Jared Verse returns to Florida Condition for another season. The All-ACC first-team defensive end announced he is returning for the 2023 season.
Vers shared the news on Saturday morning. The social media post can be seen below:
?? #NoleFamily pic.twitter.com/MIyeglWXlX
— Jared Verse (@JaredVerse1) January 7, 2023
Verse who transferred from Albania has quickly established itself as one of the top defensive teams in the country over the past season. The redshirt sophomore amassed 9.0 sacks and 16.5 tackles for one loss in 11 games while playing through a nagging knee injury. He ended the 2022 season with 1.5 sacks against Oklahoma in FSU’s 35-32 win of the Cheez-It Bowl, including the game seal bag after time was up.
Tyler Guyton (Oklahoma RT 60) looks like he’s about to start Jared Verse trying to ride him past the bag. Unfortunately for Guyton, Verse has cinder blocks on his hands. Insane power… easy win in the last play. pic.twitter.com/PW6Z1Swn1Y
— RyanRoberts (@RiseNdraft) December 30, 2022
His outburst and energy jumped out immediately when he arrived at FSU last spring, and he translated that into a remarkably productive 2022 season. Towards the end of FSU’s 9-3 campaign, Verse said it was the most fun he’s had playing football in his life.
“Honestly, that meant a lot to me when I saw the quote,” concludes the defensive coach John Papuchi said in early November. “The fact that he has that experience says that we’re probably doing some things right, how we coach, how we treat people, how we mentor, how we value the work of the guys.
“…I think Jared’s experience here has been good and I hope it continues for a while. We will see.”
Various outlets that make mock drafts began projecting Verse as a first-round and possibly a top 10 draft pick. Noles247 was told last month that Verse’s decision to return would likely depend on receiving feedback from NFL teams and the NFL Draft Advisory Board that he would be a guaranteed first-round pick. A grade in the second round would give Verse pause and lead to a possible return.
FSU had high expectations for Verse earlier in the year, but he exceeded them.
“He belongs at this level in every respect,” said Papuchis shortly before the FSU season opener. “Obviously we expected that when he came in. He had a really good pen. He had a really good fall camp. I’m excited to see what he can do for us this year. Dennis made the transition from being more inside to a more defensive end. But he also had a very good fall camp. While there are probably a few more unknowns on the defensive end, I’m very confident about what that will look like, not just this week but for the season ahead.”
The next step is that Verse (6-4, 251) now that he returns builds on his 2022 production. Sharpening his pass rush tools and empathizing with FSU’s scheme will be a priority for him in 2023.
He joins a strong defensive line in 2023 and returns with defensive tackles starting Fabien Lovet as well as coveted fee Braden Fiske and solid full-back Derrick McLendon.