ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE FOOTBALL KICKOFF

July 22, 2024

Darius Washington

Florida State Seminoles

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll take questions for Darius.

Q. Coach Norvell has said this year that this offensive line has the potential to be the best he's had at Florida State. Talk about what you've seen from that group. How does it help you elevate your game being able to go against such a dominant defensive line that Florida State has had?

DARIUS WASHINGTON: I'll say with everybody in this season, the people we brought back from last season, the experience we have, the camaraderie we have as an O-line group, which is very huge for that room in general.

Just the people we have, just the experience, all that stuff.

Then going against Pat and Josh, the D-line every day, we go at each other's next. We try to make each other better every day on and off the field.

Q. It was about five years ago, can you go back to when Coach Norvell took the job, the first meeting you had with him, how much of that has come to fruition?

DARIUS WASHINGTON: The first meeting he told us that we going to work. It's been like that ever since. We've just been working every day non-stop, off-season, in-season. We get after it every day and just work.

Q. You were protecting Jordan Travis last year. Can you talk about that relationship with D.J. that you've been able to formulate so far?

DARIUS WASHINGTON: D.J. has been a very unselfish person, just trying to get to know all the teammates, be around us, get to know this team, buy into this program. He's on his last year and that. He can still make an impact to everybody on the team just by the way he is, how he come in every day and work with us.

Q. The last few years that coaches have lauded you as a Swiss Army knife. Are you going to stay at one position in 2024 or are you going to bounce around?

DARIUS WASHINGTON: Really doesn't matter to me. As long as I'm helping the team, that's all that matters to me.

Q. I noted that you grew up in Florida. Did you also grow up a Seminole fan?

DARIUS WASHINGTON: I won't answer that one. I won't answer that one (laughter). I can't answer that one. Whew... I grew up a football fan. I love playing football, watching the game of football. I just love all football (laughter).

Q. You seem to be the old man of the team right now. What is it that you're teaching the younger folks? What do you think your responsibility is being the older guy on the team?

DARIUS WASHINGTON: Really as my responsibility, just lead by example, show the young guys how to work, how we supposed to work, how we supposed to come in every day to just attack each and every task that these coaches ask us to do.

Keep an unselfish mindset, knowing each and every day we're here for a purpose.

Q. You have an embarrassment of riches in the running back room. How excited are you to block for some of those guys?

DARIUS WASHINGTON: I feel like we have one of the best running back rooms in the country. I just feel like going into the season, blocking for them, they're going to create opportunities for us to just win games. That's what I'm very appreciative of, just being able to block for those guys. That's going to create big-time moments for us.

Q. What are you looking forwarded to with Ireland next month?

DARIUS WASHINGTON: The scenery really, just going out and seeing the different area like I've never been. I've never been outside of the country. Having that experience, being with my brothers, having an opportunity to go out and play a game, enjoy being somewhere else.