Five FSU Football Newcomers Who Impressed During Final Tour of Duty Session
The Florida State Seminoles have concluded their "Tour of Duty" offseason workouts in preparation for the start of spring camp at the end of March. With many players departing for the NFL last season, there are numerous positions that several new faces and upperclassmen are hoping to fill. Throughout the session, both offense and defense competed in multiple conditioning drills, fostering an atmosphere of mutual support as new leaders emerged and veterans continued to play a crucial role in building the team.
The workout marked the first time that the media was able to view the team all offseason and the first that we were allowed to see the roster in person since the Orange Bowl. NoleGameday was in attendance and here are five newcomers who stood out. It is important to remember that the media was only allowed access to a certain portion of the field so it was only a 75-minute glimpse into the roster.
— Freshman running back Kam Davis looks every bit the part of his 4-star rating as a prospect. He's big, listed at 5'10'', 220 pounds, and runs with balance and a low center of gravity. Granted, it is still early spring, and a very small sample size was on display, it will be hard to keep him off the field as he continues to develop in the offensive system.
— There will be a lot of new faces in the secondary with Jarrian Jones, Akeem Dent, and Renardo Green preparing for the 2024 NFL Draft. Alabama transfer defensive back Earl Little, Jr. showed what the staff saw in him on Thursday. His lower body is massive and he's light on his feet. Little is listed at 6'1, 190 pounds and his quickness, size, and effort are what stood out. Little should fit in the rotation easily and he was a player that Norvell pushed throughout the workout.
— It was important to get eyes on DJ Uiagalelei as he is expected to take the reins under center this fall. While it wasn't a true showing of what any of the quarterback's strengths and weaknesses were, he is huge and moves well for his size. He appeared to finish every rep with a purpose and his veteran presence was shown alongside freshman Luke Kromenhoek and Brock Glenn.
— Head coach Mike Norvell had high praise for Alabama transfer wide receiver Malik Benson during his post-workout interview on Thursday. What stood out aside from his obvious athleticism was his immediate leadership skills while jumping in and out of drills cheering on teammates and raising the energy level as they finished. Benson is someone to keep an eye on during spring practice.
— Georgia transfer defensive lineman Marvin Jones, Jr. will be coming into the rotation parallel to Patrick Payton. Jones Jr. looked polished and fluid during his drills and the two should fill the void that Jared Verse is leaving at the end position, although Payton is a game-changer in his own right. The legacy defender is already one of the most intimidating defensive ends on the roster. Jones Jr. was ranked as a 4-star transfer prospect and the No. 5 edge defender in the country before transferring to FSU.
READ MORE: Observations from FSU Football's Final Tour of Duty Session of 2024
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