Florida State has always been considered part of the discussion with "DBU". There have been several great defensive backs who have come through this program, making it difficult to fade the Seminoles.
Even with the Seminoles' recent struggles on the gridiron, the defensive back position has been a solid group. The fans saw exceptional play at times from Ja'Bril Rawls and Ashlynd Barker (when they are healthy).
Florida State made headlines this offseason in a negative light when they fired assistant coach Patrick Surtain Sr. It did not go over well with the players, who had a great relationship with Coach Surtain Sr. This led Rawls and Barker to enter the transfer portal, but they later decided to return.
Earl Little Jr. announced that he would enter the transfer portal too, and he made the intention to sign with Ohio State. This was a loss for the Seminoles' defense. When Little Jr. was focused, he was regarded as a top safety in the conference. As a result of the defensive back leaving, Florida State went to the portal to grab more pieces in the room.
Redshirt sophomore Jamari Howard could make an impact for the Seminoles in 2026
Florida State added Ma'Khi Jones, CJ Richard Jr., Karson Hobbs, and Nehemiah Chandler to the roster this offseason. The transfer portal players, plus Rawls and Barker, get a ton of attention and discussion from the fan base. However, what about the returnees on the Florida State roster at the position?
Head coach Mike Norvell spoke to the media on Tuesday afternoon after their spring practice. He mentioned that redshirt sophomore defensive back Jamari Howard had a couple of good players and Norvell has seen him grow up.
He went on to say that Howard immediately had a knee injury as soon as he arrived at Florida State and missed some time, but Norvell talked about how he could feel his length and speed when he plays.
This should bring excitement for the fan base because Jamari Howard was a top-rated defensive back in the 2024 cycle that the Seminoles grabbed in the high school ranks. Hopefully, the injury issues are behind him so that he can make a difference in 2026.