FSU NFL Draft tracker: It should be a busy Day 2 for former Seminoles

After Jared Verse got things started for Florida State in the NFL Draft Thursday night, things should really start heating up for the Seminoles Friday.

Verse became FSU's 47th first-round draft pick when the defensive end was selected with the 19th overall pick by the Los Angeles Rams. A number of his teammates should join him in the second and third rounds, which are set to be held Friday night starting at 7 p.m. on ABC and ESPN2.

Entering Friday's second round, quite a few FSU alums are on ESPN's list of best available players. Wide receiver Keon Coleman is at No. 7 on that list and defensive tackle Braden Fiske is at No. 8. Additionally, running back Trey Benson is at No. 26, meaning all three of them could very well be second-round picks.

Wide receiver Johnny Wilson is also the No. 68 best available player while cornerback Renardo Green is at No. 74.

There will be 69 players selected Friday night, leaving plenty of opportunities for these players to hear their names called.

We'll be sharing updates here all night long as more FSU players come off the board, with capsules for each FSU player, their fit on the new team and what stands out about their skill-set.

Keon Coleman said he planned to have a special season at Florida State in 2023.

What he produced is one of the best receiving seasons in recent memory, and he’s the first Seminole to have 50 catches and 10 or more touchdowns since Kelvin Benjamin in 2013.

Coleman’s athleticism and acrobatics were on display from the start in August and he showed off his vertical and ability to make one-handed grabs in his one year in Tallahassee.

The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Coleman was selected with the first pick of the second round by the Buffalo Bills on Friday. He is the first FSU receiver drafted since Auden Tate in 2018.

2023 stats: 50 catches for 658 yards, 11 touchdowns and 25 punt returns for a 12-yard average.

Career stats: Combined with his two seasons at Michigan State, Coleman had 115 catches for 1,506 yards and 19 touchdowns in college.

Accolades: Coleman was a second-team All-American by Sports Illustrated and Fox Sports. He was a first-team All-ACC selection as a wide receiver and all-purpose player and return specialist.

What he did at Combine: Coleman ran a 4.61 in the 40, which is not good for an NFL receiver. But he stood out in the fast-paced, gauntlet drill and had a 38-inch vertical.

Why the pick makes sense: There’s been a healthy debate as to how Coleman makes the transition to the NFL and whether he is or isn’t a high-end No. 1 or No. 2 receiver. In Buffalo, though, he'll have every opportunity to prove he's capable of being a top wide receiver. The Bills have traded away a pair of wide receivers in Gabe Davis and Stefon Diggs already this offseason. They have minimal proven receiver production and Coleman could prove to be an immediate favorite target of Josh Allen.

What they’re saying: Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network found a good balance of praising Coleman’s strengths while outlining his lack of speed.

“A big, physical wideout with average play speed, Coleman has the versatility to play inside and outside. He is a smooth and fluid route runner with some nuance to his game. He understands how to use his body to keep defenders on his back and attack the ball in front of his frame. He doesn't have ideal vertical speed, but he can play above the rim and make contested catches. He also might have the best highlight reel in this draft class, with one-handed wow catches littered throughout his tape. After the catch, he is competitive to fight for extra yards and will occasionally hurdle defenders. He's an excellent athlete. Overall, Coleman lacks ideal speed to separate, but he makes a lot of big plays in crowded environments and should be a red-zone menace at the next level.”

“Coleman must develop more nuance in his route running, but his big-man twitch, physicality and ball-winning adjustment skills allow him to be a difference maker,” The Athletic’s Dane Brugler said. “With continued refinement, he has the talent to be an NFL starter.”

FSU draft history notes: Coleman is the first FSU receiver to be drafted since 2018 (Auden Tate, seventh round by Cincinnati). Yes, it’s been a while. He’s the highest drafted FSU receiver since Benjamin in 2014 (first round, 28th overall, by Carolina). He's the first Seminole drafted by the Bills since they took three FSU alums (Ronald Darby, Karlos Williams and Nick O'Leary in the 2015 draft.

