Edmond, Turner give FSU coaches more confidence in DE rotation after strong scrimmage

Florida State’s defensive coaches clearly already know what they have in star defensive end Jared Verse, who is a preseason All-American. And they have a pretty good idea of the potential of fellow pass-rusher Patrick Payton, who earned ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2022.

But with veteran Derrick McLendon having transferred to Colorado during the offseason, one of the key objectives during this preseason camp is learning just what to expect from the Seminoles’ other defensive ends.

And if Sunday’s first preseason scrimmage is any indication, there is reason for optimism.

South Carolina transfer Gilber Edmond and redshirt sophomore Byron Turner both got extended looks during the scrimmage, and head coach Mike Norvell and Florida State’s defensive assistants sounded impressed.

“He definitely flashed tonight,” defensive ends coach John Papachuis said of Turner, who appears finally healthy after battling injuries during his first two years on campus. “I can see his progress really coming. Really over the last five or six practices, I’ve seen him become a little more consistent in everything that he’s doing. Playing a little bit faster, and that showed up tonight. I was pleased with his progress and where he’s heading right now.”

Having dealt with a shoulder surgery that sidelined him for his freshman year and then a pulled hamstring that slowed him last season, Turner has not seen a lot of game action at Florida State.

In 2022, the Louisiana product played in eight games and totaled only three tackles on the year.

Having seen his development throughout the spring and in fall camp, the Florida State coaching staff thinks the 6-foot-4, 244-pounder is ready to take his game to the next level.

“Byron Turner showed up tonight,” defensive coordinator Adam Fuller said after the scrimmage. “He’s always been someone that I knew [has] got a high level of toughness. He can flat-out run. He’s finally been consistent with his body weight, he’s healthy, he’s stronger. He’s somebody that we’ve got to continue to push, and put in that situation. Right now, he’s our fourth guy, battling for reps with the third guy. I think he’s got a chance.”

The person Turner is competing with, of course, is Edmond. The redshirt junior joined the Seminoles earlier this year after serving as a regular rotation player at South Carolina.

While a Gamecock, Edmond played in 21 games over three seasons. He had somewhat of a breakout year in 2022, recording 39 tackles and nine tackles for loss.

And Florida State’s coaches have seen the 6-4, 257-pounder progress significantly during his time in Tallahassee.

“Gilber has really come on this week. I thought this was his best week since he’s been here — kind of through spring, through summer,” Fuller said. “Every time I watch him go through drill work, I always tell J.P. (Papuchis) that there’s so much in that player, and now it’s our job to continue to get what we see in drill work throughout the game, and I think that stuff is starting to show up.

“He’s playing faster, he’s playing lower,” Fuller said. “But he’s got the size, speed, physical elements, all of it. And he’s played a lot of football.”

Talk about this story with other die-hard FSU football fans on the Tribal Council.

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