Patrick Payton, Lawrance Toafili taking on larger roles on, off field for FSU football

Florida State defensive end Patrick Payton and running back Lawrance Toafili are no strangers to the spotlight.

Payton dominated on the defensive line last season and Toafili was a key piece in the Seminoles' first ACC Championship victory since 2014.

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However, both played positions last season that were headlined by stars Jared Verse and Trey Benson. With the pair declaring for the NFL Draft, it's Payton and Toafili's turns to step up as leaders.

FSU opened spring practice Tuesday.

"It feels very different," Payton said. "I have to start off every drill and show how it's done. I have to be the most vocal, which I know I have to work on. Last year we had a lot of vocal guys out here, and I know I have to take the role."

"I need to talk to them and become a leader."

Stepping up as RB1

As a redshirt senior, Toafili considers himself someone who understands FSU's offense.

Last season, he rushed 69 times for 463 and four touchdowns. He embraced a supplemental role behind Benson, who finished with a team-high 905 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns.

Toafili's impact performance came in the ACC Championship game, where he rushed for 118 yards on 10 attempts and a touchdown.

"With all the experience I've had with this program and just the experience in the offense I'm taking that role, stepping up and trying to show these guys the way," Toafili said.

"I want to show them the standard of how we operate."

He said that he wants to help teammates as best as he can, but the main focus is the running back room.

With Benson declaring for the draft and Rodney Hill and CJ Campbell transferring, Toafili is the unit's veteran.

Junior Caziah Holmes is expected to take a bigger role this season following his first year with the team.

While the departing trio accounted for 1,212 of FSU's 2,102 rushing yards, Toafili said the running back room still holds a similar identity from last season.

"Things are different because we have different players, but we're still a versatile group," Toafili said. "We've got backs that have good speed and more power runners. We'll reload."

Achieving a 3-year goal

A big part of Payton elevating his game as a player and a leader was his off-season conditioning.

He added 15 pounds to his 6-foot-5 frame, now weighing 254 pounds. While he's added more muscle, Payton said that has not lost any of his speed and is packing more of a punch.

"Even though I got a little bigger, I'm still moving a the same speed," Payton said. "I wanted to see how I was going to move out here today and I felt good. I moved well and I don't feel tired at all. It's been good."

This has been a focus for Payton since his freshman year, wanting to meet the 250-pound mark.

He arrived at FSU at 235 pounds, gained 13 pounds by the end of his freshman year, lost nine pounds his sophomore year and has now finally met that goal.

Last season, Payton finished with 44 tackles, seven sacks, seven QB hurries and 10 pass breakups.

"When I came in here I was like 200 pounds, so to see myself come from there to 250 pounds feels really good," Payton said. "It's been my goal since I've been here. It's been hard, but it's been a long time coming trusting coach [Josh] Storms and thanking everyone that's been a part of that."

Reaching a goal that he's wanted to achieve since he arrived at FSU, he wants to help younger players follow a similar path.

"It might sound a little biased, but I want to help guys coming from the same place I came from," Payton said. "Jamari Howard, Lawayne McCoy, Charles Lester, all them boys. I know they're looking at me like I'm trying to be in that position."

"If I know I can help them out, I'm going to do whatever I can."

Jack Williams covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at jwilliams@tallahassee.com or on X @jackgwilliams. 

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Lawrance Toafili, Patrick Payton taking on leadership roles with FSU football