'You're only as strong as your weakest link': Florida State's Jordan Travis and Jared Verse setting the standard

The Florida State Seminoles wrapped up their Spring Showcase on Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium. During the event, which saw monster plays from newcomers like freshmen wide receiver Vandrevious Jacobs and defensive back Quindarrius Jones, FSU fielded 20 newcomers who have never played in front of over 79,000 people or heard the Warchant roar throughout the bleachers of a packed house in Tallahassee. Granted, there were around 30,000 people who showed up for the event, but it gave them a taste of things to come in 2023.

Quarterback Jordan Travis and defensive end Jared Verse aren't wide-eyed newbies anymore, though. They are veterans who aren't afraid to admit they come from humble beginnings. Their presence and leadership will be paramount if the 'Noles plan on making a run at the ACC Title and a playoff berth, which hasn't happened since the CFP began in 2014.

"There's a lot of guys with a lot of experience. I feel like leadership comes from experiences and what you go through throughout your career, and obviously, we have guys that have been here for five six years like me," FSU's leading signal-caller said as he sat next to his teammate smiling. "It's time to take the next step and lead the guys and show the younger guys how to treat practice, how to treat people in life, how to treat classrooms, everything."

The team's sack leader was quick to agree with Travis.

"I think it's definitely that. When the older guys on the team kind of set the standard, the younger guys have to live by it," Verse said. "When the young guys live by it, you're only as strong as your weakest link. When everybody on the team that's not making an immediate impact on the field is following that standard, it only brings your whole team up."

The pair reiterated each other's statements about those humble beginnings they came from, both of whom are transfers from other programs.

"I try not to take anything for granted, especially the fans. Coming from where I came from, we didn't have this atmosphere every day for a spring game or anything like that. Walking into the stadium, people shouting your name, people screaming at you, people wanting to talk, have a conversation with you," Verse said. "That's the best part, the fans, the culture here. That's something I never take for granted. I just love it."

Travis' message to the new guys alongside his 'brother' was that they're living their and other people's dreams and not to take the moment for granted.

"Every time we have an opportunity to go into Doak and play football is a blessing from the man upstairs. We're at Florida State University, I always talk about that. We're living a lot of people's dreams right now. We're living our own dreams. You can't take it for granted."

If anyone can set the standard, it's Travis and Verse.

One is a prime candidate to win the Heisman in 2023, and the other went from only having one scholarship offer to a projected first-rounder of the NFL Draft. But to say they are the only ones who set the standard would be missing the mark. Lovett, Poitier, DeLoach, Benson, Toafili - I could probably rattle off the entire roster, even down to the scout team. Giedrys and White constantly make big-time plays in practice.

The point is that the whole team carries the same standard and work ethic, which speaks volumes about what Norvell and his staff have done with a locker room that only a few short years ago was in shambles.

Travis and Verse dive deeper into what the team has accomplished over the spring in their full interview below.

Stick with NoleGameday for more coverage of Florida State football throughout the spring

Follow NoleGameday on Twitter and Facebook