Darrell Jackson on his desire to be dominant and disruptive

Malik Benson on his offseason and building rhythm with FSU's quarterbacks

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@JerryKutz , @Bob Ferrante why was he in uniform with a helmet on at practice today?

The Osceola staff observations from today's practice include a strong day for the DJ Uiagalelei-Malik Benson connection, another great showing from Kyle Morlock and FSU's projected cornerback starters and much more.

Lawrance Toafili was among the first Florida State veterans to commit to another season with the program in 2024. And he’s ensured that his last ride will be meaningful to himself and his teammates.

Toafili has always been on the slender side for a 6-foot tailback, playing at a listed weight of 188 last fall. But he put on 11 pounds in the spring, has kept it on through the summer and broke the rock last week when FSU wrapped up its offseason conditioning program and began its transition to preseason camp.

“I’m honored, I’m grateful for that,” Toafili said of breaking the rock, a tradition Mike Norvell and Josh Storms have instilled at FSU. “It’s big to me, knowing that it’s my last time. They see all the work that I’ve been putting in.”

Through FSU's first two practices this preseason, Toafili is running well at 199 pounds and is showing his trademark soft hands as a pass catcher out of the backfield, too.

The lacrosse team will begin play in 2026. FSU will introduce its coach on Tuesday.

We'll cover the event in the afternoon and offer up some details about the new coach and what's to come as far as launching the program.

FSU sports information:

Four former Florida State softball players will begin the Athletes Unlimited Softball Championship Season on Friday. The season will run through August 25. Kalei Harding, Josie Muffley, Kathryn Sandercock and Jessi Warren have all signed contracts with Athletes Unlimited. FSU’s four former players in Athletes Unlimited are the third-most of any college program.

Sandercok and Warren will be on Team Svekis for Week One while Harding and Muffley will be on Team Alexander. The teams will be re-drafted after each week of play by the players who earned the most points the week prior.

Harding played in the Athletes Unlimited AUX season earlier this summer in Wichita, Kansas. Harding had a great pro debut as she hit .315 in 12 games and drove in 17 runs while hitting three home runs. Harding broke the Athletes Unlimited record for most RBI in a single game with nine RBI in the final game of the season where she also hit two home runs.

Muffley burst onto the Athletes Unlimited scene last year as she brought her highlight reel plays to professional softball. Muffley started all 15 games last season and she hit .200 while driving in two runs.

Sandercock returns for her second season of AU softball after she made 12 appearances in her debut season. Sandercock posted a phenomenal 2.05 ERA in 30.2 innings while striking out three. Sandercock recorded three saves last year while picking up two wins. Sandercock has spent a lot of time in Japan as she was a member of the SGH Galaxy Stars with the Japan Diamond Softball League. Sandercock was one of the top pitchers in the league this season as she posted a 6-3 record in 13 appearances with a 1.41 ERA in 64.1 innings.

There are not softball players who have had a better summer than Jessi Warren. Warren started out as a captain during the first week of the AUX season. Offensively, Warren drove in eight runs in 12 games and also had a walk-off home run on June 13. She was also named the AUX Defensive MVP for the second consecutive season. Warren then got her first crack with Team USA and did not disappoint. In two exhibition games with Team USA, Warren went 3-for-4 with six RBI. Her hits included a home run, a triple and a double. Warren then thrived on the national stage at the WBSC World Cup Finals. Warren started each game and hit .444 (8-for-18) with six RBI and a home run.

Please visit https://auprosports.com/softball/schedule/2024/ for times and TV designations throughout the AU Championship Season.

When we start to look at FSU future it will be these classes that will determine whether or not they become a playoff team or not. They will most likely have to fill some needs at certain positions through the portal. That being said you can see that the recruiting between 23-25 has improved. After a slow start for high school recruiting FSU coaches have picked up the pace. You would like for them to have landed a few more top end prospects because those are the ones that will get you over the top. Here are the 2023-25 classes and my thoughts about each position moving forward.


QB
Brock Glenn (3) 6'2-190 (23)
Luke Kromenhoek (4) 6'3-190 (24)
Tramell Jones (4) 6'1-200 (25)

Comments: Even if Glenn turns out to be a Sean McGuire type QB at FSU it would have been a good pickup. Luke is most likely the QB of these three that will need to be the guy. Jones will not be on campus till next year and freshman usually are not going to make an impact. That would mean that Luke will have already been on campus a year and should be ready to take over in 25. If Luke does not make it or take over in 25 that means FSU is probably looking at the portal after this season. The 26 QB won’t be on campus for two more years.

RB
Sam Singleton-(4) 6'0-170 (23)
Michai Danzy (4) 6'1-175 (24)
Kameron Davis (4) 5'10-210 (24)

Comments: I have stated this over and over again and that is as long as Norvell is the head coach at FSU, I am not worried about RB. If Kromah pulls the trigger for FSU over the next month and Byron Louis decides to join as well this position is set for the next 2-3 years. Danzy and Davis are both guys who can play on NC teams. I love where FSU sits in the RB room.


