Florida State’s coaches continue to gauge player development within the new offensive and defensive schemes in preseason camp. And part of that evaluation ramped up with the Seminoles’ practices in Jacksonville on Thursday and Friday.

“Good, emotional, challenging day for our guys,” FSU coach Mike Norvell said.

The Seminoles held a practice outside on the campus of the University of North Florida on Friday. Norvell said part of the Seminoles’ work focused on short-yardage and red-zone situations.

FSU will hold another practice on Saturday with helmets, Norvell said, but likely that will be in just jerseys and shorts with no pads. It will be a lighter day for a few reasons, with the Seminoles resting up after two physical practices in Jacksonville as well as traveling back across Interstate 10 to Tallahassee.

The Seminoles will be back under the lights on Sunday evening as they hold a second scrimmage of preseason camp. Norvell and the coaches were only able to get about 10 plays inside Doak Campbell Stadium on Tuesday for the first scrimmage prior to rain and lightning forcing the team inside.

On Sunday night, the Seminoles will undoubtedly try again to practice inside Doak. There is a 70 percent chance of rain on Sunday, although the coaches could opt to practice earlier in the day to avoid heavy rain or lightning.

Defensive coordinator Tony White said prior to the trip to Jacksonville that he felt like it was an “identity week” for the Seminoles. If this week has been identity week, next week could be moving week. With scrimmage No. 2 approaching, the process of identifying 1s and 2s on the depth chart ramps up as the coaches get closer to the opener against Alabama on Aug. 30.

What does Norvell want to see on Sunday?

“I want a pretty good workload in Sunday's scrimmage, so we'll see how that plays,” Norvell said. “Continued growth. Speed in communication, execution, physicality, tackling in space, making people miss in space. I want to see continued emergence of playmakers.”

Kirkland critical of himself but appreciates White’s praise

Redshirt sophomore safety K.J. Kirkland was among the players that White praised for how he has performed in camp. Kirkland, though, has set his standards high and sees plenty of room for improvement for himself as he continues to learn the 3-3-5 scheme.

“I feel like I have a pretty good grasp on the scheme but I have a lot more room to go,” said Kirkland, a Jacksonville native. “He may say I'm doing really well but I'm my biggest critic. I think I have a lot more room to go. Just taking those steps every day, just being myself, taking to coaching, taking all the constructive criticism and just adding it to my game allows me to go play ball.”

Petitbon earns preseason recognition

Florida State senior Luke Petitbon was named to the Rimington Award watch list. The award is presented to the nation’s top center.

Petitbon played in 38 games at Wake Forest, starting the last two seasons. The 6-foot-2, 290-pound Petitbon allowed just one sack in 2024, tied for the fewest among the ACC’s centers.

The Rimington Award watch list can be viewed here.

Tight ends named to preseason watch list

Tight ends Randy Pittman and Landen Thomas were named to the John Mackey Award preseason watch list.

Pittman had 32 catches for 416 yards and two touchdowns in 2024, when he started 10 of UCF’s 12 games. Both touchdowns came in UCF’s 56-12 win over Arizona, when he caught a career-high five passes for 80 yards, including a 48-yard touchdown.

Thomas appeared in all 12 games and started the final seven for Florida State as a true freshman in 2024. He caught 14 passes for 173 yards and one touchdown, and added a two-point conversion.

They join a small group of Seminoles on preseason watch lists, including QB Tommy Castellanos (Maxwell Award), OL Richie Leonard IV (Wuerffel Trophy), RB Gavin Sawchuk (Doak Walker Award), snapper Mason Arnold (Mannelly Award).

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