FSU Football Players Answer LIVE Questions on Spring & More

OPENING on my phone make sure everything all right uh we are running the first ever battles end spring kickoff we got Ryan Fitzgerald the kicker here um to help us kick it off man how you doing good good uh folks if if there's any audio issues just let us know in the comments we've got uh our content guy Kev mon during that uh again first time with this setup here in the battles end offices in Tallahasse Florida we got a pretty pretty strong program for you guys tonight we got who's out there we got Richie Malik Benson dtin Hill Luke croman Hawks back there D who's behind you oh high ke's back there and then we got a a special alumni guest jaran Jones waiting to come on as well folks uh feel free to throw questions in the chat we have uh Super Chat so if you want to support FSU athletes please uh throw some of that on there and we will we will appreciate it quite a bit that computer's locked so Kev just yell questions at me but Ryan first I want to start um you you've been RYAN FITZGERALD with this program just as long as anybody in the room it's kind of you Mo Darius uh hope I'm not forgetting anybody but the last remnants of the class of 2019 and can you just talk about how different is the program Now versus the one you walked into uh complete 180 just the the chemistry of the team you know in the past six years has changed a lot the dynamic um you know the talent level just the Brotherhood and you know we look at a team that you came into Miss misses a bowl game now you guys are uh 13 and0 uh should have been national champions in a lot of a lot of people's opinions um how do youall keep yourself going where it's like okay we we've made this great climb now we've had the undefeated season but not get complacent to realize like hey it's just as hard to have that second 13 win season has to do it the first time yeah it's just the standard that coach noral preaches every day to us you know getting 1% better and uh being our best every day so and as y'all are y'all are getting ready for spring what uh what is the focus of the spring specifically obviously it's all getting better but you have 14 practices what are you trying to focus on for the next 14 practices while you get ready or to get yourself ready for a big 2024 in the fall yeah I think all of us you know it's just bringing our competition out of each other each and every day um you know for me personally just each and every day trying to find something to get better on you know try to repeat last season do better and uh help this team the best way I can is there anything you can kind of maybe tease for the uh the fans that are watching this live of something they might see from Ryan Fitzgerald they they didn't see last year is it more distance is it uh I you're damn near perfect last year so it's kind of hard for them to see much but what what's the most improved element of your game going to be4 really shooting from more distance you know that and just you know getting as many points on the board as possible did we see you hit a couple 60 yarders yesterday is that uh getting up there saw that getting up there yeah yeah okay have we got any Ryan specific questions in the chat uh going into your last season uh you end up tur one of the better Seasons last year as a kicker from uh since Roberto what was your after what was your lowest point and what Turned the Lights On for you uh in last season yeah um I'd say the lowest point was the kick I missed at wake just you know I was 10 for 10 at that point and want to keep that streak going but um you know I'd say just the high point was probably the kick in ACC Championship game just to seal the deal and so that was really special because that's something that we you know me Darius Maurice and JB you know all them boys we've all talked about wanting to win a conference title so doing that was really special and I think uh you know showing my age a bit here but I remember my my first semester in college at Florida State going with my mom to the championship game and at that point we kind of took playing for and even winning ACC championships for granted you know and I've shared this with you but you know we didn't do it for nine years and this year getting to sit there with my mom I'm sure a lot of people in our in our chat have similar stories uh and nine years later C us win another one was just so special for the fan base and uh it sounds like for y'all it was it was equally special but how how much does having that taste of it make y'all hungry to win another ACC title and more yeah we want it again and we want more yeah exactly like you you said you know um just the taste of success and you know trying to build to our standard each and every day with that and so yeah yeah looking forward to another year of doing that more awesome Kev got any more okay uh Ryan always been a big fan of a fellow soccer player um Thomas County resident how hard is it to tune out the noise during a big moment um you know I think it goes back to just my process you know something that I've done a thousand times leading up to it and just trusting that and knowing that you know if I go through the elements of my process that I'm going to put myself in the best position to be successful and folks we are live on this give me one second have one more for him while I bring this back up yeah uh what are you looking forward to most uh going to Ireland next year what uh what do you want to see and do there uh you know well first and foremost you know going there for business you know we want to win the game want to dominate and you know it'll be cool too to to just you know I've never been to Ireland I don't think hardly any of us ever had so it's going to be cool to go across the pond and see some cool things right I appreciate that coverage folks again this is the battles in live stream uh I'm Max and we're again doing this for the first time so I've got my questions over there the computer locked I apologize for that little uh Journey away from from there but Ryan thanks for handling that like a champ and yeah man we're really looking forward to it so thanks for coming by and we will uh we'll bring our next guest on RICHIE LEONARD IV cool Richie how you doing good you good man uh again folks I'm here with Richie Leonard offensive guard a recent transfer from Florida um for those of you that ask questions related to that I I'm not going to ask uh half of those in there you know who you are but uh feel free to put questions in the live chat again this is the battles in Spring kickoff we are the organization to directly support floor State athletes uh and mostly football players so if you guys want to become a member we would love to have you go to the battles in.com you can Super Chat here lots of ways to get involved and again directly support Florida State football players Richie you're a brand new Florida State football player but not new not new to uh to the Rivalry of Florida Florida State you're not new to to the game of football um um just talk about what kind of experience you're able to bring coming to Florida State but like I didn't ask that well at all folks again we're live talk about how the experiences you're able to lean on being in your first spring practice but also um what are kind of the newest things for you that you're having to adjust to at a new program yeah definitely um I mean I'm going on to my fifth year college so like you said I I've played a lot of college ball I seen a lot of things in college football and um really just trying to get used to the verbiage they use here you know at the end of the day we're still playing football playing offensive line so you know there are a lot of things that are similar but uh just just the different verbes that they use here so grabbing some questions um first one it looked like on a uh on the roster update yesterday you gained about 15 pounds can you uh talk about what the storm strength program being built by storms is like and um