WR
Hykeem Williams -(5) 6'4-215 (23)
Vandrevius Jacobs-(4) 5'11-160 (Transfer to South Carolina) (23)
Darren Lawrence (3) 6'2-190 (Transfer) (23)
Elijah Moore (4) 6'3-190 (24)
BJ Gibson (4) 6'0-190 (24)
Camdon Frier (4) 6'1-170 (24)
Lawayne McCoy (4) 6'0-190 (24)
CJ Wiley (4) 6'4-200 (25)
Daylan McCutcheon (4) 6'0-175 (25)


Comments: Landing Wiley changed everything. He is going to be one who makes an impact no later than year 2. If Williams can live up to his potential, Wiley comes in next spring and you have guys like Frier waiting in the wings....LOOK out. They will have their best set of receivers since Greene, Benjamin and Shaw. This group has potential to be the best in the ACC or Big 10...

TE
Amaree Williams (4) 6'5-210 (24)
Landen Thomas (4) 6'4-220 (24)
Chase Loftin (4) 6'5-215 (25)

Comments: I don't like the move of Williams to TE. Not that he can't play the position. It means FSU has some serious dead weight in the tight end room. Williams was brought in to be a defensive end. Now you move him to a position that FSU has guys like Powers, Courtney, Morlock, West....You could see 2-3 of these guys moving on next year. I think Thomas and Loftin have a chance to be good but you would like them to be able to develop slowly. Now the process looks to be sped up. I would not be shocked to see FSU recruit another HS TE or bring one in from the portal. This position is a bit of a disappointment.


OL
Lucas Simmons (4) 6'7-300 (23) OT
Chris Otto (3) 6'5-280 (23) C
Jayden Todd (4) 6'6-320 (24) OT/OG
Manasse Itete-(3) 6'6-290 (24) OT
Tye Hylton (3) 6'4-270 (24) C
Jonathan Daniels (4) 6'5-290 (24) OT/OG
Solomon Thomas (5) 6'4-290 (25) OT/G
Peyton Joseph (4) 6'3-320 (25) OT/OG

Comments: FSU still needs 2 more HS OL inho. I think they will get Petty from Georgia and that would be huge. This is one area of the team that has not had a ton of success with HS lineman they have recruited. Maurice Smith and Darius Washington were carry overs from the prior staff. You have guys like Simmons (RFR), Julian Armella (SO), Jaylen Early (SO). You would like for 2 of these 3 to become starters. If they don't start till their junior seasons that is fine...But they need to start at some point. I do like what FSU is bringing in so the future is bright. That being said the younger lineman in the classes like Otto, Todd, Itete, Hylton, Daniels, Thomas and Joseph would all benefit if they don't have to play right away while Simmons, Early and Armella are getting the job done in 25. That would be ideal.


DE
Lamont Green-(4) 6'4-220 (23)
Jaiden Jones (3) 6'6-240 (23)
DD Holmes (4) 6'6-240 (24)
Javion Hilson (4) 6'5-230 (25)

Comments: For FSU to make the playoffs and compete for National Titles they need to recruit this position better. Hilson is a stud. Green is going to take time to develop. He is probably still two years away. Jones and Holmes we have no idea what FSU has. With Payton gone to the NFL after this year and Marvin Jones looking great in the spring game, FSU may need to hit the portal. Once again unless Green and Jones can start in 25, FSU can't rely on freshman. I really don't like the idea of Amare moving to TE. He was needed at DE. This is one spot I see FSU hitting the portal after this season.


DT
Keith Sampson-(4) 6'3-285 (23)
D'Nas White-(4) 6'5-320 (24)
Jamorie Flagg (3) 6'3-290 (24)
Myron Charles (4) 6'5-270 (25)
Kevin Wynn (4) 6'4-320 (25)

Comments: FSU is going to lose Darrell Jackson, Sione Lolohea and Joshua Farmer next year. You better hope that Sampson takes the next step as well as Daniel Lyons. If those two can take the next step then DT won't be a major position of need in the portal. If they don't then FSU will need to hit the portal. We like the young guys Charles, Wynn and possibly Wiggins but none of them will be ready for the 25 season.


LB
Blake Nichelson-(4) 6'2-210 (23)
DeMarco Ward (3) 6'2-210 (23)
Dylan Turner (3) 6'2-190 (23) (Transfer)
Timir Hickman (3) 6'0-210 (24)
Jayden Parrish (3) 6'2-210 (24)
Ethan Pritchard (4) 6'2-200 (25)

Comments: Nichelson, Ward, Hickman and Parrish will get the chance to calm people’s nerves about the LB spot for 25. No matter who FSU brings in the 25 class they will be relegated to special teams. I still feel that Nichelson will develop into an All-ACC linebacker and Parrish maybe the steal of the 24 class. This position should work itself out.


