Brian Courtney joked he probably last caught a pass in flag football as a youth.

“That’s about it,” said Courtney, adding that playing catch should probably count, too.

Courtney – a true freshman from Virginia - is among the players making a move to new positions at Florida State.

And it’s not just any position.

The former dual-threat quarterback,  known for his size, versatility and athleticism, is making an impact at tight end.

“He just keeps getting better,” FSU coach Mike Norvell said.

“I think it will be hard for him not to play because of the athleticism and things he does. But he still has a lot of work in front of him to be able to finally establish himself.”

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'I am not afraid to hit'

Courtney – a 6-foot-3, 235-pounder – was a three-star prospect and ranked No. 18 overall in Virginia by 247Sports.

Those rankings were legit for good reasons.

At quarterback at Independence High in Ashburn, Virginia, he accounted for 6,885 yards of total offense and 75 touchdowns. He also played defensive end and was voted team captain – as a sophomore.

Courtney enrolled early at FSU and participated in spring practice, where he was moved to tight end.

“A pretty different position,” Courtney told the media following Thursday’s practice.

“The biggest thing is blocking. I am not afraid to hit. I run the ball, single wing, played defense. But it’s different when you’re trying to set up on a guy versus tackling or just running through them. That was probably the biggest difference, learning how to get under someone. And then I guess some of the routes, too.”

Will be given time to develop

Norvell, of course, wants to make sure younger players such as Courtney are provided ample time to develop. FSU also has plenty of experience at tight end, anchored by redshirt senior Camren McDonald.

McDonald played in all 12 games with 11 starts last season. He caught 24 passes for 243 yards, ranking second on the team in catches and tied for second in touchdown receptions (2).

Courtney says he feels far more comfortable and confident during preseason practice. He also has a far better understanding of the playbook. He also has displayed the ability to make the easy and difficult catches.

It’s not out of the realm that Courtney could contribute on special teams this season. He’s certainly looking forward to testing his progress during FSU’s first preseason scrimmage Saturday.

“I am ready to go out there now and play full speed,” Courtney said

Reach Jim Henry at jjhenry@tallahassee.com.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU's Brian Courtney making move to tight end from quarterback