maybe how that's different from ones you've you've done in the past yeah definitely um when I got here when we sat down it was kind of the conversation that we had was uh you know we want to get you as big as possible while still being able to retain your athleticism and um working with storms you know he's one of the best strength coaches in the country in my opinion so so he's been able to help out a lot with that this spring so you're what 3:30 now yeah is that right man I don't think we've had a big Maller guard like that in a minute uh so for the folks watching just talk about uh how quickly you're able to mesh with the offensive line I saw a practice yesterday you're already acquainted with the fist bump after every rep you know the way you all kind of reset um but how's it been getting used that room getting brought in by them and and everything there oh it's been good and uh we got a lot of of veterans in that room that have been here for a while you know guys like uh Darius and uh and Maurice you know those type guys that have been in the program this whole time you know they uh they're good with helping catch the new guys up to speed on on how we do things around here awesome man and uh it's a great question so other than the people uh and you know everyone talks about how great playing for norell and Atkins and all that is but what made you want to come play for FSU as a program I mean was it were you FSU fan growing up was it just it's a they won 13 games last year and you you want to be a part of that or something something else entirely yeah uh my my decision-making process was uh I try to take the emotions out of it uh you know coming from a rival school and and make the decision that was best for for me um you know on in a multitude of different ways not just on the field but off the field as well and uh I felt like with the with the type of player I am I fit well into the offensive system here and um you know it's just it was a good fit for me awesome man uh is there anything that sets Tour of Duty apart from other offseason conditioning programs yeah for sure it's uh just the the intensity and the attention to detail that they have doing it you know it's course no always says it's not just what you're doing but how you're doing it is just as important as what you're doing so definitely that do you enjoy waking up at 5:00 a.m. to go uh go do conditioning yet is that baked into you yeah no I don't think I enjoy the waking up part but I definitely feel better when it's done you know awesome man uh folks the yesterday was the first practice so this is probably one you'll be able to answer better later in Spring but who either in your opinion is or do you think will be the toughest D lineman to go against in that room uh it's still hard to hard to say after day one I just know that room is is loaded with a bunch of talented guys so it's going to be a fun SP awesome man well uh that's another one no uh cool man well that's pretty much all we got for you appreciate you stopping by again Richie Leonard transfer from UF uh oh I did ask you about the jacket um that FSU jacket it's not his but we're going to get him one uh fifth year senior man we're excited to see what you do on the field this year thanks for coming by apprciate JARRIAN JONES J we got a folks we have a special guest coming on we got a a fan favorite if you uh if you've watched really any FSU media you've seen this guy he's got an amazing personality and has really really proven himself to be one of the best cornerbacks headed into the draft this year we got jarn Jones what's up how we doing bro how you doing doing all right what's up do a handshake on on camera look good folks uh had to have jaran join us he's in town for pro day and uh you know I think we've got a whole crew of guys out here who are going through spring practice getting ready for 2024 but ultimately have their sight set on the NFL so just as a guy who just went through this process one season left and now you're finally playing the East West game you're going to the combine getting ready for the draft talk about your what it's been like in the past year I mean just the transformation you've gone through and how you look back on it uh this year has been crazy uh but it's been one of the years I remember like for the rest of my life uh we went through a lot uh to get to where we are now uh just been able to do it with the guys I always have done it with you know with been with those guys for four years now and you know being able to do what we did in that season with speci and doing it with Norville you know I think the world of Norville so just being able to just you know just soak it all in and have those experiences with them I feel like that was the biggest part and then speaking on the draft I mean I I would think the message would be just trusting the process for cuz you know at first dealing with Norv you know you kind of think some stuff that we doing is kind of like crazy or insane cuz I kind of like felt like it's military you feel me so but just trusting the process believing what what he's saying and I know he probably presented to you in a crazy way but just trusting the process for real the biggest thing how much did do in that that hard stuff last offseason you know going from playing playing in a bowl game and then what a week later you're back into toward Duty how much did that prepare you to go from this year you know season ends and then 10 days later you were in Dallas training for the combine um I think it kind of keep kind of keeps you in shape and keeps the main thing the main thing you know have from just playing a game to go on the train I think it kind of like didn't give me a time to like rest like you know what I'm saying just let the season die down it kind of just let him just took me on into my training process so my process went kind of smooth I just went right into it yeah now before we take uh some list questions again folks feel free to throw them in the chat uh and we'll we'll ask jdub whatever whatever y all may want to know but I'm curious who who do you think obviously we can't fully replace Duda and Jay dub Renardo green jarian Jones but uh who are the next couple guys you think are going to have really big years in that room that's kind of their time uh I definitely feeling like this is the year for AAR and then you know F you know he's coming back veteran leader and he's always you know he does what he do so you mean is I don't really think of it as like a having a replace I kind of feel like they kind of like reloaded in a sense so them boys like I definitely feel like they just going to feed off each other you know we got their real Brotherhood and DB room and both of them are special so I feel like it's time for them to take off this a good question I think you'll have a good perspective on this so obviously as the team gets more talented it's really competitive some guys are going to win starting jobs some guys are going to have you know a backup role or whatever it may be how does the locker room keep that comp competitive fire going keep the main thing the main thing but also always build each other up and you know not let that become division uh I would think just building that brotherhood like outside of football you know just being close with each other going out with each other just hanging out with each other just being with each other all the time uh I kind of think that was something we had on that not to speak on like a lot about it but that 2023 team uh we were real close you know we're real Brotherhood so I just feel like just having that Brotherhood outside of football just being able to call him your brother outside of y'all being at practice it's just going to make it easy at practice to learn from each other who is uh who who was it a better feeling to beat Miami or Florida got to beat both both of them in both stadiums now so yeah uh I don't really like neither one of them for real but it's always more fun playing Miami I never