S
Conrad Hussey (4) 5'11-180 (23)
Kenton Kirkland (3) 6'2-180 (23)
Ashylynd Barker (3) 6'3-190 (23)
Max Redmon (3) 6'2-190 (25)

Comments: I would be concerned about safety if not for FSU landed some studs at CB. They have plenty of guys who can move up to safety if they need to. Hussey is going to be very good. Kirkland will work his way into being a contributor. Barker has a ways to go. I am a HUGE fan of Redmon. He has the tools to be legit. I am close to putting a future cast in for Bryce Fitzgerald. He would be a huge get. There are no Derwin James in this group.


CB
Edwin Joseph (4) 6'1-190 (23)
Quindarrius Jones (4) 6'2-190 (23)
Jabril Rawls (3) 6'2-175 (23)
Cai Bates (4) 6'2-180 (24)
Jabari Howard (4) 6'3-180 (24)
Charles Lester-(4) 6'2-185 (24)
Ricky Knight (4) 6'0-170 (24)
Gregory Thomas (4) 6'2-200 (25)

Comments: Would love for FSU to land a DJ Pickett or Ben Hanks but that is most likely not going to happen. Pickett is a future top ten pick. Hanks has the potential to one day play on Sundays. That being said this is a very talented group of corners. FSU can find a Xavier Rhodes in this group.

K
Jake Weinberg (2) 5'10-160 (24)

Can't say I'm a fan. Anyone else have an opinion?

A smaller photo gallery from Thursday, but here are some images of the OL and DL:

Jerry and I discuss Day 2:

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You can purchase a replica of the coin being used for the coin toss of the FSU v. GT game, produced by the Highland Mint for just $39.99.
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Poll: Transfer Player on Offense you expect to have the biggest impact on the 2024 (non-QB)?

The general consensus is that DJ wasn't good in the spring game. Obviously his stat line was not very good. The tape really tells a different story though. He had at least 5 perfect passes dropped by receivers/tight ends. He showed a solid understanding of the offense. He kept it and ran at the right times. He had some very impressive throws down the field, but he also had some smart check downs. He earned a very smart PI in the endzone on a broken play. The more I watch it, the more encouraged I am. There were a couple bad throws, but overall, he was way better than the stat line. I think Norvell could get a level of production out of him that we haven't seen before. On the flip side of this coin though, the receivers were god awful in the spring game. Way too many drops. We heard about the drops all spring, I thought it was just overblown, but no it was really bad. Dugans really has his work cut out for him with this group. A lot of guys that we need production out of, could not catch the football all spring. Poitier used to be able to catch but for whatever reason this spring he could not. Williamson and Spann have never been able to catch if we're being honest, which is unfortunate because they're freak athletes. Brown couldn't catch in the spring. Williams wasn't getting any separation in the spring, not calling him a bust yet but he doesn't seem like much of a route runner. Douglas and Benson looked like the only reliable guys, and Benson is injured. Morlock had a bunch of drops too. Definitely more concerned about this receiving group than DJ. Catching the ball could be a real problem this year.

Any news on who may be transferring out? I heard Pitcher Madi Balk is in the portal but have not seen anything on this site.

Not much to take away from RB's, OL, DL as mentioned in the reports so, we can get a small look at QB's, DB's, WR's, and TE's.

I saw a quite a few phrases like "made some contested catches" or "allowed some catches but made life hard for WR's"

I feel like this is exactly what we would hope to see, and far ahead of what we could hope for in day 1. In my opinion it sounds like we didn't see a ton of balls in the dirt, sailed passes, wide open receivers due to blown coverage, dropped balls, missed routes. . .etc.

If day one is a lot of defenders just missing int's, but the pass going for a completion, or a DB right in a WR's hip pocket, but he is able to make the catch, or a DB making a great play on a nicely thrown ball to bat it away at the last second, then I feel like it was (as Borat might put it) "Great Success."

If practices look like that early on, then the competitive spirit will really allow them to help each other improve, and hopefully when they play a team with lesser ability, they should be able to really take advantage of the growth they were able to achieve by going against top talent.

I know, I am always pretty optimistic, but I was very encouraged by the initial practice reports and was happy we didn't read a ton of errant passes and dropped balls. . .

How long and what will it take to obtain? Key to Big invite!

Love this time of year. Love watching practice, Love seeing the individuals develop. And love watching as the individuals become a team.
Here are my thoughts on the eve of the first practice.

Please share yours.

From the quarterbacks heating up to a number of WR/TE standouts, there was a lot to like about FSU's offense at this morning's first preseason practice.

In this story, you'll find extensive observations from the Osceola staff on the offensive side of the ball at this morning's practice.