ACC Media Days opened on Monday, July 22nd. Florida State head coach Mike Norvell took to the podium to speak about the Seminoles.
As the preseason media tour preceding the start of college football continues, Norvell spoke on the ‘Noles chances to repeat as ACC champions after going 13-1 in 2023.
College Football’s Best DT Duo?
Part of Norvell’s confidence in his team? As he puts it, Norvell thinks he has two of the best defensive tackles in the country with Joshua Farmer and Darrell Jackson Jr.
Strip sack, Joshua Farmer, Jared Verse is right there to pick it up 😤 pic.twitter.com/UQeg3hagAr
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) October 14, 2023
Florida State finished off a terrific season in 2023 with a bad taste in their mouths as they were left out of the College Football Playoff following a season-ending injury to quarterback Jordan Travis.
Joshua Farmer echoed as much in his comments to the media during the event, stating the goals the team has set for the 2024 season.
FSU DL Joshua Farmer with some strong views on 2024:
“We’re definitely gonna make a run, and we’re definitely gonna be in that 12-team [playoff]. That’s a no-brainer. We’re pissed off. The older guys … we know what we deserve. And we’re gonna try to get there.” pic.twitter.com/Sg4dMnYu5j
— Warchant.com (@Warchant) July 22, 2024
“We’re definitely going to make a run, and we’re definitely gonna be in that 12-team,” Farmer said. “That’s a no-brainer. We’re pissed off. The older guys…we know what we deserve. And we’re gonna try to get there.”
Defense was a big reason for Florida State’s success, and their production in the pass rush game was top-notch. They were among the top five in the country in sacks with 46. Farmer accounted for a staggering five sacks of the 46, which is an astonishing number for an interior defensive lineman.
Considering that Farmer was part of a unit that had first-round pick Jared Verse leading the way with nine sacks overall, the comments from Farmer and his previous production speak to the potential he has for a breakout season in 2024 as one of the leading returners for the Seminole defense.
Along with Farmer, an eligible Darrell Jackson Jr. should bolster the interior defense of the Noles.
Forced to sit out after being ruled ineligible due to NCAA transfer rules, the 6’5″ newcomer from Miami will look to continue his stellar play from a previous stint down south. Jackson played in FSU’s bowl game against Georgia, recording three tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss.
He registered 27 tackles in his single season with the Hurricanes, with 4.5 TFLs and three sacks. Jackson reunited with his high school teammate Farmer in Tallahassee, as both prepped at Gadsden County.
The duo will have help on the outside as well. The loss of Jared Verse and Braden Fiske to the NFL looms, but with the stellar Patrick Payton (number 73 on CFN’s Top 100 College Football Players list) returning after notching seven sacks in 2023, the potency of the defensive line at Florida State is high.
Joining Payton on the edge will be transfers Marvin Jones Jr. (Georgia) and Sione Lolohea (Oregon State) to provide plenty of depth up front. Both players were rated as four-star prospects as transfers in the 247 Sports rankings.
That’s a lot of talent returning and reloading for a group that dominated opposing teams’ pass protection. It’s a big reason why Coach Norvell and the Seminoles are the favorites to win the ACC in 2024.
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