FSU sports information:
Florida State placed two players, offensive lineman D’Mitri Emmanuel and defensive end Jared Verse, on the Lombardi Award Watch List released Tuesday.
Emmanuel started all 13 games at right guard in 2022 and was selected as a third-team All-ACC performer by the conference and was a second-team All-ACC selection by Phil Steele. The Charlotte native was named ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week after FSU’s 41-16 win over Georgia Tech in which he did not allow a single quarterback pressure on 80 snaps played while blocking for an offense that rolled up 642 yards of total offense and produced only the third game in program history with a 375-yard passer, 100-yard rusher and 100-yard receiver. Emmanuel blocked for an offense that led the country with an average of 7.46 plays of at least 20 yards per game and tied for the national lead with eight touchdown drives of at least 90 yards. Florida State led the ACC in third-down offense, yards gained per pass attempt, yards gained per play, yards gained per rush, total offense per game, yards per completion, rushing offense per game and scoring offense per game.
Emmanuel helped protect quarterback Jordan Travis, who was PFF’s highest-graded quarterback nationally and the ACC’s highest-graded offensive player as Travis led ACC in yards per play, yards per pass attempt, yards per completion and pass efficiency rating. Emmanuel also paved the way for running back Trey Benson to lead the ACC with an average of 6.43 yards per rush and opened lanes as FSU topped 200 rushing yards in seven straight games, tying the school record. He also blocked as the Seminoles scored five rushing touchdowns against Florida, the highest single-game total by a Gators opponent since 1997.
Verse, who also was included on watch lists for the Chuck Bednarik Award, 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 five watch list appearances and Emmanuel’s spot on the Lombardi Award Watch List, Florida State has accounted for 22 total watch list spots this season. Quarterback Jordan Travis is on four watch lists, appearing on the Manning Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year, Davey O’Brien Award and Maxwell Award watch lists. Running back Trey Benson is on three watch lists, appearing on the Maxwell Award Watch List, the Paul Hornung Award Watch List and the Doak Walker Award Watch List. 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 Lombardi Award was first presented in 1970 and annually recognizes the college football offensive or defensive lineman who exemplifies the character and discipline of NFL Hall of Fame head coach Vince Lombardi in addition to outstanding performance and ability. Florida State boasts two Lombardi Award winners as Marvin Jones earned the honor in 1992 and Jamal Reynolds brought home the award in 2000. Semifinalists will be announced November 1, with four finalists unveiled November 15 and the 2023 Lombardi Award winner announced December 6.
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 placed two players, offensive lineman D’Mitri Emmanuel and defensive end Jared Verse, on the Lombardi Award Watch List released Tuesday.
Emmanuel started all 13 games at right guard in 2022 and was selected as a third-team All-ACC performer by the conference and was a second-team All-ACC selection by Phil Steele. The Charlotte native was named ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week after FSU’s 41-16 win over Georgia Tech in which he did not allow a single quarterback pressure on 80 snaps played while blocking for an offense that rolled up 642 yards of total offense and produced only the third game in program history with a 375-yard passer, 100-yard rusher and 100-yard receiver. Emmanuel blocked for an offense that led the country with an average of 7.46 plays of at least 20 yards per game and tied for the national lead with eight touchdown drives of at least 90 yards. Florida State led the ACC in third-down offense, yards gained per pass attempt, yards gained per play, yards gained per rush, total offense per game, yards per completion, rushing offense per game and scoring offense per game.
Emmanuel helped protect quarterback Jordan Travis, who was PFF’s highest-graded quarterback nationally and the ACC’s highest-graded offensive player as Travis led ACC in yards per play, yards per pass attempt, yards per completion and pass efficiency rating. Emmanuel also paved the way for running back Trey Benson to lead the ACC with an average of 6.43 yards per rush and opened lanes as FSU topped 200 rushing yards in seven straight games, tying the school record. He also blocked as the Seminoles scored five rushing touchdowns against Florida, the highest single-game total by a Gators opponent since 1997.
Verse, who also was included on watch lists for the Chuck Bednarik Award, 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 five watch list appearances and Emmanuel’s spot on the Lombardi Award Watch List, Florida State has accounted for 22 total watch list spots this season. Quarterback Jordan Travis is on four watch lists, appearing on the Manning Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year, Davey O’Brien Award and Maxwell Award watch lists. Running back Trey Benson is on three watch lists, appearing on the Maxwell Award Watch List, the Paul Hornung Award Watch List and the Doak Walker Award Watch List. 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 Lombardi Award was first presented in 1970 and annually recognizes the college football offensive or defensive lineman who exemplifies the character and discipline of NFL Hall of Fame head coach Vince Lombardi in addition to outstanding performance and ability. Florida State boasts two Lombardi Award winners as Marvin Jones earned the honor in 1992 and Jamal Reynolds brought home the award in 2000. Semifinalists will be announced November 1, with four finalists unveiled November 15 and the 2023 Lombardi Award winner announced December 6.
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.
