Last Saturday marked the final game for a plethora of players on Florida State's roster. The 2023 senior class will be remembered for their massive impact in turning around the Seminoles on and off the field in Tallahassee under head coach Mike Norvell. The job isn't finished but the progress has been evident over the last couple of years.
One player who has personified FSU's turnaround is redshirt senior cornerback Jarrian Jones. Through trials and tribulations, he's blossomed into an impact player for the Seminoles and is enjoying a productive final season in garnet and gold.
That continued in the home finale as Jones helped flip the momentum against North Alabama after Jordan Travis went down with an injury. He blitzed off the edge and sacked quarterback Noah Walters, forcing and recovering a fumble in the process that he returned near the goal line. Two plays later, Trey Benson punched in a touchdown as the Seminoles went on a 58-point run to conclude the game.
Jones finished the contest with three tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. Following the contest, Jones was honored with the chance to break the rock for the second consecutive week.
Keon Coleman earned the sledgehammer after scoring three touchdowns in his debut with the program against LSU. Trey Benson joined him the following week after recording a hat-trick of his own and broke another rock after rushing for 200 yards against Virginia Tech. DJ Lundy had the honor against Boston College following a performance that included an interception and a rushing touchdown. Linebacker Kalen DeLoach broke the rock after a game-changing forced fumble that he returned for a touchdown against Clemson.
Benson got another chance to swing the hammer with a 200+ yard performance in the win over Virginia Tech. Coleman joined him for another honor alongside Shyheim Brown and Adam Fuller after a total team performance in a blowout against Syracuse. Deuce Spann broke the rock after sparking FSU to a comeback win over Duke with a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown. Benson smashed his third rock of the season after recording an 80-yard receiving touchdown and going over 100 yards through the air in the win against Wake Forest.
Ja'Khi Douglas got the opportunity to swing the hammer after catching a career-high six passes for 115 yards against Pittsburgh. Three Seminoles - Kalen DeLoach, Jarrian Jones, and Alex Mastromanno - shared the sledgehammer after the team defeated rival Miami.
Check out the moment below.
More must-reads: