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Florida State football fall camp superlatives | Which players have impressed in practice
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- Florida State football fall camp superlatives | Which players have impressed in practice
Florida State football's first scrimmage of the fall is done and the Seminoles have now completed the first portion of fall camp ahead of kickoff of the 2024 season .
With eight days of pract ice and the scrimmage done, the focus will now shift from getting back to game speed to sharpening up play ahead of the season opener against Georgia Tech on Aug. 24 in Dublin, Ireland.
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There have been some key performers and standouts early in camp and we are going to take a look at who has impressed early on. We will highlight one returning player, one transfer and one freshman who have impressed on both sides of the football during fall camp.
Standout returners
Offense: Kyle Morlock , redshirt senior, tight end
Florida State Seminoles tight end Kyle Morlock (84) stiff arms Pittsburgh Panthers defensive back Javon McIntyre (7) after a catch during the second quarter Nov. 4, 2023, at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Kyle Morlock caught the eye on day one of fall camp , and he has maintained his performance level from the first day of camp up until now. The redshirt senior said he worked on his route running during the offseason, and it's shown, with Morlock showing a more clear understanding of the route tree.
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He's been one of the top targets for quarterback DJ Uiagalelei , connecting well with the Oregon State transfer in both short-yardage situations and even showing the ability to get downfield and connect on the deep ball. Morlock transferred to FSU last season, playing mostly behind fellow transfer Jaheim Bell , and he posted 255 yards on 19 receptions.
Now with Bell in the NFL, Morlock is in line for an opportunity to become one of the Seminoles ' top tight ends, with his early showings in fall camp a good step towards achieving that.
Defense: Patrick Payton , junior, defensive end
Patrick Payton has been dominating on FSU's loaded defensive front. His lengthy body frame and his twitchy get-off made it hard for an offensive lineman to get a hold of Payton.
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Even senior left tackle Darius Washington couldn't find an answer for the junior. Payton has won nearly every rep during one-on-one drills. His quickness coming off the line is almost unmatched. He has also gotten better at using his hands, making him more lethal on the edge.
Payton is a premier pass rusher and the junior could record double-digit sacks this season.
Standout transfer
Offense: Malik Benson , senior, wide receiver
Florida State football players participate in day one of the Seminoles fall camp at Florida State University on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
While there was a long list of players who could have taken this honor, including Uiagalelei and running back Roydell Williams , wide receiver Malik Benson has been the most impressive transfer this fall.
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Benson transferred into the program in the winter, playing through the spring season and even having arguably the best spring game before leaving the showcase with an injury. Benson recorded 162 yards on 13 receptions last season for Alabama , scoring one touchdown.
His speed is one of his primary weapons , even claiming he is the fastest player on the team, and he has showcased that blazing speed during practice.
Working against defensive backs in 1 vs. 1 drills and in team competition, Benson has gained separation with his quick first step and maintained that separation with his speed. He's shown a wide range of different catches, making impressive grabs in traffic, downfield and over the middle of the field, and he's been the best receiver this fall.
Defense: Cam Riley, senior, linebacker
Florida State linebacker Cam Riley talks joining FSU program at newcomer availability on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Cam Riley has been flying around on defense. He caught an interception during a pass coverage drill and his ability to read the quarterbacks' eyes and react quickly makes him an instinctive force.
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Riley is a veteran who can play in multiple schemes, and it shows. FSU linebackers coach Randy Shannon admires his athleticism, which is reflected in his 6-foot-5, 245-pound frame. He mentioned that he can play anywhere on the field as a linebacker.
The Auburn transfer is expected to be a big contributor on defense and could complement returning starter DJ Lundy well.
Standout freshman
Offense: Lawayne McCoy, freshman, wide receiver
The 2024 freshman class has been competitive to start practice, with more than a few first-year players like Micahi Danzy, Kam Davis and Elijah Moore coming up with big plays. One player who has really impressed, however, has been Lawayne McCoy.
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The 6-foot-1 receiver from Miami has flashed his big play ability on a handful of occasions, making some impressive catches look routine. He's a smooth route runner who has been able to compete against some of the Seminoles' best defensive backs early in fall camp.
On day seven of camp, McCoy was FSU's best receiver . He made a couple of impressive grabs, including one where he leaped in the corner of the endzone to secure the pass over the defensive back's head and come down with the score. Norvell has been happy with the freshman, saying he could have an impact this season.
Defense: Ricky Knight III, freshman, cornerback
The secondary is loaded with talented freshmen who are hungry and ready to make an immediate impact.
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You can pinpoint freshman defensive backs like Charles Lester III , Cai Bates or Ja'Bril Rawls, and you could be right. But Ricky Knight III has stood out the most out of freshmen on defense.
Every time Knight is on the field, he is bound to make a play. The highly touted freshman has put his coverage skills to work against FSU's receivers. He doesn't hesitate when breaking up passes and creating turnovers for the defense.
During Thursday's practice, he caught a pick-six during 11-on-11. Knight has been a special talent in man coverage.
The West Palm Beach native has no fear; his level of confidence in not letting a receiver be on top of him has been astounding. It is unsure whether Knight will get a chance to play, even on special teams, but he earned the right to at least give himself a chance to compete for playing time.
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Florida State football schedule 2024
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Aug. 24 vs. Georgia Tech *Dublin, Ireland at noon., ESPN
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Sept. 2 vs. Boston College at 7:30 p.m., ESPN
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Sept. 14 vs. Memphis
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Sept. 21 vs. California
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Sept. 28 at SMU
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Oct. 5 vs. Clemson
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Oct. 18 at Duke
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Oct. 26 at (U) Miami
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Nov. 2 vs. North Carolina
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Nov. 9 at Notre Dame
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Nov. 23 vs. Charleston Southern
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Nov. 30: Florida
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Dec. 7: ACC Championship
BOLD = ACC
* = Neutral Site
Liam Rooney covers preps sports for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamroone y
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State football Kyle Morlock, Malik Benson standout in fall camp
