Florida State Spring Camp Observations: Jared Verse, Greedy Vance Set the Tone Ahead of First Spring Scrimmage
Florida State continued spring camp on Thursday afternoon during a steamy day in Tallahassee. The Seminoles were in full pads for the third consecutive session as the team gears up for its first scrimmage of the spring. With a competitive weekend drawing closer, the team brought plenty of energy and effort to the field as head coach Mike Norvell came away encouraged with the day of work.
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Star defensive end Jared Verse and cornerback Greedy Vance made plenty of plays throughout the day. NoleGameday was in attendance for the entire practice and jotted down some observations from day five of spring practice.
— The legendary Mickey Andrews was in attendance for practice on Thursday as well as former players such as Jazston Turnetine, Jonathan Vickers, and James Coleman. The Florida State Basketball team had at least one member of the staff checking out the session.
— Ryan Fitzgerald misfired from 33 yards out before drilling a 46-yard field goal. Tyler Keltner connected on the 33-yarder but was no good from 46 yards out. Norvell iced Keltner by calling timeout prior to his kick.
OFFENSE:
— Florida State's was held in check during two-minute/tempo drills early in practice. Jordan Travis completed his first pass to Deuce Spann but was forced to scramble on his next drop-back before being corralled by Kalen DeLoach. Travis tried to connect with Spann again but the throw was slightly too far with Renardo Green blanketing the wide receiver. Trey Benson was stopped quickly by Greedy Vance and Dennis Briggs on back-to-back runs which led to Ryan Fitzgerald connecting on a 36-yard field goal.
— Tight end Kyle Morlock continues his slew of good days. Morlock got involved early with a diving catch on a throw from AJ Duffy. He got free during 1-on-1 for a big play before snagging his next one over the middle. Morlock got another one, for good measure, during team drills.
— True freshman quarterback Brock Glenn had arguably his best day of spring camp to this point on Thursday and the sentiment was echoed by Norvell following practice. The newcomer found a connection with fellow true freshman Hykeem Williams. Glenn found Williams over the middle in 7-on-7 before coming back to him again during the same period. This time, Glenn went deep and put the ball on the money to Williams, who hauled it in and took it the distance. On his next rep, he worked through multiple progressions before checking down to Caziah Holmes over the middle.
— All four scholarship quarterbacks had at least one big run today, either scrambling up the middle or outside of the pocket. Jordan Travis, Tate Rodemaker, AJ Duffy, and Brock Glenn all got in on the action.
— Vandrevius Jacobs didn't miss a beat on Thursday. He made a diving catch against Quindarrius Jones in one on ones. His top play of the day came during team drills at the end of practice. Duffy lobbed a ball his way and Jacobs, with two defenders in the area, timed the ball perfectly and went vertical to snag it away from Azareye'h Thomas. Jacobs caught another pass on the next play before scoring a touchdown at the end of practice on a shovel pass from Glenn at the goal line.
— Tight end Jaheim Bell is going to be a mismatch nightmare. He's too quick for linebackers and too big for safeties. Bell used his frame to wall off a defender for a touchdown at the goal line. He also got free on at least one deep ball that he turned into a big play.
— Johnny Wilson, Kentron Poitier, Deuce Spann, and Ja'Khi Douglas all made big plays during 7-on-7 or 1-on-1's. Wilson and Poitier in particular were on the receiving end of a couple of passes that would've gone for touchdowns in a game scenario.
— Offensive lineman Jeremiah Byers pancaked a couple of people on Thursday. Daughtry Richardson drove back a defender and put him on his backside, to the delight of the coaching staff.
DEFENSE:
— Defensive end Jared Verse had his most impactful practice of the spring yet this year. During drills against the defensive line, Verse put together a monster rep where he put an offensive lineman on their back. He stood over the fallen player and beat his chest while unleashing a couple of words that I can't write here. Shortly after, the Seminoles moved on to team drills and Verse stamped his name all over the period. He pulled down back-to-back tackles for loss on Trey Benson and Rodney Hill, easily exploding through the offensive line and forcing Alex Atkins to challenge his unit.
— Cornerback Greedy Vance is putting together a solid spring camp and he stood out on Thursday. Vance dropped Benson during tempo drills for what was either a tackle for loss or a stop for no gain. Vance jumped a pass during one on ones to pull down an interception. He nearly forced another turnover on his next rep but came up just short of catching the pass. Vance came up in run support during team drills for a tackle on CJ Campbell.
— Safety Akeem Dent picked off Jordan Travis on the first play of 7-on-7 and took it the distance for a pick-six.
— Darrell Jackson continues to show up. He dropped Keiondre Jones during positional drills against the offensive line though it's important that Jones responded on his next rep to return the favor.
— Defensive tackle Daniel Lyons worked right up the middle during team drills. It would've probably been a sack during a game but instead, Rodemaker hit Jaheim Bell with a dart.
— Omar Graham Jr. had a good day of practice. Graham Jr. is showing signs in run support and pass coverage. He stuck a running back towards the end of the day.
— There are still some times when Fentrell Cypress II gets beat in coverage but when he's on, he's on. Cypress deflected a pass in the end zone on one of the final plays of practice.
— No interceptions on Thursday for the true freshmen defensive backfield duo of Quindarrius Jones and KJ Kirkland. Jones deflected a pass in 1-on-1's and nearly picked one off in 7-on-7. Kirkland broke a pass that was intended for Ja'Khi Douglas in the end zone. Douglas ran a great route but the ball came out late.
— Redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Joshua Farmer seems like he's ready to blossom under another year of tutelage from Odell Haggins. Farmer fought through grad-transfer Casey Roddick for a tackle for loss during team drills.
Stick with NoleGameday for more coverage of Florida State football throughout the spring
