FSU Football Spring Defensive End Preview: Strength In Numbers Off The Edge

Jared Verse is moving on but the Seminoles revamped defensive end room is still filled with talent.

When one thinks of FSU’s immediate future at the defensive end position, the instant reaction is probably something along the lines of: “Oh no, Jared Verse is gone.” Indeed, it’s a frightening concept to think about, especially when it concerns an edge rusher whose efforts will be remembered alongside Seminole greats such as Peter Boulware, Andre Wadsworth, and the like. On the surface, the outlook is a grim one. Verse, who’s projected to be taken somewhere in the first round of the upcoming NFL Draft, is most certainly gone for good, and so, too, is his high level of production.

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Florida State’s defensive line has been, year in and year out, one of its strongest groups. The edge rushers have been particularly notable as of late, especially with the likes of Verse bolstering the position group for the ‘Noles. Replacing an impact player of such magnitude is a daunting task, but fear not, dear reader, because it’s one the current Florida State staff has faced before. Don’t forget who Verse replaced at that position (Hint: he currently wears #11 for the New York Jets). That experience has not been wasted by the staff, either. Recent moves both in the portal and on the recruiting trail may just spark some hope as it pertains to FSU’s upcoming year in the defensive end room.

There’s definitely a large restructuring taking place for DE coach John Papuchis’ group this year, but the talent drop-off may not be as sharp as you think. Let’s take a look at what changed over the course of the offseason, and then we’ll dive into the details behind a different but promising outlook for DEs heading into the start of the 2024-2025 season.

Departures:

Jared Verse (NFL), and Gilber Edmond (transfer)

Following a promising 2021-2022 season, no one was quite sure how the ‘Noles were going to replace a talent like edge Jermaine Johnson. Eventually becoming the 26th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Johnson was taking his high levels of production with him and creating a massive hole on the FSU defensive line. To the outside world, it appeared as though the ‘Noles had quite a predicament on their hands. Within the walls of the Florida State football program, however, defensive coordinator Adam Fuller and defensive end coach John Papuchis already had their eyes set on his replacement: a young DE at the University of Albany named Jared Verse.

Two years later, Verse is being heralded as a top prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft class after a couple of dominant seasons at FSU. During his time in Tallahassee, Verse recorded a career total of 88 tackles (55 of which were solo tackles), 2 pass deflections, 18 sacks and a forced fumble. He continually ranked among the best in quarterback pressures, total sacks, and yards lost on TFLs. He was named an AFCA first-team All-American, a second-team All-American by ESPN, Associated Press, etc., and he is FSU’s first two-time first-team All-American defensive end since Reinard Wilson in 1995 (per seminoles.com). Verse was the marquee player for the ‘Noles on defense, and his departure once again leaves FSU in search of replacing a significant amount of production.

Gilber Edmond returned to South Carolina as a graduate transfer (where he spent his first three seasons) after just one season with the Seminoles. He appeared in all 14 games during the 2023 campaign where he recorded 23 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and one forced fumble in 322 defensive snaps.

Returners: 

Redshirt junior Patrick Payton, redshirt junior Byron Turner Jr., redshirt junior Jaden Jones, redshirt sophomore Aaron Hester, redshirt sophomore Dante Anderson, and redshirt freshman Lamont Green Jr.

After rumors circulated that he was intent on entering the transfer portal during the off-season, redshirt junior defensive end Patrick Payton will once again suit up for the Seminoles come the 2024 season, and he’s the clear frontrunner for a starting position amongst the list of returning players. If you recall, Payton was a standout performer for the ‘Noles in 2022, having notched 31 tackles, including 6 for loss with 5.0 sacks, one forced fumble, and three pass breakups in 13 appearances; a performance that earned him ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Following his breakout freshman year, Payton’s 2023 campaign was spent as Verse’s primary counterpart on the defensive line. On the opposite side of the defensive front, a redshirt sophomore Payton was still a disruptive presence, finishing the year with 44 tackles, including 14.5 TFLs, 7.0 sacks, a head-turning 10 pass breakups, 7 quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles. Over the course of the 2023 season, the expectation was clear: Payton was to be Verse’s successor. 

