Florida State has been known for producing elite defensive linemen over the last three or four decades. FSU great Odell Haggins has a long track record of developing players and sending them to the next level, so it’s safe to say he knows what he’s doing.
Haggins took an off-the-field role with the FSU program after over 30 years on the sidelines. There’s one player from Florida who took an offense that FSU didn’t want him out of high school. Virginia defensive tackle Jason Hammond said, “I was actually a guy who was told I was too small by Florida State, so for me, this is a little personal.”
“I was actually a guy who was told I was too small by Florida State, so for me, this is a little personal.”
— Greg Madia (@GregMadia) September 22, 2025
For #UVa DT and Florida native Jason Hammond, Friday night’s tilt with the Seminoles means a bit more. It’s a huge opportunity for the Hoos also: https://t.co/4pX5V1RaEB pic.twitter.com/Z7UYJyKnR3
Hammond is referencing the Friday night matchup against the Noles on national television. Hammond is in his junior year with the Cavaliers and hasn’t been the most productive player. Granted, stats aren’t a great indicator of how well a defensive tackle is playing. However, Hammond had three tackles in 2023, 11 in 2024, and has eight through four games this year.
Hammond listed at 6'1.5” and 260 pounds when he was in high school. He is listed at 6’2” and 295 pounds now.
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Hammond can take the game personally all he wants, but FSU has one of the best offensive attacks in college football. They can run it and throw it, and even Alabama’s defensive line had issues stopping the run and getting pressure on Thomas Castellanos.
It would be different if he were a guy who has been tearing it up at Virginia the past couple of years. However, that hasn’t been the case, and I’m sure we won’t hear his name called too many times in a positive light based on what I’ve seen. Odell Haggins is one of the best defensive line coaches in history, and if he didn’t want you, that’s good enough for me.