Both being drafted last week, Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson and Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Jared Verse have gone from Florida State teammates to NFC Division foes instantly.
Seminole Brotherhood
At the 2024 NFL Draft, Verse was selected by the Rams with the No. 16 overall pick in the first round. With the 66th pick in the third round, Benson went to the Cardinals.
Last season, Florida State would finish 13-1 overall and 8-0 in the ACC while also playing in the 2023 Capital One Orange Bowl. The Seminoles would just miss the cut for a College Football Playoff berth.
For the past two seasons, both Benson and Verse have been FSU teammates.
First at Oregon for two years (2020-21), Benson then transferred to Florida State. The 21-year-old racked up 1,895 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns from 310 carries in 26 games.
Verse originally began his college career at Albany for three seasons (2019-21) before he transferred as well. The Pennsylvania native played 26 games, totaling 70 tackles, 13 sacks and defended three passes.
Rivalry Already Alive of Cardinals vs. Rams
Even though they haven’t played a second in the NFL, both are already fired up over the heated rivalry.
On the Arizona Sports radio show “Burns and Gambo,” Benson was in the middle of being interviewed until host John Gambadoro asked a question about how Verse would defend him.
As a coincidence, Verse was in the same room together as Benson and joined the call, responding to the claim he made that he would not hold back when going up against Benson.
“I’m taking the paint off his helmet!” Verse said. “I’m taking the paint off this man’s helmet! I couldn’t hit him in practice! He gonna get this in game!”
Quickly responding, Benson stood his ground and boasted his confidence that he will get the better of Verse.
“He ain’t gonna hit me,” Benson said. “He’s gotta catch me first, that’s all I gotta say. He ain’t catching me.”
Verse then snapped with, “When the pads [are] on, we all move different!”
Continuing to stir the pot, Gambadoro asked Benson if he would run at Verse directly or find space to sprint past him.
Knowing where this conversation was going, Benson plans on targeting Verse and will show him no mercy.
“It depends, I can outrun him or hit him with a move,” Benson said. “I am taking him straight on, I am taking him head-on. You gonna see me carry him on my back!”
Laughing at his answer, Verse envisioned him inflicting major damage when they stand on opposite sides of each other in a game.
“When I hit this man, he gonna need a new a helmet, he gonna need new shoulder pads, a new ribcage, I am going to break him!” Verse said.
Though the 2024 NFL schedules have not been released, the Cardinals vs. Rams should intrigue any football fan from across the Valley after this friendly banter. The date of the release is sometime this month.
