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Jefferson Graduate Rose Blooming Into Starter

By SCOTT CARTER The Tampa Tribune

Published: Aug 10, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - Once the introductions were over, expectations delivered and initial scouting reports filed, new Florida State offensive line coach Rick Trickett finally got a chance to watch his troops in action during spring practice.

A salty former Marine who has helped mold more than 20 NFL linemen during his 30-year coaching career, Trickett quickly assessed the quiet behemoth wearing No. 76 and a pair of scholarly looking spectacles.

Former Jefferson High standout Daron Rose played in only two games as a freshman last season, but when Trickett first set eyes on him, he pegged Rose as the FSU offensive lineman with the most potential.

"At Auburn, I had four first-round guys," Trickett said. "Rose has got as much ability as any kid I've coached in a long, long time."

At 6-foot-5 and more than 300 pounds last season, Rose spent most of freshman orientation watching left tackle Mario Henderson anchor the Seminoles' line well enough to convince Oakland to select him in the third round of April's NFL draft. Rose learned plenty standing on the sideline, but he has discovered much more since Trickett replaced Mark McHale on Coach Bobby Bowden's revamped coaching staff.

Trickett's first message to Rose and the rest of the linemen was simple: lose weight. Since the Emerald Bowl in December, Rose has dropped more than 20 pounds and for the first time since he started playing football, he truly befriended the weight room.

"I've never worked out like this," he said. "The intensity is cranked up a whole lot."

Rose, who turned 19 on Thursday, has also honed his technical skills by listening and working with Trickett, who while an assistant at Auburn from 1993-98, developed Wayne Gandy, Willie Anderson, Victor Riley and Kendall Simmons into first-round picks.

"You listen when he talks," Rose said. "It's much simpler with Coach Trickett. He wants to make it as easy for us as possible. His track record is pretty impressive."

Coming out of Jefferson, Rose ranked among the top offensive line recruits in the nation and was one of the most highly rated offensive linemen to come from Hillsborough County. He considered offers from several of the country's top programs, including Florida and South Carolina, but when decision time came, he became the highest-rated prep lineman to sign with FSU in six years.

"He has the tools that you're looking for," Bowden said. "If he'll commit himself and do what the coach says, there is no reason he can't be a top, top player."

But with Henderson emerging late in his junior season as a real force at left tackle, Rose was forced to wait his turn a year ago.

"I didn't really have any pressure on me as the backup," Rose said. "I just watched him and tried to take it all in. I have a lot better grasp of everything this year."

According to Trickett, Rose has learned the new offense and blocking schemes as well as any linemen. How that translates when Rose likely lines up for his first collegiate start at Clemson in a few weeks is uncertain, but Trickett envisions Rose making an impact.

"He is a very intelligent young man and a good kid," Trickett said. "If he gets his strength up down the road, then he ought to be on an All-ACC team and maybe even more than that."

Trickett should know. He has the track record to prove it.

Reporter Scott Carter can be reached at 850-294-3088 or

scarter@tampatrib.com.