Jared Verse Is a MENACE — 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Liam Blutman

Sup. The 2023 NFL Draft is almost here. I’m hyped. You’re hyped… I think? Well you better be if you’re reading this. Today I’m spreading the good word about Jared Verse of Florida State. He’s truly had an underdog journey to get to this point and will end up being one of the most coveted edge rushers in this draft for a variety of reasons. Yet he’ll still be in the shadows of Will Anderson Jr. and Myles Murphy. Heck, Tyree Wilson is receiving a lot more buzz than Verse too.

Just a few years ago, Verse was playing on both sides of the ball (tight end and defensive end) at Central Columbia High School in Bloomsburg, Penn. In addition to balling out on the football field, he was a hooper for the basketball team and won a state championship on the 4×400 relay team. This guy is just an all-around stud athlete and we see that on the football field over and over and over again. Recruiting is weird and Verse fell through the cracks. He ended up at Albany of all places and set the CAA on fire with a magnificent 2021 season in which he racked up 21.5 TFL and 14.5 sacks. Sept. 18, 2021 was the day many of us were introduced to Mr. Verse as Albany traveled to the Carrier Dome (forever the name) and lost 62-24 to Syracuse. In a game where Sean Tucker toted that rock for 132 yards and four touchdowns, Verse made his presence felt by showcasing all the effort in the world and shockingly good speed for a dude that big. I think it’s fair to say that the play where he nearly hunts down Tucker is the play that changed his career for the better. It was that play and that game that attracted Florida State as it pursued him heavily when Verse hit the portal, and the Noles were fortunate enough to land him.

And just as I expected, the marriage between Jared Verse and Florida State was as perfect as perfect can be. His lone season at FSU resulted in a cool First Team All-American honor thanks to 16.5 TFL and nine sacks. And to all those people that questioned if he could continue to thrive against better competition… he shut them up on Sept. 4 when he racked up two key sacks and a blocked field goal in the win over LSU.

All season long, we’ve seen Verse showcase his exquisite traits that are headlined by a stupendous combination of wicked speed, remarkable explosiveness, and ferocious power. Look at his legs when he’s rushing the passer too — impeccable leg drive. I’m infatuated with his bull rush and love the way Verse uses his long arms to get his hands on a quarterback with such great determination and a very strong second burst. He’s just 22 years old and boasts some prolific moves in his pass-rushing arsenal. Just wait until you see him in a few years, in his prime as he becomes a master of his moves and is bigger, stronger, faster, scarier. I believe his get off is superb as well, but you’ll have to be okay with an offsides penalty every once in a while. The effort that you get from Verse on every single rep is so cool to see. You can really depend on this kid to try harder than he did on the previous rep. He’ll always be chasing someone downfield if need be. His impact on special teams will even be a help for any NFL franchise. He also just seems like such a good down-to-earth dude with high spirits and so much motivation to be elite.

I’m all in on Jared Verse. I have been since the day he entered the transfer portal. In my opinion, he’s ascending into an All-Pro type player. I see the vision… Do you?

Eric Edholm’s Take: “He’s an impressive physical specimen, even if he could stand to add some bulk to his frame. I love Verse’s surprising pop in his hands and his quick get off. He has the juice and natural pass-rush feel to be a high pick if he tests well.”

Games to Watch: LSU, Oklahoma, and both Syracuse games.

Grade: EDGE3 & Top 10 Player – He’s that dude.

Draft Prediction: I think he’ll go in the top 15 and be selected as the EDGE3 or EDGE4.

About the author

Liam Blutman
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I am a diehard UCLA fan that has enjoyed (?) mediocrity year after year. My favorite CFB moment was witnessing UCLA comeback from 34 down against Texas A&M. Being at the Rose Bowl for that historic moment is something I’ll never forget. I have written about CFB since I was 14 and my favorite thing to do is give under-the-radar athletes the recognition they deserve. You might know me from @NoContextCFB !

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