really thought Florida was good but Miami was way more fun though folks this is why like until your NFL team tells us we can't we're going to have on our program uh I love it tell me if you can't answer this question but someone wants to know what NFL team interests you the most feel like it's kind of a weird spot to put you in but let me ask this R up growing up I always want to be like I always want to play for the Cowboys growing up like I always want to play for the Cowboys like always that's always what my dream was but you know like as I started to understand like what the NFL is and how different teams are set up and all that stuff go I I wouldn't mind going anywhere for real what was that like uh at the East West game was in the cowboy practice facility so how cool is that for like 10y old Jan yeah that was hard yeah that was hard cuz I always want to see it I ain't never seen them before so just being in they practice facility like being everywhere that they you know saying everywhere that they be around like I always want to be a cowboy I always grew up on that em Smith type 22 Jersey like he get down so that that was hard for me last one for you man um we talked about a little bit but like talk about being at Spring practice yesterday what's it what's it feel like being being in Street clothed for the first time uh and what were kind of your thoughts as you're watching the guys go through drills and team and 7on and all that N I feel weird though cuz like I said that's what I've been doing like the past four years of my life being out there on the practice field with them boys so just seeing them boys and I'm not being able to go out there with them but it kind of felt it felt different but I kind of feel like you know we left the program in good hands you know them boys come do what they do I mean like it ain't No Lack of talent you know them boys reloaded like like I knew Norville would so them boys got it but just watching them boys it kind of felt funny though being out there is it crazy when you're not you know you're not in it when you're watching it from from the sidelines or whatever just how smooth practice runs now maybe compared to when you first got here and Norville had to just teach guys where to go during different per I think the standard is set and boy realiz Norville ain't playing you know like when he first got there you know he first got there you know won't know you he w't you know what I'm saying a really so I wouldn't say nobody was like listening but like it was more like hey bro come on man you chipping you know so it kind of like one of the but now they know he Ain playing so now it's kind of like the stand like everybody know how we should practice and what it look like I love it man well hey uh from me and everyone that's watching every member of the battles in that's supported jaran last year and the team as a whole uh good luck in the draft man we're excited to see where you go and see what you do at the next level and you always make every sh proud man thanks for coming by appreciate it just you be one of these you can slide out and I guess Malik you're uh and then we'll Destin kind of all right up man how you doing good how about you hey Max good to meet you in person sorry we met over the phone folks MALIK BENSON again thanks for tuning in to the battles end Spring football kickoff I'm Max and sitting down with me now can hit that is uh Malik Benson he's one of our transfer wide receivers uh Malik just let's open up kind of give people your background your journey that found you at Florida State this off season uh you know so before I you know transferred from Alabama uh coming out of high school I went Jo and uh you know the like funniest part about it is uh just like when I was getting recruited in Juka I remember you know talking to coach Norville and you know he was always telling me like you may not want to come to Florida State now but you'll play for me one day and so you know all things come around and to see like I'm actually playing for him it was just like it was crazy that it it really happened that's funny so I's see uh yeah I guess it's the never ending cycle of recruitment now you know we have the transfer portal guys are able to find the the best opportunity for them uh if that's you know if that's what makes sense and um here you are did he say something to you once you officially committed to floor stage did he remember that moment or is that something he did we just we just laughed about it that's funny yes sir so talk about you know you get here you go through tour Duty for the first time obviously you come from a phenomenal program under coach sain at Alabama uh but what was tour Duty like for you going through it compared to uh other programs you've gone through it at Alabama and juo uh for me you know having to do like condition in the morning time was for me it was my biggest like what I had to get used to but you know it was just like the little things like you know just when I was at Alabama we did our condition we never really focused on the little things it was just more of conditioning but you know here like we're doing the conditioning we're watching film and you know the the Jersey thing I thought that was cool cuz you know you have the about accountability and just seeing like they're looking at every little thing can you can you walk people through that that uh I'm not fully familiar with it when you say the Jersey thing you mean the different colors the different color jersey so like every color jersey it it means something different so if you had like a game that means you know you were you were doing really good and you didn't want to have that orange I ain't going to lie if you had that orang sh everybody okay everybody kind of like told you like get your stuff together but you know just the accountability thing you know he preaches that and I can see you know just through the locker room his everyday life you know just with my teammates like we really uh hold each other accountable and is that I mean again obviously don't want to compare everything to to Old programs but you've been in a high performing program National Champion Contender year after year um does this locker room feel similar to that I mean did you get here and go yeah this is also high standard program like that accountability you talk about I'm going be real I like this locker room way better just cuz the relationships and you know when I came in you know everyone they they welcome me with with open open arms and it was just like really just cool to see like I'm coming I'm transferring in I don't really know anybody but you know my locker mates like you know they're like bro like let's go get something to eat like I don't know them you know I I'm not really trying to come out of my sh but you know they forced me to and I'm really thankful for that good man that's awesome all we have a few questions for you um soik people talk about your speed but what's something in your game in addition to your speed that you take pride in uh catching the football I feel like you know you can run the best route and you can get open but if you cannot catch cat the ball then you really did every like all that for no reason so I really just take pride in you know just doing the extra getting catches in and you know just I really take pride in no drops and that's you know receivers you can't have a drop if you're a receiver cuz you don't know how many times the ball is going to come to you so you really have to make every chance count so what uh what's the area you're most working on in the spring then so fast great hands never drop the ball but what's your main area of improvement that you're gonna try to look back on the spring and go yeah I'd knock that out uh line of scrimmage just uh when I get pressed I feel like that's probably one of my weaknesses right now so I would say that has it been a transition at all to this program where we ask our receivers to block I mean h and Des will be on here in a