weight to his frame, getting stronger and all the things that a freshman needs but he's done a really good job to this point."

Thomas blocked against high-level players at the prep level and was well-coached while starring at Colquitt County High School. There's certainly an adjustment to the college level but he's holding his own. Thomsen attributes some of that to the fact that Thomas actually played tight end growing up instead of converting from another position like a lot of players do in the current age of football.

With Thomas coming in as an early enrollee, Thomsen is excited to see what he can do throughout the remainder of the spring before getting him back into the weight room this summer. Thomsen believes that the Seminoles could be looking at a much different player by the time preseason camp begins in July.

Watch Thomsen's full interview by clicking HERE.

READ MORE: Kentron Poitier Makes Jaw-Dropping Catch In FSU Football's Latest Practice

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