A New Look for the Seminoles Defense
Florida State’s defense enters its second year under coordinator Tony White with a clear mandate: tighten up a unit that slipped to 28th in the national rankings last season and cut down on the explosive plays that plagued the team.
Coverage issues at linebacker led to many big gains, and the Seminoles struggled to bring ball carriers down, a problem highlighted when Jadan Baugh rushed for 268 yards and two touchdowns against Florida.
Defensive backs Ashylnd Barker and Jabril Rawls showed development, but the linebacker group remained a weak link, prompting the staff to overhaul the position with both experience and youthful promise.
To address the gaps, White brought in experienced transfers Chris Jones from Southern Miss and Mikai Gbayor, a former UNC player who also worked under White at Nebraska, while freshman linebacker Izayia Williams could provide a spark if he recovers from a knee injury.
The defense’s performance was inconsistent, posting a season‑high grade against Kent State but hitting a low point in the loss to Florida, where the opposition’s ground game exposed lingering weaknesses.
With a blend of veteran presence and promising youth, the Seminoles hope the revamped linebacker corps will translate into more stable tackling and fewer big plays when the new season begins.