second but you know hems uh I think what did you hem you drove a guy into his own bench last year I think was the clip that went viral and you know there's always the saying was it no block no rock is was that something that was kind of new to you as a receiver how's that adjustment been no I mean I would just really take pride in seeing my other teammates eat so it's you know not like not one job is bigger than any other jobs you know for my teammates to do what they got to do I got to you know block for them especially like just running backs like and like you said like no block no rock for real for real awesome man uh oh same question the we got for Fitz what are you most looking forward to doing in Ireland when you're there with the team most looking forward to doing Ireland um really just like being out there like I've never been out of the country like that okay so it's going to be a very like cool experience and uh you know hopefully like Conor McGregor's out there watching the game you know we could just if he's watching this definitely want to tap in Connor I know you're a a big fan of the battles end and and you love the shows and everything we do so McGregor just please be at the game um you watch rugby at all no not at all so Ireland's got a great rugby team they just won the Six Nations tournament yeah it's excting stuff documentary on Netflix about it it's good yeah yeah check it out uh oh what's your favorite route to run the fade the fade yeah n I'll probably say my favorite route uh is a post you know just something deep I really just like to show my speed and just really go out there and go get it I don't understand that second question Kev folks yeah if yall have any questions please throw them in the chat um sorry I don't understand that one but I like the route one um any other ones ke are we all good cool AR thanks for stopping by man yes sir it's good to meet you nice to meet you thank you whoever's next folks uh that was Malik Benson transfer wide receiver uh on your 2024 Florida State seminal DESTYN HILL thank you for tuning in to the battles end Spring football kickoff I'm Max and now I've got wide receiver Destin Hill with me right here and you're double logoed up you got the battle two oh okay you want to trying to make sure it works so folks if if you don't know uh Destin's been working on some music recently uh we won't preview it for you just yet but we got some content coming out around that really looking forward to to doing that with you um but yeah man it's your second spring here in Tallahasse uh last year you know folks were really just blown away by what they saw in the offseason then you backed it up during the season but what are you most looking forward to heading into this set of spring practices uh I'm really looking forward to just getting better you know uh my game is not complete yet I'm still growing and maturing in my game so uh really just getting better really I'm that's all them that's my main focus getting better every day 1% if that's getting better you know what do you what area your game are you most dialed in on improving this spring uh you know I'm I'm a speed receiver so I'm just trying to you know use my my speed in and out of breaks and you know um the change of Direction part of it gotcha now so last year I think uh you know obviously again as as a freshman we we saw you step up pretty big during the pck game you know we had uh Keon and Johnny were both out it felt like you know there was a a bit of a Slowdown in momentum and you know you had that huge catch uh running across the middle of the field when we needed it how do how did experiences like that last year get you ready to kind of be one of the guys going into this year well um it's funny because uh hakee laughing at me in the back because that game I was actually hurt and if I wasn't I would have scored have scored that and that's what they used to seeing so you know that's why I they laughing at it right now Bute you agree cool folks we are live so we get some some fun live moments there but I agree it looks like you pulled up a little on that one uh but yeah man what's uh that was that was the that was the first game back from you know my ankle injury so you know and then they had grass so the cleats was kind of digging in the the dirt so you know mhm so we got we got a couple questions again folks uh drop some questions in the chat y'all can throw super Chats on there everything uh you know supports the battles in where we directly support Florida State players Destin who's the toughest DB to go against in one-on ones uh I don't I don't I don't want to be biased but IID say greedy and you know a lot of people I think would agree with me right well see yeah we'll ask him the same question I know I don't w't be biased with it though but I that's that's why I feel and uh can you talk about the we got a new quarterback in the room in dju we also got Luke uh and you know Brock is going into his second year but obviously Jordan was the primary quarterback last year so um what's that been like transitioning to working with three one newi is but two brand new quarterbacks as well uh it gave it a a sense of competition so you know um you going to get the best passes every time and both of them are excellent throwers so you know I love it I love it so so talk about as a receiver you know a guy like DJ comes in who again similar to Richie right he's got five years of football experience he knows a lot about the game has played a lot of the game but not in this system or for this team so um how do how does that you know what what things is he able to quickly pick up and you know even teach y'all and you know what things do y'all feel like you're still getting used to with someone that hasn't played in the system well um DJ has already been a part of two systems so I guess he he has a routine of how he get this um the plays and stuff so I mean he don't really mess up too often so it just I guess you know he locked in he know he not immature when it comes to learning so you know he got that that P down so the the athletic part is automatic so yeah and and how how important is that for you and a quarterback just to constantly work on the route timings and and all that do yall do extra work outside of practice or whatever you're allowed to do or how do y'all really build that that chemistry I mean uh DJ he gonna always text and tell me when he running routs when he throwing so I'm you know I'm gonna take that opportunity because uh the chemistry is is um the most important of course who's the fastest receiver on the team come on just give just give him the answer Ken give it to him in the back I interview right now the fastest rece the fastest player on a team is Destin Hill and numbers don't lie GPS numbers will tell us that yes sir okay who's the funniest player on the team you can't say yourself Keem when you got who you got he'll get his interview who you got ke he said he said uh it's some funny boys on the team he said he said Peter War Jr I I think he said Peter War J he he is hilarious though okay he he a jokester I give it to him he a jokester folks you want to see some of these guys being hilarious uh make sure yall follow the Instagram Tik Tok we've uh we see some funny stuff on there really enjoy that Dustin can you tell the people about your music uh it's it's a it's a motivational song uh it's like a you know a amp song that you going to listen to before the game featuring my dude Lawrence to aely I'm just you know the hold up is his verse and he always say uh he coming with it and you know that's that's what we waiting for guys so y'all go follow law to on Instagram and tell then DM and tell them come on we need that verse throw it in yeah cuz as soon as it's ready I mean we're ready to do the music video we got our content guy Kev as y all know um we're going to make that thing look awesome so as soon as that's ready we'll talk about that we'll see we'll see um I think for now you and LT though are locked in Keem