FSU Football: Top 5 most important defensive players for 2021

Jermaine Johnson

And to absolutely no one’s surprise, the most important defensive player is undoubtedly Jermaine Johnson. The defensive end position was the biggest one of need addressed in the portal, and they did it with one of the better available talents.

I would even say that he is the best portal addition to the squad. He was mainly used as a pass-rush specialist and totaled five sacks last season. That was five more than Joshua Kaindoh had all last season. It is not exaggerating to say that the entire defenses, and teams, success is on him. He will need to achieve the same amount of production in the more increased role he will have here.

Kier Thomas was another DE added via the portal but his injury and role at Fox has put him in a role that is slightly less stressed. At the FOX, Thomas will not primarily be a pass rusher, but an edge setter, and that would mean that Johnson would have to rush by himself at times.

I expect both of them to help this next class of DE come along and emerge, but Jermaine Johnson is needed to perform on the field in a way that no one else is.