Of the remaining returners, a few have turned in decent production for the ‘Noles: Byron Turner Jr., Jaden Jones, and Dante Anderson. Turner Jr. was the clear third option for the ‘Noles on the edge last year. His 2023 campaign consisted of 13 total appearances, his first collegiate start (in place of Verse in the Orange Bowl), 25 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 sack, and 4 quarterback hurries. Closing out the returners, Jones and Anderson each appeared in five games during 2023, combining for 11 tackles and 1 quarterback hurry. As we alluded to above, the room possessed talent, but it was top-heavy and lacked depth. Despite their promising performances, Turner Jr. and the other returners will have to take another step in their development if they wish to continue to see time because there’s a long list of talented and experienced newcomers threatening to make instant impacts.

New Additions:

Oregon State transfer Sione Lolohea, Georgia transfer Marvin Jones Jr., and West Virginia transfer Tomiwa Durojaiye

If I had a nickel for every former Oregon State player that transferred to FSU this year, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice. Okay, memes aside, former Oregon State Beaver Sione Lolohea followed his 2023 teammate QB DJ Uiagalelei to Tallahassee, and he’s bringing quite the toolset with him. Lolohea spent four seasons with the Beavers, totaling 88 tackles 15 TFLs, 4 sacks and 13 quarterback hurries in 22 starts and 40 total appearances. His 2023 campaign, which saw 47 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, seven quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery, also earned him second-team All-PAC honors by season’s end. However, Lolohea brings with him something far more valuable than on-field production: experience. He’ll be a redshirt senior come the 2024-2025 season, which will make him the elder statesman of the group. The combination of proven production and veteran experience should immediately catapult the newcomer into contention for a starting job if not heavy use in the rotation.

Perhaps the fan-favorite move of the off-season was the addition of Marvin Jones Jr. Not only were fans excited to welcome the son of former Florida State player and current living legend Marvin Jones Sr. but he was a talent that Florida State has wanted on the roster since his days at American Heritage. Standing at 6’5, 250 pounds, Jones Jr. comes by way of Georgia, where he spent two seasons racking up 16 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, and 2 sacks in 25 appearances for the Bulldogs. With the “Jones” name looming overhead in Doak Campbell Stadium, time will tell if this legacy Seminole can forge his own story in Tallahassee. Of course, he’s a former five-star recruit and a national champion, which puts him in a prime position to slot into a significant role under Mike Norvell.

Tomiwa Durojaiye was a highly touted recruit out of high school. He was the Delaware 3A Defensive Player of the Year, a first-team all-state selection, and Delaware’s no. 1 recruit out of high school (per On3 and Rivals). After spending the 2022 season at Kentucky under former FSU defensive coordinator Mark Stoops, Durojaiye burst onto the scene for the Mountaineers in 2023. As a redshirt freshman, he recorded the second-highest sack total on the team (3.5) to go along with his 23 total tackles, 6 TFLs, and one quarterback hurry. Now just a redshirt sophomore, Durojaiye joins the ranks in Tallahassee as a promising young talent. He’ll have to go toe to toe with some of Florida State’s supporting cast from last year, but if he can build upon the promise showcased in his redshirt freshman season, it won’t be long before he becomes a familiar face in the rotation. 

Projected Depth Chart:

Defensive End:

1. Patrick Payton, RS Jr.

2. Marvin Jones Jr., Jr.

3. Byron Turner Jr., RS Jr.

Defensive End:

1. Sione Lolohea, RS Sr.

2. Tomiwa Durojaiye, RS So.

3. Jaden Jones, RS Jr.

Spring Outlook:

As was evidenced by their acquisitions in the portal, Florida State’s focus for the defensive end position group during the off-season was twofold: (1) find ways to compensate for the production lost by Jared Verse’s departure and (2) create more depth at the position. Whilst the overall talent of the room may not reach the same heights as Jared Verse, there’s certainly strength in numbers. 

Payton, Lolohea, Jones Jr., Durojaiye, Turner Jr. and the others should provide the ‘Noles with talent-rich reserves, which, in turn, should alleviate the pressure FSU experienced last year of having to rely on standout performances from one or two guys. During spring practices, look for Papuchis to solidify his starters and experiment with the combinations, frequency, and utilization of his deep reserves in an effort to establish a core rotation. 

The talent floor has risen with both the influx of new faces and the development of the existing Seminoles, but if Florida State wishes to field a defensive line unit that rivals its 2023 corps, it must find out during spring just how high that ceiling is.

Previous Spring Position Previews:

— Quarterbacks

— Running Backs

— Wide Receivers

— Tight Ends

— Offensive Line

— Defensive Tackles

— Linebackers

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