Four takeaways from Florida State's first football practice of preseason camp

Florida State football coach Mike Norvell didn’t want his team to ease into preseason camp.

In their first practice Wednesday, the Seminoles operated with a noticeably different sense of urgency. They rotated players and moved at a tempo that’s more typical for a team that has at least a few practices behind them.

Not a team that’s more than three months removed since its last organized practice.

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“That’s probably the most I’ve been able to pack into a first-day install since as long as I can remember,” Norvell said. “And it was intentional. The way these guys have come along, I thought they were ready for it. That was an encouraging thing to see, the volume, and then not see all of the busts.

“It didn’t look chaotic (compared to) a lot of years where we would have seen that.”

Some of FSU’s players needed to adjust to the high pace and Tallahassee heat. The newcomers and younger players, in particular, showed unsurprising signs of fatigue. But as Norvell enters his third season with the Seminoles, it’s clear he’s feeling more comfortable than ever about pushing the limits of his team.

Even in an unpadded setting that lacks full contact.

FSU held the practice exactly one month before its season opener against Duquesne at Doak Campbell Stadium. Whether the Seminoles will be able to continue to practice with such a fast tempo will be worth monitoring.

Below are three other takeaways from the first practice of the preseason.

Trey Benson fully activated

Running back Trey Benson eased into his first offseason in Tallahassee.

FSU had a cautious approach with the Oregon transfer to start the spring. Benson – who suffered a significant knee injury in December of 2020 – initially received a limited workload for precautionary reasons.

But to start preseason camp, Benson was fully activated. He’s even returning kickoffs now.

Benson inspired confidence toward the end of the spring with how much he progressed. If he continues to shine this preseason, Benson should separate himself from Treshaun Ward and Lawrance Toafili as the leader of FSU’s three-man running back committee.

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Benson looked more cut and muscled up than he did in the spring. His combination of power, speed and explosiveness could take the Seminole running game to another level. Benson just needs to stay healthy and show that he’s capable of handling the workload that comes with a featured role.

New offensive linemen pass the eye test

There typically aren’t many tangible conclusions to take from the first practice of the spring or preseason.

Those practices are more about eye tests and first impressions, and the newcomers on the offensive line certainly stood out.

The two offensive line transfers that arrived this summer – Jazston Turnetine (South Carolina) and D’Mitri Emmanuel (Charlotte) – looked the part physically. So did incoming freshmen Julian Armella, Jaylen Early, Qae'shon Sapp and Antavious Woody.

The 6-foot-7, 336-pound Turnetine is the largest offensive lineman on the roster. Robert Scott Jr. should be considered a lock to start at left tackle, so Turnetine will compete with Bless Harris and Darius Washington for the right tackle job.

At 6-2, 300 pounds, Emmanuel is one of FSU’s shorter offensive lineman. He makes up for his limited size, though, with an impressive upper-body physique. Emmanuel has the look of an offensive guard, not a tackle. Look for him to compete for the No. 1 right guard spot.

Armella, who stands at 6-6, 314 pounds, has maybe the most intriguing length among the Seminole offensive line unit. If he continues to transform his body, Armella could turn into a special player.

Winston Wright’s first appearance

We had a Winston Wright Jr. sighting.

The West Virginia transfer participated in his first practice at FSU on Wednesday. He came to Tallahassee at the beginning of the offseason. But Wright was involved in a car accident in March that left him with a severe leg injury that required surgery.

Though Wright participated in limited fashion, it’s significant that he practiced at all. Wright has dedicated so much time toward treatment and physical therapy that he’s now way ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation process. He seemed to be in high spirits at practice.

When Wright will be fully available again remains uncertain. Once he’s cleared, Wright has the potential to be the Seminoles' top receiver. As the No. 1 option for the Mountaineers last season, Wright tallied a team-high 688 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 63 receptions. He also earned second-team All-Big 12 honors.

Reach Carter Karels at ckarels@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @CarterKarels.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football: Four takeaways from first preseason practice for Seminoles