we'll we'll let you know uh as we develop the track and everything but um Des talk to the fans for a second I mean what what should they be expecting to see out of this offense that's you know again has to replace so many players but has so much talent in it when they come to the Spring Showcase uh based on numbers again I don't seeing biased but based on numbers this is a faster team the last year team um and we going it's every week the numbers is getting faster and faster so uh if you need a witness you can ask anybody we we just a faster team awesome so we got to see how we going to you know put it to work that's exciting man well hey thanks for stopping by thank for uh letting the fans throw some questions at you we will let you get out here with your evening but really appreciate you coming by man and I will catch you next time folks again thank you for stopping into the live stream we got hem Williams coming up we got Luke croman hawk in the back and I'm sorry to HYKEEM WILLIAMS make you wait till the end Luke but folks make sure you throw any questions that you may have uh in the chat right there and Kevin will make sure they get to me Kevin just make sure you replace them in the same spot so I don't you know we don't have to worry about scrolling down you can delete questions we're not looking at anymore um Williams man thanks for joining us how you doing good to see you man excited to have you here yes excited to be here so just I was out of practice yesterday and I remember I I turned to Amanda and I said uh is there a different guy with that's named H Williams Because from a distance I didn't recognize you you look twice the size that you did last year um man just let's talk about that for a second so you go through your second built by storms program uh how much size have you put on this offseason what's that feel like so um I didn't put on like I didn't really put on SI so I came in like big but like I really just slimmed up and turned that into muscle that's really what happened so I just look more linear cuz we saw you at the uh at the squat Party video where again Dustin was in the background of literally every picture it was it was quite impressive where were you squatting in that four was it 425 four PL 435 435 pounds that's uh that's a Richie Leonard plus uh Kevin kind of but there's no one on the team weighs 100 pounds sorry bu uh that's that's awesome man so when you kind of when you build that muscle and you go from again sort of that High School body where you're naturally just a great athlete to a built by storms you know strong College athlete what what does that produce in your game like what differences does that or was does that give you the ability to do differently and better so um I mean obviously I'd love to block uh I'm a good blocker so um I'll just say it uh it helps me block better and it also helps me when like I'm running a route or you know what I'm saying trying to get away from a DB or get off the line on a DB I'm bigger and stronger so to where I can use my body and my hands more quickly and faster so last year you got to go against a guy who you know not being biased but a lot of folks on the internet who do draft analysis are calling one of the best press Corners in the draft right now Renardo green what was that moment like though you just got to college the first time he put hands on you at the line of scrimmage was that something you ever dealt with before nah never and uh I mean it only made me better you know what I'm saying man just being a part of a great team I mean everybody has no choice but to get better because everyone's good and everyone's making each other better around him absolutely man so we got a a couple questions um play last year in the big game like the dude game okay yeah can you just describe the feeling uh coming as a freshman you know working all offseason and then getting to have some big moments in big games like that third down catch in the Duke game um you know obviously you had that screen that you took to the house which was just incredible but in those big games right like Duke when we need need momentum got to get the first down what what was that feeling like to do that in do Campbell I mean it's a great feeling but like it's an amazing feeling but you don't feel it like right then and there though that's cuz like when you're on the field and you locked in like everything else is zoned out like you only focusing on what's going on on the field so like I caught the ball and it's just like all right what's next what's the next play I'm trying to get next play I'm not too like focused on that first down for real and you said uh you said you love to block I I referenced earlier the the viral clip of you just blocking a dude into his own bench um you know I think among fans Message Board folks we love all of you uh you know there's this concept of hey maybe a festar recruit is going to be bit of a primadana right not not want to roll up his sleeves and and do do the hardest stuff when he first gets here but that wasn't the case with you I mean again you like to block you took to the strength program um what made it so easy for you to go from again one of the best players in in the country really highly touted recruit to like okay now it's time I got to grind here though like no one cares what my rating was and I got to prove it how how'd you flip that switch because uh I mean it's totally different bogging going from high school to college so you got to have that mentality when you go to college like you're not the best player on the field anymore you're not the best player you know what I'm saying yeah so especially as a freshman you so you got to come in like okay I got to work to get to be the best player you know what I'm saying on the field in college so that was just my mentality like coming to college no I'm not the best person on the field anymore like everyone's good is good on good every day so in that van who's the toughest DB to go against on on the current team I don't know why but I to to me it's AAR I do not know why he's probably the toughest DB probably because he has freakishly long arms he's real strong real fast yeah facts I don't know why it's a awesome yeah I know folks are really excited to see what he does and um what can what are people going to be able to see from your game whether it's the Spring Showcase or starting next season that maybe they didn't see a ton of last year what uh um I definitely got better rout wining and uh just moving quicker in and out my breaks quicker and just like being more physical like you're just going to see everything be more efficient yeah um I don't I hope I'm not giving away State Secrets here but yesterday I saw you block a single man sled lift it above your head and throw it completely sideways uh so folks he's not kidding he says uh probably going to be a little more physical see it in the blocking game um which DB talks the most trash which DB talks the most trash the quietest all right you know what this go the quietest is f so let's get him out the way okay he's the quietest DB when it comes to talking the most it h it honestly just depends on the day for real because you got Edwin and then you got quandarius and then like you got at safety you got shahim he's talking every day all you know what it's shahim I just thought about it he's talking every day all day good day bad day any any day Co nor be having the worst day ever and he'll still and he will still be talking junk no matter what I think it might be on our Instagram I I I vividly remember a video of shahim saying you know I don't really talk that much I like to just lock in and focus on the game so uh all right maybe in the game inter yeah oh my God he talks the most like so after after practice you know everyone goes to their position group and huddle up he's the only D that tries to run through our huddle every after every practice after talks from the beginning to the end so I you know I don't know if there's a if maybe this a little