Could Florida State go after Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci?

Florida State has played horribly during the 2024 season, where they have accumulated a 1-9 record. This is not what the Seminoles wanted, as they hoped to accomplish a successful regular season and a conference championship.

Head football coach Mike Norvell has decided to fire offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Alex Atkins, defensive coordinator Adam Fuller, and wide receivers coach Ron Dugans.

The program has gone in a different direction, as some individuals did not think that Norvell would fire any assistant coaches and would try to run back what they had. However, Florida State football has experienced one of its worst seasons in program history and has to find its way out of the darkness.

The coaching staff hires are an exciting time. Hot boards are being added to sites with a variety of different names. The vacant offensive coordinator position has seemed to become a hot topic for the fan base since the offense has been so bad this season, where it has averaged 13.3 points per game (last in the FBS).

However, the defensive unit has been just as bad. I personally like defensive coordinator Adam Fuller as a person and I wish him nothing but the best in the next chapter of his career. I also understand that when the offensive unit is that bad, it is difficult for the defense to not get discouraged.

With that being said, Florida State ranked 99th in total defense, last in the FBS in forcing takeaways, 113th in rushing yards allowed, and 120th in defensive third down conversion rate.

This is Florida State, and that is not going to cut it.

One name that I want to monitor going forward for the defensive coordinator spot is Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci. He has worked himself up through the coaching ranks where he was rewarded the co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach role at Texas A&M in 2022 and then had the defensive coordinator/linebackers position at Duke in 2023.

He is only 36 years old, and Santucci has received rave reviews from head football coach Mike Norvell when the Seminoles played Duke where he stated that Santucci disguises his defenses well and they are very aggressive.

Georgia Tech just defeated Miami this past weekend to end their undefeated streak. His defense kept everything in front of him, and was able to get a strip sack late in the fourth quarter against quarterback Cameron Ward. The Hurricanes were only 3/10 on third-down conversions.

While it seems like Santucci has been outmanned in his first season at Georgia Tech, he is still making the most of the opportunity. I want to see what he does with more talent, like Florida State.