Jared Verse facts for kids

Jared Verse (born November 4, 2000) is an American professional football player. He plays as a linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the Albany Great Danes and Florida State Seminoles.

Jared was named the 2020 CAA Defensive Rookie of the Year while at Albany. He also earned the title of All-American twice during his time at Florida State. In 2024, the Rams picked him in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft. He was later recognized as the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Early Life and High School Football

Jared Verse was born on November 4, 2000, in Dayton, Ohio. He spent his childhood in Berwick, Pennsylvania. Later, he moved to Greenville, North Carolina.

He played football at Hope Middle School. After that, he went to Central Columbia High School. There, he played as a tight end for his high school football team.

College Football Journey

Jared started his college football career at Albany. In his first year, 2019, he was "redshirted." This means he practiced with the team but did not play in games. This allowed him to gain experience without using up a year of his playing eligibility.

Playing for the Albany Great Danes

During his redshirt freshman season in early 2021 (the 2020 season was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic), Jared played in four games. He made 22 tackles, which means he stopped the opposing team's players 22 times. He also had 10 tackles for loss and four sacks. A "sack" is when a defensive player tackles the opposing team's quarterback behind the line of scrimmage.

Because of his great performance, he was named second-team All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). He also won the conference's Defensive Rookie of the Year award. In 2021, Jared continued to shine. He was named first-team All-CAA. That season, he had 53 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks. He also forced one fumble, which means he knocked the ball loose from an opposing player.

Transferring to Florida State

In 2022, Jared decided to transfer to Florida State University. He joined the Seminoles team. In his first season with the Seminoles, he had 48 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and 9 sacks.

After the 2023 season, Jared decided to enter the 2024 NFL draft. This meant he was ready to become a professional football player.

Professional Football Career

Jared Verse was chosen by the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft. He was the 19th player picked overall. This is a big honor for a college player.

Rookie Season Highlights

Jared made his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Detroit Lions. In that game, he recorded his first career sack. This happened during a close 26–20 overtime loss.

He quickly showed his talent in the NFL. For September 2024, he was named the Defensive Rookie of the Month. During that month, he had 19 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, and 1 sack.

In the Wild Card Round of the playoffs, Jared scored his first NFL touchdown. He recovered a fumble and ran 57 yards for the score. This play helped the Rams win 27–9 against the Minnesota Vikings.

Jared's amazing first year earned him the title of 2024 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. He was also named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team, which recognizes the best new players in the league.

NFL Career Statistics

Jared Verse has quickly become a key player for the Los Angeles Rams. Here are some of his career statistics from the regular season and playoffs:

Regular Season Stats

In the 2024 NFL regular season, Jared played in 17 games and started 16 of them. He had 66 total tackles, with 36 solo tackles and 30 assisted tackles. He also recorded 4.5 sacks and defended 2 passes. He forced 2 fumbles and recovered 2 fumbles.

Playoff Stats

In the 2024 playoffs, Jared played in 2 games, starting both. He had 6 total tackles, including 5 solo tackles. He also had 2.0 sacks. He recovered 1 fumble and ran it back 57 yards for a touchdown.