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FSU football transfer Richie Leonard IV left UF, glad he joined close-knit group
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- FSU football transfer Richie Leonard IV left UF, glad he joined close-knit group
Florida State football's offensive lineman Richie Leonard IV has one goal in mind.
That is winning.
That played a part in why he entered the transfer portal after four years at the University of Florida to join in-state rival FSU. Leonard settled in as the projected offensive guard. He feels closer to FSU after enrolling in the spring.
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"This is honestly one of the closest teams I've ever been on," Leonard said.
"So, I love every second of it guys. I hear Coach (Mike Norvell) talking, Shyheim (Brown) and guys on defense all the time. We're all one big one big happy family, to be honest. I love it."
Leonard believes FSU's running game is thriving. It also helps with the level of depth and communication between the front five and the running backs.
"I think we're getting better every single day," Leonard said. "Like I said, just growing and building that continuity between the group is definitely helping a lot."
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Back when he was a Florida Gator, Leonard started 14 of 31 games at left guard in the first four years. This season, he will be playing alongside All-ACC linemen Maurice Smith at center and left tackle Darius Washington.
When asked about playing with Smith, he described how impressed he is anchoring the interior.
"He brings a whole different perspective to the position," Leonard said. "He's very vocal, and he just always knows what to do. He's been in this offense for a long time, so there's not much he hasn't seen and it's good having a guy like that."
With Washington, he knows how important he is to the FSU offense and is excited to play next to him and Smith.
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"Darius is just a veteran guy All-ACC," Leonard said. "He's a dude on the field so it's awesome. Playing next to him, there's not too much he hasn't seen."
Leonard's individual goal is the team's goal. Winning. He wants to be part of a playoff-contending team and is not worried about his personal achievements.
"I want to win," Leonard said. "That's the main goal for me. I want to win. All the other stuff can come with winning."
Jaylin Lucas focuses on being the playmaker for FSU football
FSU running back Jaylin Lucas knows his role on the team.
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The 5-foot-9, 175-pound speedster will be important as a return man on kickoff and punt. He is used to playing both roles and is excited to lead special teams for the Seminoles .
"I feel very confident about at punt return," Lucas said. "It just comes down to just owning the ball and just seeing what gap opens and just hit it, but other than that I feel very confident doing punt return."
When he played at Indiana , Lucas scored three kickoff-returned touchdowns in his two years with the Hoosiers, which is a school record. Lucas believed that he could top those three touchdowns, which was the bar he set for himself.
"My standard is just to be better each and every day," Lucas said. "Just come out with a working mindset but I just lock in on special teams. That's a big thing to my game."
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Regarding his role on offense, Lucas has been utilized in the backfield and the slot, making him a mismatch threat for the Seminoles.
FSU continues to figure out what place is best for Lucas. However, wherever he is lined up, he wants to be effective.
'I feel like my role is just being a playmaker," Lucas said. "I'm excited for whatever opportunity. (I'm) just taking advantage of it."
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.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State OL ecstatic to play between pair of All-ACC teammates
