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Former FSU DE Jared Verse embraces filling role of Aaron Donald for Los Angeles Rams
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- Former FSU DE Jared Verse embraces filling role of Aaron Donald for Los Angeles Rams
It's no coincidence the Los Angeles Rams drafted former Florida State defensive end Jared Verse No. 19 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
It was a match made in heaven for both parties.
Rams' general manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay expressed their excitement about selecting Verse after talking with the Dayton native on the phone.
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McVay said he and the rest of the franchise are "fired Up" to add the two-time All-American to their roster.
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"He's just one of those guys that you want to watch another game on because you can tell that he cares about football, and he has fun playing football, " Snead said during his press conference.
"Oh, by the way, he's pretty disruptive, violent. The way that he plays is next to the word in the dictionary."
More: Why did Jared Verse transfer to Florida State? Seminole football star began career at DII Albany
Verse felt the same energy when he spoke to the local media on a video call after he was selected.
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"It's a dream come true," Verse told the Los Angeles media.
"You work your whole life for something. I've talked to the Rams throughout the whole process. I met with them again to give them one last interview and it felt like the right thing. As you go on and go through the process and hearing them call my name with the Los Angeles Rams attached to it … Whooo! Dream come true. "
Jared Verse opens up about meeting Aaron Donald
Verse has a mutual connection with the Rams since he played in Albany , and it is all thanks to his former head coach Greg Gattuso
Gattuso coached Verse in his first two seasons before transferring to Florida State in 2022. Gattuso also coached recently retired and future Pro Football of Fame defensive tackle Aaron Donald when he was a defensive line coach in Pittsburgh . He even scouted the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year in high school.
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Verse has been studying Donald throughout his college career. He also mentioned meeting with Donald on a Zoom call during the COVID-19 year. Of course, Verse picked Donald's brain, asked him many football questions, and soaked in every piece of knowledge the All-Pro defensive tackle could give him.
"I asked him a couple of questions that actually elevated my game," Verse told the media. The biggest thing I took away from the questions I asked him was when he said, 'You don't need a store of moves. If you have a couple of good moves and execute them at the highest level of your ability, you can destroy anyone.'"
When asked about replacing Donald, he knows the pressure is on him. However, Verse didn't hesitate to embrace the challenge.
"Filling up his role, that's a hard role to fill," Verse said. That's a big shoe to fill. That's an out-of-this-world player, a once-in-a-lifetime future hall of fame and one of the best players to ever live. But to be able to be in this position where they expect me to come in there and fill his role, I'm ready for it. Pressure makes diamonds. I love pressure."
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Plans on how the Rams will use Verse
Oct 1, 2022; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive end Jared Verse (5) celebrates a sack during the first half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports
Verse can be utilized anywhere on the defensive front. But according to McVay, the plan is to line him up as an edge rusher for now.
Verse is 6-foot-4 inches and 254 pounds and has experience playing inside and out. While he might be in the outside linebacker room most of the time, McVay is more open to moving him around once they begin to develop his game. McVay also stated that Verse fits what he wants on the Rams defense.
"If you watch the way he plays, he's got great hands, he's violent and has a versatile arsenal of moves that he can activate. He plays the game the way you want him to play," McVay said. "We're looking for grown men on defense."
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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: Former FSU All-American Jared Verse excited to play for Los Angeles Rams
