Five Promising Freshmen That Have Shined Through Florida State's First Three Practices
Fall camp is underway for the Florida State Seminoles as the team is gearing up for what could be a special season in Tallahassee.
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While the stars from last year you would expect to be standing out are (QB Jordan Travis, DE Jared Verse, RB Trey Benson, etc.), FSU pulled in a remarkable class in 2023 and the former high school standouts are beginning to shine.
Sam Singleton, Running Back
Singleton is a brand new face at the practice facility as he wasn't an early enrollee and didn't go through spring camp. That brought a lot of "wow, who's that?" moments when you saw the former four-star's speed as he took off in 11 on 11. He's a powerful runner and is proving himself to the veteran RB room by always finishing the play.
With Benson and running back Lawrance Toafili likely heading to the next level in 2024, Singleton has a chance to improve his game for next season when four-star running backs Kam Davis and Micah Danzy get into the fold.
Quindarrius Jones, Cornerback
Jones went through spring camp and flashed but after the first three days of fall, his improvement is noticeable. The pads just came on but Jones is turning out to be a ball hawk, displaying tight coverage skills he already has an interception. Jones is starting to prove that star power doesn't mean everything and defensive backs coach Patrick Surtain, Sr. has the room heading in the right direction.
This is another impressive scouting job by the program as Florida State was Jones' only reported offer coming out of high school. A potential diamond in the rough for the Seminoles.
Ashlynd Barker, Safety
Barker isn't technically a true freshman as he redshirted at Iowa Western last year but didn't see any playing time. Standing at 6-foot-3, 206 pounds, he is larger than your prototypical college safety but his athleticism and skill make him look the part. He's got an interception under his belt throughout the first three days and fits well within defensive coordinator Adam Fuller's defense.
"I'm really excited about KJ Kirkland, Ashlynd Barker, and Conrad Hussey," Fuller said when asked about the newcomers at FSU's preseason luncheon. "They all have the skill, the frame, the movements to play safety here at Florida State."
The young safety has the advantage to learn under veteran players like Shyheim Brown and Akeem Dent and making the most of his opportunities will help him progress as camp rolls on.
Destyn Hill, Wide Receiver
Hill has shown so far he was worth the wait for FSU. He's a long-stride runner and can get a little fancy after the catch but it works with his ability to get the ball upfield.
The mindset of some of the veteran defensive backs appears to change when lined up against him as they press hard to get Hill off his route. The competition between him and safety Shyheim Brown in one on ones is fun to watch and it'll be interesting to see how he progresses heading into the season.
Hill might be able to make an instant impact as a kick/punt returner throughout the year and the future is definitely bright.
Edwin Joseph, Defensive Back
Going up against some veteran receivers, Joseph has shown the ability to get his hands where they need to be to break up passes. He arguably had his best practice on day one of fall camp going against wide receiver Winston Wright, Jr. Joseph is just getting started but is already displaying some intriguing potential.
Joseph is a former four-star athlete and is showing to live up to that billing.
With less than a month away before the 'Noles kickoff against the LSU Tigers on September 3, there is still plenty of time for the young guys to develop and more storylines to follow.
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Stick with NoleGameday for more coverage of Florida State football throughout the 2023 season
