FSU sports information:
Florida State had three players recognized on national award watch lists released Tuesday. Offensive lineman Jeremiah Byers was named to the Outland Trophy Watch List, while defensive back Fentrell Cypress II and defensive lineman Jared Verse were both included on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List.
Byers, who is in his first season in Tallahassee after four years at UTEP, was the No. 1 offensive tackle and No. 19 overall player in the transfer portal according to 247Sports. He appeared in 33 games with 30 starts at right tackle for the Miners. The Austin, Texas, native earned first-team All-Conference USA honors last season when he helped UTEP rank fifth nationally in time of possession. He started all 13 games in 2021 and was an honorable-mention all-conference selection. Byers played his way onto the Conference USA All-Freshman Team in 2020 when he played in six games with three starts, helping anchor an offensive line that had the nation’s 17th-best tackles for loss allowed average.
Cypress, a first-team All-ACC performer according to Pro Football Focus last season at Virginia, was rated as the No. 2 transfer portal prospect nationally by On3 and No. 4 overall by 247Sports. He appeared in 18 games with 14 starts during four seasons for the Cavaliers, totaling 57 tackles, 0.5 sack, one interception, 14 pass breakups and one fumble recovery. The Rock Hill, S.C., native led the country with an average of 1.6 pass breakups per game in 2022, and his 14 total pass breakups were tops in the ACC and ninth nationally. He started all nine games he played last season and added 39 tackles and one fumble recovery to his pass breakups total. He started all six games he played in 2021, registering 16 tackles, including 0.5 sack, and one interception that he returned 66 yards for a touchdown.
Verse 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. 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.
Florida State has had five different players named to watch lists through the first two days of announcements. Tuesday’s trio follows Monday’s announcement that quarterback Jordan Travis and running back Trey Benson were both on the Maxwell Award Watch List.
Three finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy will be announced on Nov. 15, and the winner will be unveiled Dec. 4. The Outland Trophy winner, who will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 7, is chosen from three finalists who are part of the FWAA All-America Team. Only interior lineman on offense or defense are eligible for the Outland Trophy.
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.
Florida State had three players recognized on national award watch lists released Tuesday. Offensive lineman Jeremiah Byers was named to the Outland Trophy Watch List, while defensive back Fentrell Cypress II and defensive lineman Jared Verse were both included on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List.
Byers, who is in his first season in Tallahassee after four years at UTEP, was the No. 1 offensive tackle and No. 19 overall player in the transfer portal according to 247Sports. He appeared in 33 games with 30 starts at right tackle for the Miners. The Austin, Texas, native earned first-team All-Conference USA honors last season when he helped UTEP rank fifth nationally in time of possession. He started all 13 games in 2021 and was an honorable-mention all-conference selection. Byers played his way onto the Conference USA All-Freshman Team in 2020 when he played in six games with three starts, helping anchor an offensive line that had the nation’s 17th-best tackles for loss allowed average.
Cypress, a first-team All-ACC performer according to Pro Football Focus last season at Virginia, was rated as the No. 2 transfer portal prospect nationally by On3 and No. 4 overall by 247Sports. He appeared in 18 games with 14 starts during four seasons for the Cavaliers, totaling 57 tackles, 0.5 sack, one interception, 14 pass breakups and one fumble recovery. The Rock Hill, S.C., native led the country with an average of 1.6 pass breakups per game in 2022, and his 14 total pass breakups were tops in the ACC and ninth nationally. He started all nine games he played last season and added 39 tackles and one fumble recovery to his pass breakups total. He started all six games he played in 2021, registering 16 tackles, including 0.5 sack, and one interception that he returned 66 yards for a touchdown.
Verse 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. 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.
Florida State has had five different players named to watch lists through the first two days of announcements. Tuesday’s trio follows Monday’s announcement that quarterback Jordan Travis and running back Trey Benson were both on the Maxwell Award Watch List.
Three finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy will be announced on Nov. 15, and the winner will be unveiled Dec. 4. The Outland Trophy winner, who will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 7, is chosen from three finalists who are part of the FWAA All-America Team. Only interior lineman on offense or defense are eligible for the Outland Trophy.
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.
