FSU football: 3 positional groups with most to prove in 2021
By Kelvin Hunt
Secondary
FSU is DBU, but they haven’t lived up to that billing over the last few years. In a few weeks, Asante Samuel Jr. will be the first cornerback drafted since Marquez White in 2017.
It hasn’t been a lack of talent that’s handcuffed the FSU secondary. It’s the one position that’s been a constant for blue-chip recruits through all of the coaching changes.
However, that talent has not developed at the level needed and why those highly-rated recruits have not turned into NFL Draft picks.
The decline of the secondary hasn’t all been on this unit. The lack of a defensive pass rush is a factor as well, but the players have done themselves no favors with their lack of technique, awareness, and communication.
Opposing offenses completed 66 percent of their passes for 16 touchdowns and averaged 8.1 yards per attempt. Quarterbacks had a QB rating of 147.77, which is higher than Jameis Winston’s 2014 total.
FSU football defensive coordinator Adam Fuller and secondary coach Marcus Woodson have their work cut out for them, but the staff brought in some additional talent from the transfer portal to try to offset losing Samuel Jr and Hamsah Nasirildeen.
This unit needs to take a big step forward if the Noles wish to compete in 2021.