FSU Star Jared Verse Named To Bednarik Award Watch List

The Seminole standout has been named to four watch lists this preseason.

Florida State defensive end Jared Verse has been named to the Bednarik Award Watch List, his fourth national preseason award watch list, it was announced Monday.

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Verse, who also was included on watch lists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Wuerffel Trophy and was voted to the Preseason All-ACC Team, was named a first-team All-American by The Athletic after recording 48 tackles, including 17.0 for loss with 9.0 sacks, three quarterback hurries, one fumble recovery and one blocked field goal in his first season with the Seminoles. He received the most All-ACC votes on defense while being named a first-team all-conference performer last season. The Dayton, Ohio, native was the only player in the ACC and one of two Power 5 defenders nationally with four games of 2.5 tackles for loss in 2022.

Verse led the ACC and ranked 17th in the country with his average of 0.75 sacks per game, and his average of 1.4 tackles for loss per game was second in the conference and 10th nationally. He played 12 games and had at least 0.5 tackle for loss in every game he finished, including a season-best 2.5 in four different games. In FSU’s 24-23 win over LSU, Verse registered 2.5 tackles for loss, including a career-high-tying 2.0 sacks, and one blocked field goal. He also recorded 2.5 tackles for loss, with 1.5 sacks, as part of a season-high seven tackles in FSU’s 35-32 Cheez-It Bowl win over Oklahoma.

Including Verse’s four watch list appearances, Florida State has accounted for 19 total watch list spots this season. Quarterback Jordan Travis is on three watch lists, as is running back Trey Benson. Travis and Benson are both on the Maxwell Award Watch List, with Travis also on the Davey O’Brien Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year watch lists and Benson also on watch lists for the Paul Hornung and Doak Walker awards. Defensive back Fentrell Cypress II is on the Bronko Nagurski Watch List and the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List. Offensive lineman Jeremiah Byers is on the Outland Trophy Watch List, offensive lineman Maurice Smith is on the Rimington Trophy Watch List, tight end Jaheim Bell is on the watch list for the Jim Mackey Award, punter Alex Mastromanno was named to the Ray Guy Award Watch List, linebacker Tatum Bethune is on the Butkus Award Watch List and both Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson are the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award.

The Chuck Bednarik Award has been presented to the college defensive player of the year since 1994. Semifinalists will be announced November 13, with three finalists unveiled November 28 and the 2023 Bednarik Award winner announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 7.

The Seminoles open their 2023 season in primetime on Sunday, Sept. 3, vs. LSU. Their season opener kicks off inside Camping World Stadium in Orlando at 7:30 p.m. and will be broadcast nationally on ABC.

*Press release courtesy of Florida State Athletics

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