different for you um having uh gotten to beat both in your first year but what was more special uh beating UF or beating Miami Miami okay it's like cuz you're from down there kind of yeah it's closer to home and then like um I feel like Miami is more of a rival honestly and then like yeah because it's closer to home and then like I know way more players that play for Miami than I do at UF so braging RS too you know that's fun yeah it's interesting I mean that obviously question comes up a lot but um I think with fans you know you can almost tell what era people started watching floor State as a fan by which team they hate more you know like I I started watching the late 90s so it's it's Miami right I had to watch that 2001 team just you know that was tough and yeah anyway uh oh who is the bet well I appreciate this question hopefully we know it's a High among everyone on the team but if you had to pick one who's the who's the hardest worker on the team like who's the one that's just pushing everybody uh even when you know something sucks um so last year I gotta go back last year because it's two different teams so I'm last year and this year last year was greedy to me and then like this year is still greedy but since Malik came in like he's been like you know what I'm saying always on goal always ready to work so it be either between greedy and uh and Malik talk about what that's been like for a second you know youall have what four four guys came in from Bama obviously a guy in your room Malik who we just got to we just got to talk with um what is that like having having a guy who's seen another incredibly high level program played for national championships you know and coming into this program like what what wisdom does he bring what does he bring to the room Malik's not bigheaded at all I mean Malik's always willing to work like he does no matter what he's just always working he's always working and learning new stuff awesome man do you up a dolphins fan and if not who's your team in the NFL I me honestly I didn't I don't have no favorite NL team sorry doin fans be the one you play for yeah it don't matter all right man uh I think that's all we got in questions that's that's all I've got we appreciate you coming by to our Spring football kickoff I will uh let you get out here man thanks a lot H Williams folks uh wide receiver Rising sophomore and again thanks for tuning in to our live spring football kickoff we LUKE KROMENHOEK got Luke croman Hawk five-star quarterback true freshman early in Roy coming up next uh folks again I'm with the battles end we allow you to directly support Florida State football players go to the battles in.com become a member today and fuel The Climb Luke how you doing man good how are you doing all right uh thanks for joining us appreciate it let me move this over to you a little closer um what's it well let me just start with this man you should still be in high school you're in a it's the second semester of your senior year but you're early enrolled here um what's the what's it been like I hate to ask that broad open of a question but just walk us through what it's been like since you got here yeah uh to be completely honest with you it's like drinking from a fire hose um you know it's a lot of stuff's getting thrown at you um and you know you kind of just have to take it um and uh each day it just keeps getting easier and easier um but you know in the locker room I'm surrounded by a lot of great dudes um who have kind of taken me under their wings and shown me the ways and you know it's a great coaching staff and they're always looking out for me checking in on me so uh you know super thankful to have them now in high school for again for those of you'all that don't know uh Luke was a five-star quarterback recruit but he's a true freshman went to um Benedictine Military Academy in Savannah now your first what two years you were behind I I'm blanking on your starter's nameen gner holding gner went to Clemson very talented quarterback and you actually played Safety so you know a you're not just a quarterback you're a great athlete but you're no stranger to go to having to maybe learn for a little bit but you found a way in those first two years to still have an impact on the team by going to safety how does that carry over to college now like even though you're the youngest guy in the room how do you still have an impact how do you find ways to to help the team out whether it's during practice or I guess you haven't played games yet but yeah see where I'm going uh definitely yeah I don't think coach Norville would let me play any safety um while my turn but um you know just just coming to practice every day and and being in the meeting room and and also out on the field just you know bringing my aame and and coming to compete every day um I think it'll push the other quarterbacks um you know just just bringing that competitive nature and going out there and competing with them and trying to push them to be their best um all while trying to do my best I think it'll bring uh a really good aspect to the quarterback room and and it will make everybody better what element of playing quarterback at least one spring practice and a tour of Duty I realize um but so far what element has been the most different from high school to college uh learning The Playbook um you know a lot of people say that the the speed is is a ton different and and it's hard to adjust but um you know I I played Georgia football at a high level so um the speed was it was pretty fast but you know learning that Playbook um especially coach norvell's he's got a very uh complicated Playbook um but I mean it it shows up and it works out there so um that's definitely been uh one of the one of the hardest things for me is just learning The Playbook and and memorizing it um you know and just trying to learn all that as well as you know bring it out to the field and and do it correctly um that's that's PARTA been the hardest part for me what was uh how did that translate to to yesterday as again your your first official Collegiate practice you know you've I'm sure been studying The Playbook since the minute you got here um how once you were doing it live though like did you know more than you thought you did was it maybe a little yeah no uh it was definitely uh you know I knew a little bit more than I thought I did um you know when you're in that Heat of the Moment it kind of just pops into the brain and you kind of you kind of get ready to go um but you know there were a couple times where I messed up on a couple things here and there but you know it's all part of being young and learning and uh you know the coaches uh they're working with me every day so uh you know just getting better day by day awesome man I got a few questions here again folks if you want to throw questions in the chat please do and and Kev will put them on our fun laptop off to the side I will read them Luke will Luke will answer uh have you gotten the chance to speak with Ward winky uh Andor jamus Winston andh what about any interactions you've had with them stood out to you um yeah I mean Charlie a ward uh you know I attended the uh the Orange Bowl um with the team uh and uh you know it was really really cool Charlie Ward uh I guess before um every game he text the quarterbacks um and you know it was it was really cool he added me into that group chat and uh I was able to read one of his texts and um he also texted me separately just checking in on me seeing how I was doing um which I thought was really really cool and then um I've also been around jamus um at one of the practices on one of my visits he was there um and I got to hear him speak to the team uh and you know we had a little side conversation too and he's an awesome dude a great dude and uh you know I was just super fortunate to uh to be able to you know speak and and get text from those dudes who have had a ton of success here that's awesome man yeah I think I think every every uh Die Hard fan Smiles a little