Florida State’s tight end room is built for a lot more than one job, and Chris Thomsen sounds ready to use every piece of it.
With Mike Norvell moving back into the role of primary playcaller, the Seminoles are expected to lean on tight ends in a way that looks a lot like the 2020-24 stretch, when Florida State used two tight ends together nearly 27 percent of the time. That ranked 26th nationally among Power Four programs over that span. For Thomsen, the appeal is obvious: this group can line up all over the formation and still hold up.
“Once you jump into 12, you always got to have some guys that can put their hand down and attach,” he explained. “The closer you get to the ball, the bodies get bigger, so now you're going against bigger people down there in defensive-end-type players. ”
“We've got guys that we feel like can do that really well. We've got guys that we feel like can go out and play the slot, also play in the backfield.
And in reality, most of the group can do all of that, has enough versatility to do all the things, whether it's attached, whether it's in the backfield, whether it's in the slot. Really, all of them have some element where they can cross over and do all those things, so that always helps you when you're trying to mix and match, especially when you're trying to play fast.”
That versatility starts with East Carolina transfer Desirrio Riles, whom the staff has praised repeatedly for his athleticism. First-year offensive coordinator Tim Harris Jr. said Monday that Riles’ route-running looks more like a receiver’s than a tight end’s, and Thomsen said Thursday that his ability in space is rare for the position. Riles can get down the seams, work the middle of the field and create problems on crossing routes.
“I'll say my speed,” Riles said after Thursday's practice of what made his route-running unique. “Being able to attack the safeties' leverage and just outrun them - my speed, and my ability and my big body.”
Thomsen said he saw that on film last season at East Carolina, especially against ACC opponents. Riles was held without a catch on two targets in a Military Bowl win over Pitt, but he also posted a then-career-high six receptions for 49 yards against NC State before finishing the regular season with seven catches, 87 yards and a touchdown against FAU.
At 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds, Riles is a little undersized for the position, but Thomsen said the physical edge he showed as a high school line-of-scrimmage player has carried over. That matters in Florida State’s plans, because Thomsen wants to move his tight ends around and use them both as a traditional Y tight end attached to the line and as a move piece in the slot, where Riles spent most of his time last season.
The coach said the room’s biggest strength is how the players complement one another. That gives Florida State the flexibility to rotate pieces without tipping its hand.
“I would probably say the two older guys, Landen and Desirrio,” Thomsen said of Thomas and Riles when asked who has stood out as a blocker so far. “They're both body-type-wise and have got enough size and mass and length to do what you need to do. Both of them have the physicality that it takes, and both of them have done it against real competition.”
Landen Thomas is a big part of why Thomsen feels so good about the room. The junior is in the best shape of his career, and Thomsen said the work has shown up in every part of his game. He’s stronger, quicker and in better condition than before.
“My first two years, I wasn't taking it that serious, to be honest,” Thomas admitted. “What I ate, what I do outside of football. But this year I feel like I had to take that more serious so I could be better as a player.”
Thomas already flashed as a true freshman in 2024, leading the tight end group in receptions and yards even as Florida State struggled to win games. He said Thursday that this year’s offense feels more like the one he played in under Norvell in 2024 than Gus Malzahn’s version last season, and he likes that the tight ends are used more in the passing game.
Redshirt freshman Chase Loftin is another name Thomsen is counting on. Loftin missed time with injuries last fall, but he’s expected to take on a larger role now that he has filled out his 6-foot-6 frame. He arrived at 215 pounds and is now up to 235, giving Florida State another tight end who can attach to the line while still bringing receiver-like traits in the slot.
“He looks different,” Thomsen said of Loftin. “His legs and his lower half, and he's gotten bigger in the upper-half area. He's got the frame that you want from a tight end who can do everything - attach, put his hand down, play in the backfield, go out in the slot, do it all.”
“He's worked really hard to get his body in a position to where he can go out and compete as a blocker around the football and do the things that he needs to do. Another guy who works extremely hard, extremely high attention to detail, really high-character player, and another guy we're really, really excited about.”
How all of that gets deployed before Florida State opens Week 0 against New Mexico State is still to be sorted out. The Seminoles have receiver talent behind preseason All-ACC selection Duce Robinson, plus a deep backfield they want to fold into 21-personnel looks. But Thomsen’s room is clearly central to the plan, with Florida State counting on tight ends who can impact both the run and the pass on every snap.
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