2025 has come and gone for Florida State football and though there was improvement in the overall record, the results still fell short of Seminole expectations. With next season make-or-break for head coach Mike Norvell, how he and his staff navigate the roster could save his job or end his embattled tenure in Tallahassee. How did each position group do last season and what does the future look like?
2025 Florida State defensive backs: PFF grades
70th-graded defense: 65.4 coverage, 90.4 run defense, 12 interceptions
Top six players, by snaps
- Jerry Wilson: 70.0 overall, 71.8 coverage, 55.8 run defense
- Earl Little Jr.: 70.4 overall, 73.7 coverage, 64.3 run defense
- Edwin Joseph: 69.4 overall, 66.2 coverage, 76.6 run defense
- Ashlynd Barker: 71.3 overall, 66.4 coverage, 73.1 run defense
- Ja’Bril Rawls: 72.9 overall, 74.1 coverage, 70.1 run defense
- Shamar Arnoux: 59.1 overall, 59.6 coverage, 57.6 run defense
2024 Florida State defensive backs: PFF grades
107th-ranked
defense: 65.4 coverage, 70.0 run defense, 4 interceptions
Top six players, by snaps
- Azareye’h Thomas: 76.5 overall, 78.0 coverage, 66.0 run defense
- Shyheim Brown: 69.8 overall, 70.4 coverage, 66.5 run defense
- Fentrell Cypress II: 70.1 overall, 69.3 coverage, 69.9 run defense
- Kevin Knowles II: 58.0 overall, 55.1 coverage, 63.9 run defense
- K.J. Kirkland: 64.2 overall, 58.6 coverage, 74.4 run defense
- Quindarrius Jones: 58.0 overall, 55.1 coverage, 69.2 run defense
Considering FSU had to replace two starting cornerbacks and essentially benched its most-used 2024 safety in Shyheim Brown, it’s not bad that the secondary had the same coverage grade as the more experienced 2024 unit. The interceptions were greatly improved (three times as many). Ja’Bril Rawls was a breakout player in the unit — although he’s elected to enter the portal and not return in 2025 — but touted Houston transfer Jerry Wilson did not live up to the hype coming off his productive 2024 season for the Cougars as an expected top corner in this year’s defense.
2026 defensive backs recruiting
Florida State signed three defensive linemen in its 2026 class — from our NoleThruAndThru:
I’ve been on record for a long time in that I believe FSU will always be able to sign blue-chip defensive backs annually. That hasn’t been the issue lately, although development has, and Patrick Surtain Sr. lost his job because of it. When you sign four 4-star defensive backs in one class and none of them are playing meaningful reps yet, it’s damning on either evaluation or development.
Tribe 2026 has a star in Chauncey Kennon. He’s a high 4-star talent, top-50 player nationally, and has NFL potential. He’s a candidate for early playing time. Jordan Crutchfield was a nice flip late from the Kentucky Wildcats, as he possess a great frame and should push for reps in the safety rotation in the next two years. FSU hung on to Tre Bell, who has strong leadership qualities along with a blue-chip skill level. And as mentioned earlier, Daylen Green could also factor into the rotation at safety.
We also have to talk about who FSU lost, in 5-star legacy Jay Timmons. It continued a nasty annual tradition of losing top talent under Mike Norvell and hurt twice as much when the legacy component is taken into account. I realize that he chose Ohio State, but FSU should never lose a recruitment with so many built-in advantages if it has hopes of being relevant. The Seminoles also lost commitments from Tedarius Hughes (I love his game, but not his attitude) and Sean Johnson (I don’t care). FSU was unable to gain any traction with Kaiden Hall (extremely disappointing), CJ Bronaugh (big slice of humble pie for safeties coach Evan Cooper on that one), Samari Matthews and J’Zavian Currence (bag-chasers), Traeviss Stevenson, legacy Brody Jennings, Lasiah Jackson, and Xavier Lherisse.
Rough cycle overall for this unit, despite landing Kennon. I expect FSU to do better at this position, and more capable recruiters would likely have netted Hall, Bronaugh, and at least one of Stevenson/Jackson/Lherisse. For that reason, I can’t give anything higher than a low B (and that’s only because of Kennon).
Grade: B-
2026 projected depth
- Senior Quindarrius Jones
- Sophomore Shamar Arnoux
- Redshirt sophomore Charles Lester III
- Redshirt junior K.J. Kirkland
- Redshirt senior Earl Little Jr.
- Redshirt sophomore Jamari Howard
- Redshirt freshman Max Redmond
- Redshirt freshman Zae Thomas
- True freshman Chauncey Kennon
2026 outlook
Like a few other spots on the defense, there is likely to be quite a bit of turnover in the Florida State secondary this offseason. It seems FSU won’t be able to retain Rawls, which is a big loss. Defensive backs weren’t one of the biggest priorities in terms of transfer additions last offseason. They’re likely to be a bigger one this offseason with the Seminoles again set to lose a few starters. It feels like the main reason Surtain lost his job was a lack of development, even though his position was being most successfully recruited out of high school. New cornerbacks coach Blue Adams and returning safeties coach Evan Cooper will have a fascinating group of returning players and likely transfer additions to build off a secondary which was more opportunistic but not much better in coverage this season compared to 2024.
