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FSU football's young tight end group round into shape. Here's their coach's takeaways
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- FSU football's young tight end group round into shape. Here's their coach's takeaways
The group is young, but for Florida State football tight ends coach Chris Thomsen , there is a lot of potential.
This year's tight ends have a different variety, with one senior, two juniors, and four freshmen. Thomsen believes each player carries the same mindset on offense.
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"The approach is great," Thomsen said.
"In the meeting room, to the practice field assignment-wise technique, they're doing everything they can to work to improve to bring all that stuff together."
Thomsen pointed out the leadership role Morlock has brought. Kyle Morlock is the only senior tight end in the group and has embraced being a veteran while continuing to improve on his game as a high-level TE.
"He showed up really well on some tough catches down the field," Thomsen said. "Blocking-wise, he's continuing to improve, so he's right where I thought he would be. His work ethic is excellent, so when a guy works as he does, he's going to improve rapidly, and that's what he's doing."
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Thomsen was asked about freshman player Amaree Williams . Thomsen has been impressed by him these last two weeks, knowing that he is a declassified player and soaking in every detail he can get in his first year.
"He's made some really good plays," Thomsen said.
"Obviously, (He's) learning. In high school he was a little bit more out wide on the perimeter, so the closer he gets to the ball, some of that stuff's new to him, but overall, he's done a great job of just coming in and trying to absorb all the things that he's he's asked to do."
As for Brian Courtney, Thomsen believes that the junior is having a good camp.
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He likes his yards after catch and the strength that he brings at his size, remembering his high school years as a quarterback back in his hometown of Virginia .
"He's actually had a really good camp," Thomsen said.
"He showed up in the scrimmage with some tough runs after the catch. He's about 242 right now, and he's got that background of being a wildcat quarterback, so when he gets the ball in his hand, he's tough to bring down."
Thomsen wants his tight ends to continue focusing on being better blockers. He expects the Seminoles to be a run-first offense, and special teams are also a priority from his group.
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" We have to be unselfish in those ways," Thomsen said.
"We have to block. We have to play teams when the ball comes to us. We have to catch it, secure it, and go get yards, but all these guys are willing blockers, and that's always fun to work with."
FSU kicker, punter don't pay too much attention to preseason watch lists
FSU's kicker Ryan Fitzgerald and punter Alex Mastromanno have been getting preseason recognition.
Fitzgerald is on the Lou Groza Watch List for best placekicker. Last season, he made 19 of his 21 field goal attempts and is ranked ninth in program history with 299 points scored.
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Mastronmanno is on the Ray Guy Watch List for the second time in his career. Last year, his 45.5 punting average was second in the conference and 15th nationally.
Neither All-ACC specialists don't get caught up in their individual recognition.
"It's a watch list, but you know the season hasn't been played yet," Fitzgerald said. "Obviously, so we still got to go out there and do our job."
Mastronmanno reflected on last season when he became a finalist for the Ray Guy trophy, which was his first in FSU history. It didn't cross his mind about his individual achievement because of the perfect regular season it had.
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"It was funny because it had been such a year of team success," Mastronmanno said.
"I wasn't really getting too caught up in all the individual stuff, but I mean I guess it's just a testament to the way we're coached, the way that we all come out every day trying to get better so that stuff is all good, but I can't really control any of it. I think that's what the standard has been.
Fitzgerald is not only high on him as an All-American punter but is just as elite as a holder, which is his second year playing that special teams role.
"He's the best holder in the country, too," Fitzgerald said.
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"That's so important just because of the operation time and being able to get the snap down on the spot, the laces out, and the lean. It's a lot of details, and he takes great pride in that. That's something for me; it helps me; it makes my job so much easier."
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
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: Takeaways on Florida State football tight end competition
