As day two of fall camp wrapped up, Florida State tight ends coach Chris Thomsen, Landen Thomas, and Desirrio Riles met with the media to discuss camp and take questions. It was a pretty light session, but I was able to extract a few interesting points as listed below.
TE Coach Chris Thomsen
Chris Thomsen discussed the development of the tight end room, the players’ versatility, and the team’s offensive philosophy heading into the season.
Room Composition & Versatility: Thomsen describes the group as athletic and hard-working with different body types who can fill multiple roles in the offense. He emphasizes that the players are versatile, capable of playing attached (hand in the dirt), in the slot, or in the backfield to suit different personnel groupings like 12 or 13.
Player Updates: Landen Thomas & Desirrio Riles were identified as the two older, more experienced blockers who possess the necessary physicality for high-level competition. Thomas has made significant strides in his health, diet, and conditioning, leading to sharper route running and better body control. He noted that Thomas has missed time in the past, which limited some of his development, and how maturity plays a big factor as they throw a lot at them. Thomsen stressed the importance of players taking care of their bodies, which younger guys don’t always take seriously (something Thomas later admitted to).
When asked about the recruitment of Desirrio Riles, Thomsen said their relationship went back to his high school days. He already knew about his physical traits as a guy who played both quarterback and defensive end, but saw his ability to run routes in space with top-end speed that not many tight ends have when he played at ECU. He also noted most of his evaluation came from games that ECU played against ACC teams, so he felt confident the step up in competition wouldn’t be an issue.
Chase Lofton got remarks for his physical development, growing into his frame and going from 215 at this time last year to 235 lbs. He did miss time last year due to injury, but has worked hard this offseason on improving his ability to compete as a blocker. He was also noted as a guy who has the versatility to work in the slot.
Offensive Attack: Perhaps the most interesting (and exciting) part of Thomsen’s time at the podium came during the final question as he discussed the new offensive system. He described it as a mix of elements from head coach Mike Norvell and co-offensive coordinator Tim Harris Jr., who brings concepts from his time with Gus Malzahn. The system is designed to create big-play opportunities, particularly for tight ends running seam routes.
Thomsen noted how productive his unit was in 2023, stating he believed they were top 5 in the country in production from a tight end group that year. He’s not wrong; they put up 895 combined yards and 4 touchdowns that season. It would certainly be nice to see that type of production this year after putting up 726 total yards as a unit the past two seasons. My favorite part of the comment was when he said, I told the guys if you can’t play in this system, you can… and stopped himself. It sounds like Thomsen is expecting a good year from his group.
Landen Thomas
Both players were only at the podium for about 3 to 4 minutes, so there was not much to grab from them, but here is what they spoke on.
Landen Thomas mostly discussed his personal growth and development heading into the upcoming fall camp.
Improved Habits and Health: Thomas emphasized that he is entering this camp in his healthiest state yet. He attributes this to taking his nutrition, recovery, and sleep habits much more seriously than in his first two years.
Offensive Opportunities: Thomas notes that the current offensive scheme shares similarities with the system he played in during his freshman year when Norvell was calling plays. He feels this iteration is very effective for utilizing tight ends in the passing game and expressed excitement about getting more opportunities downfield.
Versatility and Blocking: When asked about his role as a blocker, Thomas explained the importance of consistency in practice, film study, and refining his technique. He emphasized that he and his teammates in the tight end room pride themselves on their versatility, noting they are capable of lining up in various roles.
Desirrio Riles
Desirrio Riles discussed his transition to the position, his skillset, and his performance against ACC competition.
Route Running & Skillset: Riles attributes his effectiveness as a receiver to his speed and size aiding in his ability to attack the leverage of safeties. He notes that his background as a quarterback and defensive end has helped him become a more versatile player, aiding his explosiveness and blocking technique.
Team Dynamics: Riles shared that the tight end group at FSU works on being well-rounded, focusing on catching the ball, making plays downfield, and contributing to the run game.
Practice & Competition: He discussed the intensity of practice, mentioning the challenge of going up against defensive backs like Ashlynd Barker and KJ Kirkland and saying “iron sharpens iron.”
Quarterback Connection: Riles praised quarterback Ashton Daniels for his leadership and ability to extend plays, which positively impacts his responsibilities on the field.
Again, there was not much to take from the player interviews, so I extracted what I could, but I thought Thomsen was a good interview and provided insights as to why we should hopefully get a more productive year from the tight end position. Thanks for reading and Go Noles!