DE
Incoming: Lajesse Harrold (Gaiter HS-Tampa) 6'5-215 (4), Tyron Lee (Pace HS-Milton) 6'4 245, Darryll Desir (Norland HS-Miami) 6'5-240 (3) , Mandrell Desire (Norland HS) 6'3-245 (3), Jayson Jenkins (Tennessee Transfer) 6'6-280, James Williams-(Nebraska Transfer) 6'6-250, Deamontae Diggs (Coastal Transfer) 6'5-260, Deante McCray -(WKU Transfer)
Onboard: Aaron Hester -6'2-240 (JR), Jaden Jones-6'5-255 (SR)
Comments: FSU entire DE room has been remade. The only returning players are Aaron Hester who has played sparingly and Jaden Jones. FSU has brought in college experience players like James Williams, Jayson Jenkins, Deamontae Diggs and Deante McCray. These guys should be able to really help FSU run defense. You add some size and length on the outside. From a pass rush standpoint there are some concerns. FSU may need to rely on some of the young guys from high school to get a pass rush. That or Amaree Williams makes the move and hopefully he shines on defense like he did last year at TE. (Grade B-)
DT
Incoming: Kevin Wynn (Greene County-GA) 6'2-340 (4), Tyeland Coleman (Northwestern CC) 6'4-280 (3)
Onboard: Jamorie Flagg-(RFR) 6'3-315, Darrell Jackson (SR) 6'5'330, Daniel Lyons (JR) 6'5-290, KJ Sampson (RFR) 6'3-310, D'Nas White (RFR) 6'4-330
Comments: FSU got a gift when Darrell Jackson decided to take his name out of the NFL Draft and return for another season. When he is on, Jackson can be a top flight tackle. Really excited to see what Lyons does this season. I feel he could have a break out year in 2025. KJ Sampson is another interior lineman I feel will do well in the new scheme. Flagg and White just need to take some reps (20-25 snaps per game). Kevin Wynn should be part of the rotation as should Coleman. (Grade B)
LB
Incoming: Ethan Pritchard (Seminole HS) 6'2-205 (3), Elijah Herring (Memphis Transfer) 6'2-230, Caleb LaValle (UNC Transfer) 6'1-225, Stefron Thompson-(Nebraska Transfer) 6'1-240
Onboard: Justin Cryer-(JR) 6'1-230, Timir Hickman-Collins-(RFR) 6'1-220, Blake Nichelson (JR) 6'3-225, Jayden Parrish (FR) 6'1 225, Omar Graham (JR) 5'11-220
Comments: Really like Cryer. Thought he started to flash last year and could end up an All-ACC type backer. Blake Nichelson is another year older. I think he will do very well in the new scheme. He could be used as a pass rusher off the edge. Really like the addition of Herrng and Lavaelle. Both bring bid bodied backers that can both run and hit. These two are going to be very good additions. (Grade B++)
S
Incoming: Max Redmon (Cardinal Newman) 6'1-190 (3)
Onboard: Shyheim Brown (SR) 6'2-210, Conrad Hussey (JR) 6'0-200, KJ Kirkland (FR) 6'1-210, Earl Little (JR) 6'1-190
Comments: FSU safety position was a bit of a sore spot last year. I do think Hussey is going to shine in the new scheme as will Kirkland. Brown is due for a makeup season. Earl little just needs to get better. This group is not elite but it can be good enough in the ACC. (Grade B-)
CB
Incoming: Gregory Thomas (American Heritage) 6'2-190 (4)
Onboard: Ashlynd Barker - (JR) 6'3-215, Cai Bates (FR) 6'2-190, Jamari Howard (RFR) 6'2-190, Quindarrius Jones (JR) 6'2-190, Edwin Joseph (SO) 6'0-190, Ricky Knight (RFR) 6'0-170, Charles Lester (RFR) 6'1-190, Jabril Rawls (RFR) 6'1-180
Comments: I like that Joseph stuck it out and will be back. Jones is a bigger corner that should excel in this defense. Bates is someone as well as Knight, Lester and Howard who can all be All-Conference type players. One of these guys may even move to safety. I feel this is the most talented group on the defensive side of the football. FSU has talent and depth at corner. (Grade A)
Final Thoughts: I really don't know what to think about FSU defense next year. I do think they will be better against the run. Where I have concerns is where is the pass rush coming from? FSU for the first time in the past four seasons heads into a season without a known pass rusher. You had Jermaine Johnson, followed up by Jared Verse and than Pat Payton. This year who is that guy? How well with this defense hold up against teams who line up and run the ball? I said that I feel they will be better against the run but what does that mean? I feel FSU will be much improved on offense. Will they be improved on defense? The one thing you could always count on in most seasons was an elite defense. Can this defense is get good in 2025? If the defense shows out, FSU will win 8 games.
