Florida State football starts its spring practices today. The Seminoles are looking to bounce back in a huge way where they finished with a 2-10 record. The expectations are high since this is such an urgent matter after the failure last season.
Head football coach Mike Norvell knew that major changes were needed to turn this around for the Seminoles. Norvell made several new coaching staff additions and acquired pieces via the transfer portal and the recruiting ranks.
One of the new coaches is defensive line coach Terrance Knighton. Fans were delighted that the program still decided to keep legendary coach Odell Haggins in some form or fashion. Coach Haggins is what it means to be a Seminole.
Note to self: Don't get caught bringing a Gatorade around him, he will throw it in the trash quickly.
Anyways, Coach Knighton has already made a lasting impression on the fan base during the 2025 recruiting cycle where he flipped four-star defensive end prospects Tylon Lee and LaJesse Harrold and then was able to keep four-star defensive tackle prospect Kevin Wynn in the class.
Florida State unfortunately saw productive veteran Joshua Farmer at the defensive tackle position leave to go to the NFL. It made sense as Farmer had a successful 2024 season and was seen as a leader for the defensive line.
Defensive tackle Darrell Jackson Jr. also decided to leave for the professional ranks. This also made sense since he had to sit out for the entire 2023 season after the NCAA denied his two-time transfer waiver, even though he came to Florida State to take care of his ailing mother.
I imagine that the Seminoles would've had to replace both Famer and Jackson Jr., which seemed like a difficult task to complete. However, the coaching staff received great news that the former Maryland and Miami transfer would be returning for his senior season in 2025.
The return of Jackson Jr. was a huge confidence booster for a Seminoles' defense that will be in the first season under new defensive coordinator Tony White's multiple schemes.
Coach Knighton has high hopes for Jackson Jr. in 2025, where he told the media during the luncheon that he was the best defensive tackle in the country. The defender is listed at 6'5" and 337 pounds on the Seminoles' official roster.
That is a massive human being. With that said, it is great that he possesses size and strength, but can he be more consistent next season? Jackson Jr. recorded 32 tackles (four for loss), 3.5 sacks, and one forced fumble last year.