Eight Pleasant Surprises From Florida State's First Eight Practices Of Fall Camp
Florida State is gearing up for its first scrimmage of the fall on Sunday evening. The Seminoles are already roughly a third of the way through preseason camp after getting eight practices under their belt, including two sessions on the University of North Florida's campus in Jacksonville.
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There is a lot of talent returning to the program in 2023. However, it hasn't only been the stars shining in Tallahassee early in camp as the Seminoles' depth across the rosters has been on full display.
Whether it's players who didn't play big roles last season, incoming transfers, or freshmen, there have been some names across the roster that have surprised us with their performances.
These are eight pleasant surprises NoleGameday has taken note of during the first eight practices of fall camp.
1. Caziah Holmes, Running Back
Florida State has become a running back factory under Mike Norvell with Trey Benson and Lawrance Toafili expected to lead the charge in 2023. With that being said, don't count out redshirt junior Caziah Holmes from playing a sizable role in the backfield this fall.
We saw flashes from the Penn State transfer during the spring but he was ultimately unable to suit up for the Garnet & Gold Spring Showcase. Holmes continued to put in work over the summer and he's entered preseason camp with a chip on his shoulder.
It's really his patience and vision that has stood out. Holmes isn't afraid to wait for his blockers rather than getting antsy and he's shown the ability to improvise if the original play isn't available. He still has a ways to go as a receiver out of the backfield but his athleticism is evident.
2. Destyn Hill, Wide Receiver
Everyone was waiting to see what Florida State's former top recruit in the 2021 class, Destyn Hill, would look like during fall camp. There were fair questions about what type of form he would begin his college career in after nearly two years away from the sport.
It's safe to say that Hill didn't really miss a beat. He's got a thick frame on the outside that doesn't mirror your typical true freshman and he's consistently been getting involved in the action. Hill has plenty of speed coupled with the ability to make tough catches in traffic.
Head coach Mike Norvell said that Hill has an opportunity to play early and often during his first season with the Seminoles. It wouldn't be a surprise to see him make an impact on special teams while he continues to get acclimated with the offense.
3. Joshua Burrell, Wide Receiver
An afterthought due to being injured for most of his two years with the Seminoles, redshirt sophomore Joshua Burrell has entered August with a chip on his shoulder. He's bounced around during his college career after starting off at wide receiver before moving to the backfield and now back to the outside.
Despite entering camp behind some of the players in a deep wide receiver unit, Burrell has had his fair share of moments early this fall. He's trimmed up to about 215 pounds which has his frame in a good spot. Burrell has been able to display his consistency as a possession receiver, making tough catches with some nifty body control and positioning.
I'm not sure where he slots into the rotation this upcoming season. If he continues to stay healthy and produce, I have to imagine that Florida State will give him a shot somewhere this fall.
4. Gilber Edmond, Defensive End
There are still some concerns about Florida State's overall depth on the edge behind Jared Verse and Patrick Payton but Gilber Edmond has alleviated some of that pressure with his performance in camp. He's come on strong over the last week, stringing together his best couple of practices since he arrived in Tallahassee over the offseason.
Edmond has the ability to be a pest around the line of scrimmage with his length. He's batted down multiple passes while showing the skill to disengage with blockers to make an impact in the running game. There have been promising moments as a pass-rusher too. Edmond, at the very worst, should provide a high-floor option in the rotation.
5. Ayobami Tifase, Defensive Tackle
Though he wasn't eligible to suit up for Florida State in 2022, Ayobami Tifase practiced with the team throughout the year, providing him with a valuable opportunity to grow. Tifase did what he could to make the most of it while adjusting to a new environment in a year that he originally was planning to spend in prep school.
It seems like the light has really begun to turn on for Tifase over the last couple of months. He entered camp in tremendous shape and has consistently flashed along an interior defensive line that may be the deepest unit on the team. Tifase's best effort might have come in Jacksonville during the team's most recent practices.
The massive defensive tackle was consistently earning praise from Mike Norvell and Odell Haggins. He crashed through the offensive line for two tackles for loss during team drills on the goal line.
6. Justin Cryer, Linebacker
I wasn't really sure what to expect out of true freshman linebacker Justin Cryer when he transferred to Florida State in July. After all, the transfer from Northwestern was technically the final member of the 2023 signing class to arrive on campus. He didn't experience much with the Wildcats either after joining the program as a summer enrollee before departing just weeks later.
For someone who is basically brand new to the system and program, Cryer has more than lived up to the billing. In my opinion, he's been one of the most active and impactful linebackers on the team during the last couple of practices. Cryer put together a tremendous effort on Wednesday and carried that into UNF.
The Texas native isn't going to blow you away with his speed or athleticism. It's his physicality, energy, and knack for being in the right spot that catches your attention. It's possible that he's the furthest along of any of the four true freshmen linebackers on the team.
7. Conrad Hussey, Defensive Back
Multiple young prospects in the defensive backfield could've fit in this spot. However, true freshman safety Conrad Hussey earned the selection after his performance in Jacksonville. He was able to pick off three passes over the pair of practices, suddenly surging to the top spot on the team in interceptions this preseason.
Hussey has a very good feel for the ball in the air, evidenced by a play at UNF where he baited a quarterback with a throw into the end zone before undercutting the pass for an interception. I feel like playing at one of the best prep programs in the state, St. Thomas Aquinas, has helped him acclimate to what Florida State expects quicker than some of the other summer enrollees.
The potential is clearly there but playing safety for the Seminoles takes an exceptional knowledge of the scheme. We will see how quickly he settles into the playbook over the next few weeks.
8. Ashlynd Barker, Defensive Back
It's become a yearly tradition for Florida State fans to question the evaluations of the coaching staff and then at least one of those newcomers goes on to surprise everyone. Last year, it was Trey Benson who stole the show and it could be a prospect from the JUCO ranks this upcoming season.
The Seminoles landed lengthy safety Ashlynd Barker from Iowa Western Community College, who redshirted in 2022. At the time, Mike Norvell and Adam Fuller were excited about what they had seen in his practice film, along with Barker actually measuring in slightly bigger than what they had anticipated.
Barker's length and physicality have really been showing up as of late in practice. He's had a couple of impressive plays where he flies downhill and forces incompletions with hits on receivers right as the ball arrives. Barker has shown promise in his ability to defend against the run as well.
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