Incoming: Lajesse Harrold (Gaiter HS-Tampa) 6'5-215 (4), Tyron Lee (Pace HS-Milton) 6'4 245, Darryll Desir (Norland HS-Miami) 6'5-240 (3) , Mandrell Desire (Norland HS) 6'3-245 (3), Jayson Jenkins (Tennessee Transfer) 6'6-280, James Williams-(Nebraska Transfer) 6'6-250, Deamontae Diggs (Coastal Transfer) 6'5-260, Deante McCray -(WKU Transfer)
Onboard: Aaron Hester -6'2-240 (JR), Jaden Jones-6'5-255 (SR)
Comments: FSU entire DE room has been remade. The only returning players are Aaron Hester who has played sparingly and Jaden Jones. FSU has brought in college experience players like James Williams, Jayson Jenkins, Deamontae Diggs and Deante McCray. These guys should be able to really help FSU run defense. You add some size and length on the outside. From a pass rush standpoint there are some concerns. FSU may need to rely on some of the young guys from high school to get a pass rush. That or Amaree Williams makes the move and hopefully he shines on defense like he did last year at TE. (Grade B-)
DT
Incoming: Kevin Wynn (Greene County-GA) 6'2-340 (4), Tyeland Coleman (Northwestern CC) 6'4-280 (3)
Onboard: Jamorie Flagg-(RFR) 6'3-315, Darrell Jackson (SR) 6'5'330, Daniel Lyons (JR) 6'5-290, KJ Sampson (RFR) 6'3-310, D'Nas White (RFR) 6'4-330
Comments: FSU got a gift when Darrell Jackson decided to take his name out of the NFL Draft and return for another season. When he is on, Jackson can be a top flight tackle. Really excited to see what Lyons does this season. I feel he could have a break out year in 2025. KJ Sampson is another interior lineman I feel will do well in the new scheme. Flagg and White just need to take some reps (20-25 snaps per game). Kevin Wynn should be part of the rotation as should Coleman. (Grade B)
LB
Incoming: Ethan Pritchard (Seminole HS) 6'2-205 (3), Elijah Herring (Memphis Transfer) 6'2-230, Caleb LaValle (UNC Transfer) 6'1-225, Stefron Thompson-(Nebraska Transfer) 6'1-240
Onboard: Justin Cryer-(JR) 6'1-230, Timir Hickman-Collins-(RFR) 6'1-220, Blake Nichelson (JR) 6'3-225, Jayden Parrish (FR) 6'1 225, Omar Graham (JR) 5'11-220
Comments: Really like Cryer. Thought he started to flash last year and could end up an All-ACC type backer. Blake Nichelson is another year older. I think he will do very well in the new scheme. He could be used as a pass rusher off the edge. Really like the addition of Herrng and Lavaelle. Both bring bid bodied backers that can both run and hit. These two are going to be very good additions. (Grade B++)
S
Incoming: Max Redmon (Cardinal Newman) 6'1-190 (3)
Onboard: Shyheim Brown (SR) 6'2-210, Conrad Hussey (JR) 6'0-200, KJ Kirkland (FR) 6'1-210, Earl Little (JR) 6'1-190
Comments: FSU safety position was a bit of a sore spot last year. I do think Hussey is going to shine in the new scheme as will Kirkland. Brown is due for a makeup season. Earl little just needs to get better. This group is not elite but it can be good enough in the ACC. (Grade B-)
CB
Incoming: Gregory Thomas (American Heritage) 6'2-190 (4)
Onboard: Ashlynd Barker - (JR) 6'3-215, Cai Bates (FR) 6'2-190, Jamari Howard (RFR) 6'2-190, Quindarrius Jones (JR) 6'2-190, Edwin Joseph (SO) 6'0-190, Ricky Knight (RFR) 6'0-170, Charles Lester (RFR) 6'1-190, Jabril Rawls (RFR) 6'1-180
Comments: I like that Joseph stuck it out and will be back. Jones is a bigger corner that should excel in this defense. Bates is someone as well as Knight, Lester and Howard who can all be All-Conference type players. One of these guys may even move to safety. I feel this is the most talented group on the defensive side of the football. FSU has talent and depth at corner. (Grade A)
Final Thoughts: I really don't know what to think about FSU defense next year. I do think they will be better against the run. Where I have concerns is where is the pass rush coming from? FSU for the first time in the past four seasons heads into a season without a known pass rusher. You had Jermaine Johnson, followed up by Jared Verse and than Pat Payton. This year who is that guy? How well with this defense hold up against teams who line up and run the ball? I said that I feel they will be better against the run but what does that mean? I feel FSU will be much improved on offense. Will they be improved on defense? The one thing you could always count on in most seasons was an elite defense. Can this defense is get good in 2025? If the defense shows out, FSU will win 8 games.
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