Braden Fiske and Jared Verse really wrecked some havoc last fall in their lone season together on FSU's defensive line.

The Los Angeles Rams must have liked what they saw because they traded up to the 39th pick early in the second round to select Fiske after taking Verse 19th overall last night.

Fiske, a one-year transfer addition from Western Michigan, went from fringe NFL Draft prospect to borderline first-round pick in a year's time, seeing months of hard work as a Seminole pay off.

2023 stats: 43 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, five QB hurries

Career stats: 191 tackles, 36.5 TFL, 19.5 sacks in 58 games (43 starts) across six seasons at WMU and FSU

Accolades: Second-team All-ACC and third-team All-American (AP and Phil Steele) in 2023; second-team All-MAC in 2022

What he did at Combine: Led all DTs at NFL Scouting Combine in 40-yard dash (4.78), vertical leap (33.5”) and broad jump (9’9”)

Why the pick makes sense: No single player is going to replace the remarkable production of former Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who retired last month after 10 remarkable seasons. However, putting Fiske and Verse together after they combined for 15 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss last season with the Seminoles. The standard for Fiske can't be Donald, but the similarities are undeniable. Both are undersized interior linemen by traditional standards who can be very impactful as pass-rushers.

What they’re saying: NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah: Fiske is an explosive, versatile defensive lineman. He aligns up and down the defensive front and he’s very disruptive in every game I’ve studied. As a pass rusher, he has a quick first step and he jolts blockers with his powerful hands. He doesn’t have long arms, but he still keeps blockers away from his chest. He flashes the ability to bull rush, but most of his wins come by working through the edges of opponents and not through their chest. In the run game, he has the balance/strength to hold up against double teams and the quickness to shoot gaps for negative plays. I love his effort/tenacity. Overall, Fiske is a competitive, athletic and impactful defensive lineman capable of starting right away.”

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler: “Fiske doesn’t have a deep arsenal of counters if he doesn’t win early, but he already has a professional mindset, and his twitchy urgency and steady play strength will translate well to the pro game. He projects as a rotational three-technique with versatility to move around an aggressive front.”

FSU draft history notes: Fiske is the first FSU defensive tackle drafted since Demarcus Christmas was a sixth-round pick in 2019. He’s the highest-drafted FSU DT since Eddie Goldman went 39th overall in the 2015 draft. The Rams have now taken three FSU alums over the last five drafts including Cam Akers in the second round of the 2020 draft.

FSU kicked off the second round of the NFL Draft with Keon Coleman -- one of its prime transfer portal examples -- going 33rd overall to Buffalo.

The Seminoles ended the second round Friday night with cornerback Renardo Green -- one of their biggest examples of development -- going 64th overall to the San Francisco 49ers.

After bouncing back and forth between cornerback and safety early in his tenure, Green became quite a lockdown corner over his final few seasons as a Seminole.

2023 stats: 43 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sack, 13 pass breakups (most in ACC and 10th in FBS),1 interception, 1 QB hurry

Career stats: 98 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 0.5 sack, 22 PBUs, 1 interception in 52 games )32 starts) across five seasons at FSU

Accolades: Second-team All-ACC, honorable-mention All-American (Phil Steele), Thorpe Award Semifinalist in 2023; honorable-mention All-ACC in 2022

What he did at Combine: No. 6 among CBs in broad jump (10’10”), PFF’s best man coverage cornerback in the 2024 draft class

Why the pick makes sense: Considering Green is regarded as quite possibly the best press-man corner in this draft class, it makes sense he would go in this spot. even if it's a bit earlier than projected. The 49ers' two starting cornerbacks both have contracts that expire at the end of the upcoming season. That gives Green the ability to ease into a rotational role and likely take over as a starter in 2025 if he performs well.

What they’re saying: The Athletic’s Dane Brugler: “Green is a polarizing prospect among NFL teams, because he doesn’t have desired size, speed or ball-tracking skills and won’t be a fit for every scheme. But his play personality and ability to quickly find his balance mid-coverage helps him stay connected and will give him a chance to earn a meaningful role in an NFL secondary.”

