FSU football: Ranking the top defenses Noles will face in 2023
By Kelvin Hunt
![RALEIGH, NC - OCTOBER 08: Head coach Mike Norvell of the Florida State Seminoles speaks with Jordan Travis #13 during the first half of their game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium on October 8, 2022 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) RALEIGH, NC - OCTOBER 08: Head coach Mike Norvell of the Florida State Seminoles speaks with Jordan Travis #13 during the first half of their game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium on October 8, 2022 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/fba93bb3c88637bc423b46cb25c842d36071a5cfdc7b1c68ae52e18717e8ef92.jpg)
Southern Mississippi
- 23.5 PPG
- 5.41 YPP
- 36.22 percent third down conversion allowed
- 55.26 percent Red Zone TD percentage
- No. 67 FEI
Southern Mississippi will have a new defensive coordinator in 2023. Dan O’Brien will take over after coaching safeties for the past two seasons. It’ll be the same scheme for the most part, but they lost one of their best secondary players to the NFL Draft(sixth round). Southern Miss will play FSU in the second game this year, so O’Brien will still be getting his feet wet as a first-time coordinator.