Chris Thomsen recalled first seeing Desirrio Riles at one of Florida State’s camps back when the Jacksonville native was in high school.
Riles then was a quarterback and defensive end, an unusual combination.
“We couldn’t really decide where he fit and what we were trying to do,” Thomsen said. “But as he goes on and he goes to East Carolina. Watching him last year, what I really watched were the games that he was playing against ACC competition. Those are the ones that I evaluated the closest … he did really well in those games. He was physical against the teams he was playing. He blocked well. He has the ability to run some routes out in space that some tight ends don’t have. He has some really good top-end speed that will get him down the seems, get him on the crosses. He had some really nice crossing-route catches at East Carolina.
“All of those things that coach Norvell likes to do in the system, I saw and believe that he can do well. Everything that I’ve seen has reaffirmed that.”
Riles was a dual-threat quarterback at University Christian before focusing on tight end as a senior, catching 17 passes for 280 yards and four touchdowns. When asked about the move away from quarterback and defensive line, Riles said he likes the versatility of his role at tight end.
“You have blocking, receiving and you have the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield like a running back,” Riles said.
He picked East Carolina, where Riles had just 17 catches in his first two seasons before enjoying a breakout 2025 with 28 catches for 362 yards and two touchdowns. What stood out about Riles was how well he played against NC State in last year’s opener. He had six catches for 49 yards, including an 18-yarder in a 24-17 loss to the Wolfpack.
“I remember making plays across the middle a lot, being able to take a hit and my run blocking,” Riles said of his experience against NC State, which he played in each of his three years at ECU.
With Thomas, the biggest question is reliability. He’s missed a chunk of his first two preseason camps, although Thomas has played in 12 games in each of his two seasons. Thomas said he made a renewed commitment to nutrition and has been sticking to a consistent sleep schedule.
“I just wanted to eliminate all of that so I could feel better,” Thomas said.
After catching 14 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown as a freshman, Thomas had just three receptions for 35 yards (although he had a pair of touchdowns, vs. Kent State and Pittsburgh). Thomas said he liked playing in Gus Malzahn’s system a year ago, but is looking forward to Norvell’s system.
“I feel like this year’s offense is similar to coach Norvell’s that we ran my freshman year,” Thomas said. “The tight ends are used more passing game-wise.”
Said Thomsen: “He’s got the work ethic and the approach, he just has to get better in all phases.”
Thomsen said he feels good about a “really, really athletic group.” He also mentioned Chase Loftin is up about 20 pounds to 235 as he begins year 2.
The tight ends have shown in practices that they can be good blockers. But a day before FSU practices in full pads, Thomsen said he felt like the veterans were the group’s best blockers.
“Right now I would probably say the two older guys, Landen and Desirio,” Thomsen said. “They both body-type-wise have got enough size and mass and length to do what you need to do. Both of them have the physicality that it takes. Both of them have done it against real competition.”
Coming up
FSU will hit the practice field Friday morning. There will be a short window for the media to observe as well as take photos and videos.
The Seminoles will be off on Saturday before returning to practice Sunday. FSU’s first scrimmage will be Tuesday night.
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