FSU draft history notes: Green is the fourth FSU defensive back taken in the last four NFL Drafts, joining Jammie Robinson (fifth round) last year and Asante Samuel Jr. (second round) and Hamsah Nasirildeen (sixth round) in 2021. He’s the first FSU player drafted by the 49ers since Willam Floyd went 28th overall in 1994.

Coming off a disastrous knee injury suffered at Oregon, Florida State offered Trey Benson a chance at a reset to his college career.

Benson paid the Seminoles back in a major way by becoming a workhorse of a productive running back in his two seasons at FSU.

That work paid off for Benson Friday when the Greenville, Miss. native was taken with the No. 66 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft (second pick of the third round) by the Arizona Cardinals.

Benson was the second running back taken in this year’s NFL Draft behind Texas RB Jonathan Brooks. He's the first FSU running back drafted since Cam Akers went 52nd overall in the 2020 draft.

2023 stats: 906 rushing yards, 14 rushing touchdowns, 227 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown

Career stats: 1,917 yards, 24 rushing TDs, 371 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD, 192 kick return yards, 1 kick return TD

Accolades: Two-time second-team All-ACC in 2023; FSU Offensive Newcomer of the Year in 2022,

What he did at Combine: 4.39 40-yard dash was third-fastest among RBs at the combine

Why the pick makes sense: With Kyler Murray at QB and Marvin Harrison Jr. at WR, Arizona is certainly building an explosive offense in the desert. Benson fits that bill as one of the fastest running backs in the draft class. James Conner (1,040 yards, seven touchdowns) was the only Cardinals' running back with over 300 yards or more than three touchdowns last season. He's entering the final year of his current contract and will be 29 years old this season. As such, Benson should have an immediate rotational role and could be the Cardinals' No. 1 running back by this time next year.

What they’re saying: The Athletic’s Dane Brugler: “Benson’s vision and run instincts tend to be spotty, but he runs hard off tackle with the burst and balance to stay afloat through contact. Cut in the Melvin Gordon mold, he projects best as part of an NFL committee, in which he’d have any-down and big-play potential.”

FSU draft history notes: Benson is the third FSU running back taken in the first three picks of the draft in the last eight years after Akers in 2020 and Dalvin Cook in 2017. He’s the first player drafted by the Cardinals since Buster Davis was a second-round pick in 2007.

Jarrian Jones heard the criticism throughout his Florida State career. It’s part of the job as a cornerback.

Jones had more takeaways as a senior than he had in any season and his 87% coverage grade by Pro Football Focus placed him among the top 30 corners in the nation. FSU’s coaches saw it, naming him their most improved defensive player.

A 4.38 time in the 40 got the attention of NFL scouts and elevated his draft stock. The 6-foot, 190-pound Jones was selected late in the third round of the 2024 draft with the 96th overall round by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

2023 stats: He recorded 25 tackles, five tackles for loss, three interceptions (one for a touchdown) and a sack. He had a fumble recovery and interception against North Alabama, the first FSU player to do that in the same game since 2011.

Career stats: Including one season at Mississippi State in 2019, Jones has 96 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and a sack. He had five career interceptions.

Accolades: All-ACC honorable mention selection.

What he did at Combine: Jones was impressive, running a 4.38 in the 40 and adding a 39.5-inch vertical leap.

Why the pick makes sense: Jones steadily improved in man coverage and had his best season as a senior. He can play outside receivers or in the slot and has the speed to keep up. It also addresses one of the Jaguars' biggest needs entering this year's draft.

What they’re saying: “Jones has an impressive athletic profile, and his inside-outside experience is a plus, but he plays too reactionary and needs to better pick up on route clues to survive in NFL coverage,” The Athletic’s Dane Brugler said. “He projects as a potential reserve and special teamer.”

FSU draft history notes: With Jones going late in the third round after Renardo Green went in the late second, FSU has had multiple defensive backs taken in the first three rounds of the same draft for the first time since 2014. He's the first Seminole to be drafted by Jacksonville since Jalen Ramsey went fifth overall in 2016.