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There have been many examples of growth on and off the field by a plethora of players since Mike Norvell arrived in Tallahassee. However, there might not be a person or player who has matured more than redshirt senior cornerback Jarrian Jones.

The Mississippi native has come a long way since he transferred to Florida State in 2020. This past season, he developed into one of the top defenders on the team while becoming a key voice in the locker room.

On Friday evening, the same day that Jones earned his degree at FSU, he announced his decision to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft. He also confirmed that he'll be playing one final game in garnet and gold. Jones will suit up for the Seminoles against Georgia in the Orange Bowl.

"Dear Nole Nation,

First and foremost I want to thank my family, your constant love and support has helped me become the man I am today. Without you, none of this would be possible."

"To my Seminole Brothers, thank you for being a part of my journey. We brought this program back to the standard. We went out with a zero in the loss column and ACC Title that no committee can take away from us."

"To my coaches, advisors, trainers, and staff, thank you for making me feel at home since day one. Each and every one of you had an important part in this team's success."

"To the fans, thank you for always pushing me to be able to be the best I can be. We had some growing pains early but ended it together on top. It's really FSU vs the world and there's no better fanvase to have behind you. I will always be a Seminole."

"I am officially declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft."

Jones graded out as Florida State's top overall player on defense, according to PFF. Despite a preseason injury, he played in 12 games, finishing with a career-high 25 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, three pass deflections, three interceptions, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one defensive touchdown. Jones was named an ACC honorable mention following the season.

During his four years with the Seminoles, Jones appeared in 44 games, with 28 starts. He totaled 84 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, five interceptions, 12 pass deflections, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and one defensive touchdown.

The 6-foot-0, 191-pound cornerback accepted an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl earlier this week. It remains to be seen if he's offered a chance to participate at the NFL Combine.

Florida State will take on Georgia in the Orange Bowl on Saturday, December 30 to conclude its 2023 campaign.

This article first appeared on FanNation NoleGameDay and was syndicated with permission.

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