bit at those moments you know again we all know Charlie Ward's a great individual but hearing that that he takes time to text the early enrol Lee who's at the orange bow practice is is really really cool um as a freshman quarterback how do you approach practice with an all new system and all new players yeah um you know I approach it with the same mindset that I approach everything um you know I'm going to compete I'm going to work uh I'm trying to come out and you know put my best best foot forward and uh kind of just go out there every day and compete um you know I know as a freshman there's going to be times where I'm going to make mistakes cuz I'm still young um but you know it's just being able to make those mistakes and and not let it ruin the rest of my practice and kind of just overcome the adversity and uh you know just just was it and go to the next play and just you know get better so yeah I mean I imagine you got to kind of have that balance right of like being able to reflect on mistakes but not be not dwell on mistakes right and is that something that comes pretty naturally to you or is that a skill you've had to develop throughout your career um I think I've I've had to developed that throughout my career um you know nobody likes getting yelled at nobody likes taking criticism uh you know who would right but um you know as a quarterback um you know that that stuff's going to happen you know that you know things are going to go wrong you're going to mess up a couple times and you know you just have to be willing to you know take your tongue lashing and and kind of just save it for later and figure out what you did wrong and just improve on it and so that's that's kind of my mindset yeah man in the in the vein of Life advice that you never asked before I had a mentor that always said you know realize most of the time people are yelling at the action not the person right like just except that it's what you did but they're not yelling at you as a human and that was a good question so how much did participating in the orange bll practices help you out and let me back up how how many practices were you able to participate in what what was your involvement in those practices were you able to throw in everything were you just there as an observer what were you able to do so a little bit of both I was able to participate in all the practices but um I just came off of my season where in the last game I I had suffered an ankle injury um so I was still dealing with that so still was 100% out there but um you know they were able to throw me in there in a couple times and I was able to throw routes on air to some of those guys and you know kind of just get a feel um and watch how a college practice works and how it operates and just kind of see the speed of everything so um it was a great experience and uh you know it definitely helped me out yeah how how much that help kind of maybe let's talk about maybe your study uh when you're looking at the playbook for the last two months was it really helpful to at least have some concept of okay I know who's going to be this receiver on this play and I seen him run in person before yeah it helped a little bit but um you know it's it's still a lot to take in and you know they kind of throw it all at you at once um but you know I've just been scheduling meetings with some of the coaches um getting in some extra quarterback in time and uh just learning The Playbook as much as I can since you were a safety could you cover hem um I'll say yes just because feel I can cover anybody I'm an athlete I'm a football player so uh you know I'm never going to not say I can't do anything but uh you know it' definitely be a pretty big challenge he's a he's a pretty big wide receiver so I think he might rough me up a couple times but I definitely wouldn't be afraid to do it hey he played a l lot in high school man so if you're playing safety that's uh you got to come down and get to him I probably probably stay pretty deep not let him run by me I'm in a deep Zone just what uh what are your goals for 2024 maybe broadly but also it's one or two specific things of your game you really want to tune up this year yeah um you know kind of in a broad sense I I want to make it hard um for the coaches to uh um to figure out that depth chart and uh you know kind of put people in their spots you know I know I'm a freshman um but you know I'm just coming out here to work every day and uh my goal is to kind of make it challenging for the coaches to decide you know who's first string who's second string who's third string um so that's kind of one of my main goals but you know just coming to practice every day working getting better um getting time in the classroom with the coaches and just being able to learn the Playbook and you know just becoming an overall better player and I know I kind of asked jarian this but just you know for folks that have been joining I want to hear your perspective I mean what is that Dynamic like because I I you I saw a practice like you DJ Brock um blanket un Jones's uh first name everyone involved I mean y'all are constantly talking to each other you know you throw one and Brock's saying something to you how do y'all sit there and know okay I'm trying to take your job from you I'm trying to make the depth chart hard for the coaches to make uh but still helping each other right you're almost helping each other get better every single rep how does that balance get created so effectively yeah definitely and I mean I'm sure a lot of people are kind of like it's got to be a little weird in there you're trying to take this position from this guy but um no like I mean we're a titn quarterback room uh coach toe karts preaches that um and you know we got a lot of older guys in there and a lot of young guys and um you know coach toe carts just wants us to help each other every time and you know I I'm I'm Locker mates next to DJ and you know we talk a lot and um you know they they compliment me after anytime I do something great and um you know they also they kind of help me out um if I mess up so you know everybody's kind of rooting for each other um but at the same time we're coming out there to compete against each other and you know everybody wants to go be that number one quarterback so um but you know it's a good quarterback room and uh we all you know we're a tight-knit family in there and so we're we're definitely rooting for each other that's awesome man so uh what was the moment when it sorry folks we are answering questions throw them in the chat some of your questions not that they're bad I just I have a slow simple brain uh and Luke is not slow and simple so I'm trying to translate them from me so I asked them clearly uh what was the moment when it clicked from playing safety to quarterback like I guess how how long did it take once you made well you played quarterback walk us through that how much quarterback had you played then you played Safety and when did it really click as a full-time quarterback so like my freshman year it was strictly like you're the bottom dude I was running down you know fortunate to get on one of the things that about me is like I hate riding the bench like that's can't do it um so any any way I can to to get out on that field and play is what I'm going to do um and so freshman year I was fortunate to uh to make the kickoff team so I was running down kicks tackling people and then going into my sophomore year on there were a couple injuries at the safety position um and we were also having some trouble at the uh the wide receiver position um with catching um so you know they they put me out there they saw that I was a a decent athlete um and they threw me out there and it kind of just stuck so um my sophomore year I started uh safety and wide receiver um while taking the the number two at quarterback behind Holden um and then going into my junior year you know I just I was working every I would go every Sunday down to Jacksonville and work with Denny Thompson