Scouting Report: Jared Verse (EDGE) - Florida State
Sales Pitch: “Explosive power rusher with heavy hands and a relentless motor. Lacks the movement skills and bend of a Tier-1 pass rusher but has a high floor, well rounded playstyle, due to impressive strength and physicality in all phases of the game.”
Athletic Profile
Height: 6’ 3 7/8”
Weight: 254 lbs
Arm Length: 33 1/2'“
Hand Size: 9 7/8:
40 Yard Dash: 4.58
10 Yard Split: 1.60
Vertical: 35”
Broad Jump: 10’ 7”
Short Shuttle: 4.44
3-Cone: 7.31
Age: 23
Relative Athletic Score: 9.60 / 10.00
Statistics
Career: 151 Pressures - 31 Sacks - 87 Tackles - 89 Stops
2023: 62 Pressures - 11 Sacks - 25 Tackles - 24 Stops
Strengths
Explosive straight-line athlete w/ a muscular frame
Tough physical defender who doesn't shy away from contact
Good first step burst from a 3 point stance
Talented power rusher w/ access to long-arm, speed to power and bull rush moves
Shows motor and closing speed to finish his sacks
Play strength and anchor to set the edge in run fits
Physical tools to play in a 1 or 2 gap system
Powerful hands capable of easily shocking and shedding blockers
Displays good effort and angles in pursuit
Creates significant displacement as the lead player on stunts
Consistent pressure numbers across multiple years of starting
Weaknesses
Below average agility and change of direction skills
Late to get set and off the ball when in a 2 point stance
Lacks flexibility in his core to consistently turn the corner
Does not display a depth of counters or secondary moves as a pass rusher
Tendency to come too far upfield versus kick out blocks and pullers
Poor open field tackler
Movement deficiencies limit his ability to drop into coverage
Summary
Jared Verse was a lightly recruited prospect coming out of high school in Ohio. The former football and track and field star spent his first two years of college at Albany where he recorded 14.5 Sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss. After transferring to Florida State prior to the 2022 season, Verse went on to be a two time All-American and became one of the best EDGE rushers in the entire country. Verse is an explosive athlete with a thick muscular frame. He is a plus run defender that can play in either a one or two gap system. He has the first step quickness to win as a penetrator as well as the anchor ability and length to hold his set a strong edge. Verse has powerful hands that allow him to stun and control blockers at the point of attack. He diagnoses ball carries paths well in the run game and is able to quickly discard blockers and make tackles in the hole. Verse is at his best as a pass rusher when he uses power moves. His go-to’s are the bullrush, long arm and speed to power, all three of which highlight his natural strength and powerful lower half. Verse’s speed rush plan is not as effective but his use of the swim move and cross chop are enough to keep blockers honest. He displays the motor and finishing burst to close and seal the deal at the top of his rushes. Verse lacks the bend or flexibility typically seen from top EDGE rushers. He has a stiff core and it limits his ability to turn the corner on top tackles. He also lacks depth to his pass rush plan and needs to develop more counters at the next level. Verse struggles to move laterally due to his lack of flexibility and agility, which reduces the amount of available moves to his pass rush arsenal. It also limits his ability to be dropped into coverage off the edge. Verse has a major problem with tackling in the open field. His lack of control and limited lateral agility restrict his tackling range and as a result his missed tackle rate (Career - 23.4%) is extremely high. Verse is a well rounded prospect with the physical tools and mental makeup to be a plus starter in the NFL. His limited flexibility and movement skills indicate more of an EDGE2 type but should still provide 7-9 sacks a season given his power and motor. Verse projects as a first round caliber EDGE with scheme and alignment versatility. His well rounded game should translate quickly to the next level as one of the highest floor players available at the top of the draft.