‘One last ride’ … DT Braden Fiske excited to finish Florida State career in Orange Bowl

Florida State defensive lineman Braden Fiske transferred to Florida State from Western Michigan after the 2022 season, and he quickly became a fan favorite and leader in the Seminoles’ front-seven.

While Florida State has seen a number of players enter the transfer portal or opt-out of Saturday’s Orange Bowl to prepare for the NFL Draft, Fiske said he was determined to see it through.

“Just the opportunity,” he said, when asked about his decision. “It’s another game. And as far as we’ve made it this season with this team, I didn’t see it as something that was worth just making a rash decision to not be a part of. … I want to be a part of this team and be with the guys for one last ride.”

Fiske was recently named to the All-ACC third team after recording 43 total tackles, nine tackles for loss and six sacks.

Looking back on his short time at Florida State, the defensive lineman said he thinks it might be the most growth he has ever seen in himself.

“I think it’s been huge,” Fiske said. “Being in the same system that I was for five years at my last school and then having the same coaching there from scheme-wise, then technique wise … I think it’s been honestly the biggest growth of my career.

“And I think it’s going to set me up even better going to the next level because I had that transition period of getting into a new scheme, having to adapt and re-learn new terminology. … I think that’s been the most enjoyable part.”

Florida State defensive coordinator Adam Fuller raved about Fiske’s development this week as the Seminoles prepared for the Orange Bowl. As well as Fiske played at his former school, Fuller said the lineman has taken his game to another level with FSU.

“His production at Western Michigan was great. He was a tremendous player,” Fuller said. “They did a great job coaching him. But I think when he made this step, part of the step was he wanted to compete against the best. He wanted to improve his technique. … His hand placement, how he played with his hands, wasn’t where he needed to be in order for him to play against the top-level teams in the country. I think that’s why you’ve seen his production explode as the season went on.”

Fiske has credited Fuller, defensive tackles coach Odell Haggins and others with helping him become a better player this season. And he also had high praise for head coach Mike Norvell’s influence from a motivational standpoint.

He said it’s why the Seminoles will be fired up for Saturday’s game, even though many outsiders aren’t giving the short-handed team much of a chance.

“This team is always motivated, especially with the head man that we have,” Fiske said. “We are far and away a motivated team compared to others … you can’t be unmotivated with that man walking around. If you are in the program, you are around it every single day. I mean, it’s different. It’s truly different … just because of what he brings to the table every single day.”

Now, Fiske wants to take that same level of intensity to the field one more time when Florida State battles Georgia at Hard Rock Stadium.

“There’s a football game to play on Saturday, and you can’t look past that because that’s all we’ve got left,” he said. “That’s the task we were given, and we’re going to get after it.”

Talk about this story with other die-hard FSU football fans on the Tribal Council.

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