ALBANY, N.Y. – Former University at Albany defensive end Jared Verse has been drafted in the first round, number 19 overall, by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2024 NFL Draft. Verse officially becomes just the third Great Dane to ever have his name called at the NFL Draft.
 
Verse played for the Purple and Gold from 2019 to 2021. After redshirting the 2019 season, he became an immediate impact player in the spring of 2021. In UAlbany's four games, Verse led the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) in tackles for loss (10) and ranked second in the conference with 4.0 sacks. He was named the CAA Defensive Rookie of the Year and was an All-CAA Second Team selection. In addition, he was named a Stats Perform FCS Jerry Rice Award Finalist as one of the best freshmen in the country.
 
In the fall 2021 season, Verse duplicated his dominant performance on the defensive line. He ranked third in the CAA in sacks with 0.95 per game, tallying 10 solo and one assisted for a total of 10.5. He finished fourth on the team with 53 tackles (32 solo, 21 assisted) with 11.5 tackles for loss. He thrice recorded eight tackles in a game (NDSU, Delaware, Stony Brook) and thrice recorded two sacks in a game (Delaware, William & Mary, Morgan State). He totaled 13 quarterback hits, adding a pass breakup and a forced fumble. He was named an All-CAA First Team selection and was later named a HERO Sports FCS Freshman All-American.
 
"I couldn't be any prouder of Jared," said UAlbany Head Coach Greg Gattuso. "From us at UAlbany being his only Division I offer coming out of high school, to walking across that stage in Detroit, his football journey has been truly amazing to watch. His hard work and determination got him to this point. I'm happy he will get to live out his dream of playing in the NFL with the Rams."
 
Verse transferred to Florida State ahead of the 2022 season. In his first year with the Seminoles, he started nine games while recording 48 tackles, 17.0 tackles for loss, 9.0 sacks, three quarterback hurries, one fumble recovery, and one blocked field goal. His 0.75 sacks per game paced the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and ranked 17^th nationally. He was named a First-Team All-American by The Athletic, First-Team All-ACC selection, and was named Florida State's Defensive MVP.
 
This past season, Verse started 13 games for the Seminoles while recording 41 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 9.0 sacks, 11 quarterback hurries, three pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one blocked kick. He was named an AFCA First-Team All-American, and a Second-Team All-American by ESPN, the Associated Press, USA Today and The Athletic. He was also named a First-Team All-ACC selection for the second consecutive year, becoming FSU's first two-time First-Team All-ACC defensive end since Reinard Wilson nearly 30 years ago.
 
Verse joins former UAlbany standouts Kurt Campbell and Rashad Barksdale, both defensive backs, as the only players in program history to be drafted. Campbell was drafted in the seventh round, 245^th overall, in 2005 by the Green Bay Packers. Barksdale was drafted in the sixth round, 201^st overall, in 2007 by the Philadelphia Eagles.
 
In program history, 20 former Great Danes have gone on to sign NFL contracts. Pending a signed contract, Verse will become the 21^st Great Dane to ever do so.
 
Former Great Danes who have signed NFL contracts:
1997 Dan Gmelin (WR)
1997 Seth Thomas (TE)
1998 Matt Caliandro (DE)
2005 Kurt Campbell (LB)*
2005 Geir Gudmundsen (OL)
2007 Rashad Barksdale (CB)*
2007 Andre Coleman (DE)
2007 Jacob Hobbs (OL)
2013 Jon Morgan (LB)
2013 Drew Smith (RB)
2014 Paul Layton (P)
2014 Kadeem Williams (OL)
2015 Brian Parker (TE)
2016 Abner Logan (LB)
2017 Anthony Manzo-Lewis (TE)
2018 Vincent Testaverde (QB)
2019 Juwan Green (WR)
2019 Eli Mencer (DL/LB)
2019 Jarren Williams (DB)
2023 Thomas Greaney (TE)
 
*Selected in the NFL Draft
 
UAlbany is coming off the best season in program history. The Great Danes finished with an 11-4 overall record, going 7-1 in CAA action. Under Coach Gattuso and his staff, the team claimed its first ever conference title, sharing it with Villanova and Richmond. The Great Danes defeated Villanova midway through the season, 31-10 at home, and took down Richmond in the Second Round of the FCS Playoffs, 41-13 at home.
 
UAlbany was awarded the NCAA's #5 seed in the playoffs, the highest the team has ever been ranked, while also receiving a First Round bye. The team's Second Round win over Richmond cemented the furthest the Great Danes had ever reached in the postseason, having previously reached the Second Round in 2019. In the Quarterfinals, UAlbany flew across the country to #4 Idaho – taking down the Vandals, 30-22, in the Kibbie Dome to advance to the Semifinals before falling to South Dakota State, the top seed and eventual National Champions.

Season tickets for the 2024 campaign are on sale now. Fans wishing to secure their seats to see the defending CAA Champions can do so by clicking here.
 
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