FSU football: 3 defensive questions going into 2022 spring camp
By Kelvin Hunt
Pass Rush/Defensive Line
This unit is the most important on this side of the ball. If the defensive line can’t stop the run and generate a pass rush? The rest of the defense is going to look terrible.
Oh wait, they showed they could stop the run and get after the quarterback last year! FSU only allowed 3.64 yards per rush and had 87 tackles for a loss.
FSU had 33 sacks, and 44 QB hurries in 12 games last season. Over half of that production came from transfers Jermaine Johnson and Keir Thomas. The coaching staff addressed the pass rush need via the transfer portal and developing prep players. Jared Verse, Dennis Briggs Jr, George Wilson, Quashon Fuller, and Patrick Payton will look to match or get close to those numbers from last year as a committee.
Others on the defensive line should be productive with Robert Cooper, Fabien Lovett, Malcolm Ray, and Jarrett Jackson. Cooper and Lovett were All-ACC Honorable Mentions, with Ray and Jackson emerging as solid depth players.
Will young players like Joshua Farmer, Shambre Jackson, Aaron Hester, Bryon Turner Jr., work themselves into a position to get snaps in 2022?
Next. 3 Positional Groups With Most To Prove in 2022. dark