um down at six points Jacksonville um so me and my dad would make that trip every Sunday and just you know kind of stay on top of the quarterback game and then going into my junior year that summer um every day we were out there working with working with my receivers getting the timing down um you know I was meeting with uh coach to Phillips who was my quarterback coach just kind of learning the plays and and learn the process um and and really to be honest with you it kind of just clicked from the beginning um you know we came out hot we had a great year and uh was fortunate to uh end up winning a state championship in my first year starting quarterback how many did you win in high school two so I won one my sophore year and uh and won my junior year the other two we fell short in the final four both times so that was a maybe smooth maybe not way of double checking it when we say you played Safety and and folks I want you to Envision your high school right like you were a soft high school starting at safety on a state championship football team in I'm a little biased towards Georgia's well living in Atlanta uh but one of the top four or five most competitive football states in the country so it wasn't like you just played a little safety until I mean you were you're a heck of an athlete even on that team which which is really really impressive um has anything has anything made you feel maybe a little overwhelm since getting on campus uh maybe some football related but anything maybe off the field as well just adjusting to college yeah uh you know football-wise definitely that Playbook um you know it's a lot of stuff thrown at you and it's a lot of stuff to kind of retain um so you know I'm definitely continuing to work at that but uh off the field uh I'm a home person I'm a home body um so you know being away from Mom and Dad kind of stinks yeah um not having those homecooked meals every night that stings a little bit but you know FaceTime is uh is a great invention so that's kind of helping out a little bit but I would definely say that that's the hardest part uh is being away from my family and uh as well as my friends you know it kind of stinks a little bit all your friends are back home they're still having their senior year wrapping up um so seeing them doing all their things and and I'm away that that kind of stinks sometimes too but you know in the end it's worth it um and I'm excited to where I'm at are there any like events like prom or anything that you're going to be able to go back for this this spring I know just recently went back uh for prom um we had a uh we had our school prom and then there was also the the all girl school prom um so I was able to go to go to both of those um which was pretty fun was good to just be back home with my boys and and go to prom and were your friend's jealous of the uh the hair because I know Benedict's a military school so you had to do the haircut on the top one on the side so uh they were they were definitely uh you know they were pretty upset that I got to have my flow going um but uh it was all good so let's uh let's fast forward when you're the starting quarterback at Florida State this has weird tenses in it uh what former null would you love to throw a touchdown to in a championship game former null yeah so what former yeah receiver tight end whatever would would you most want to throw a championship touchdown to um no I I feel like I'm going to go with uh with Mr frier um you know I plan on throwing a couple touchdowns to his son um going forward so you know to get two from the same family I feel like that'd be pretty cool so uh to throw two touch sounds to uh to Mr fr as well as Camden I feel like you know checking two boxes at once that'd be pretty cool awesome man um we will note for for those watching this matters for he he did say Mr frier not his wide receiver coach who also is a former null or Nicol ly who's also in that room so just you know yeah but I'm sure they would be a close second and and third as well definitely definitely who is your favorite professional athlete growing up um growing up I that's a rough one um like college NFL uh professional so just yeah NFL or were you were you a baseball guy I know you about Bas baseball guy I mean a little bit let's do NFL yeah who's your favorite NFL player growing up or anyone that jumped out to you I would say Christian mcaffrey um he's in the NFL now so I'll say him but uh watching him play at Stanford back back in the day uh you know I wanted to be like him he was he was a white dude uh that was that was shown out in in in football so um you know definitely an idol that I looked up to so I'd go with Christian mcaffrey awesome man um so obviously we are the battles in the nil Collective of Florida State football um I want to just kind of get your view on nil you know it's it's been around for three years it's it's really ingrained in every aspect of of college sports it gives fans the opportunity to directly support yall but you came in a different era right if I talked to Mo or Darius or Richie or or even Fitzgerald it wasn't even a thought when they were coming out of high school but how well prepared are y'all for this landscape I mean it's kind of all you know but um just talk a little bit about what it's like to be sort of the first generation that went through almost all of high school with niil being a thing yeah I mean it's definitely exciting um you know I know that any player who's getting some n is you know they're going to talk great about it they're going to love it um but to be completely honest with you I never really got into it um you know I was kind of my main focus was let me go perform on the field um and I'll let my parents handle the nil aspect of it um I kind of wanted to stay out of it I feel like you know it kind of puts you in a weird spot you know you don't want to be asking for money you don't want to be throwing around number it's a weird position to be put in so I kind of let the parents handle that while I kind of you know stuck to the main thing which was you know becoming a better football player and kind of focusing on the on the field stuff it's awesome man yeah no it's just it's just interesting again to hear that perspective and um you know it's crazy to think again it's been about 3 years although folks I don't know if anyone feels the same way it's a little crazy when say professional athlete growing up and you say Christian mcaffry I'm like I thought he just uh he was just as Stanford it feels like so anyway man we really appreciate uh appreciate you coming by last question when uh folks walk into that Spring Showcase what can they expect to see from Luke croman Hawk yeah you know uh hopefully they can expect to see uh someone who's out there balling um you know been putting a lot of work in and I'm going to continue to put a lot of work in and you know throughout these practices that we have and um hopefully you know I want to see it translate to the field and I want the fans to see that and uh I want them to kind of see that you know the future's bright and we got a lot of great young athletes coming up um and I'm just excited to get to work awesome man well we'll let you get out of here thanks for stopping by for this uh Spring football kickoff and uh yeah we appreciate you taking the questions man it's good to see you I'm going to do an outro so I'll stay seated but folks uh we appreciate CLOSING y'all stopping by giving us your questions there in the chat uh message boards all the all the different ways y'all got them to us for our first uh battles in live show this was the spring football kickoff we had a lot of great guests tonight and again if y'all want to directly support them through nil you can go to the battles in.com get involved and become a member of the best collective in the country and again the one that fuels the climb and directly supports Florida State athletes thanks a lot folks I'm Max smoody and this has been the spring football kickoff for the battle's end