Under Adam Fuller, Florida State’s defense was among the best in the country in 2023. The unit was stacked with excellent players like Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, Fabien Lovett, Tatum Bethune, Kalen DeLoach, Renardo Green, Jarrian Jones, and Akeem Dent, all of whom are among the standouts the Seminoles will be looking to replace this spring.
In total, FSU is losing 10 players of their defense, including seven starters, who were listed on the program’s ACC Championship depth chart. There is talent waiting in the wings, as well as a long roster of rookies who will have to take on major responsibilities in Tallahassee.
2. Marvin Jones Jr., Jr.
3. Byron Turner Jr., RS Jr.
Payton is coming off a respectable campaign where he was named an All-ACC honorable mention after recording 44 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, two forced fumbles, and ten pass deflections. He’s made improvements to his game in each of the last two seasons and there’s no reason to think that Payton won’t take another step forward.
Jones Jr. arrives at Florida State much less proven and the coaching staff is banking on the legacy transfer realizing the potential that made him five-star recruit. Like Payton, he’s long and athletic. There’s also hope that he’ll have a resurgence with a move back to the traditional defensive end position rather than the outside linebacker role he was in at Georgia.
Regardless, Payton and Jones Jr. figure to play a lot. Turner Jr. began to show flashes last season as he entered the two-deep for the first time in his career. He wasn’t always consistent so there are some areas of improvement that will be necessary as he fights to stay in the rotation.
1. Darrell Jackson, RS Jr.
2. Daniel Lyons, RS So.
3. KJ Sampson, RS Fr.
Jackson is likely to earn a starting role after being forced to sit out all but one game last year due to NCAA transfer rules. He was finally able to play in the Orange Bowl but it was a tough ask to throw someone into the fire against one of the top teams in the country in his first game of the season. Jackson looks like he’s taking the Tour of Duty seriously and has all-conference talent. He would probably already been in the NFL if he hadn’t have been held back in 2023.
