FSU football: 5 huge questions going into 2024 spring camp

Syracuse v Florida State
Syracuse v Florida State / James Gilbert/GettyImages
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Which Young Guys Step Up In The FSU Secondary?

The FSU secondary may have been the unit that showed the most improvement year over year. The impact of hiring Patrick Surtain Jr. to replace Marcus Woodson was night and day. Surtain inherited a talented secondary in Renardo Green, Jarrian Jones, Shyheim Brown, AZ Thomas, Greedy Vance, Akeem Dent, and Virginia transfer Fentrell Cypress, among other talented youngsters like Conrad Hussey and KJ Kirkland. However, the on-field play was the best in the nation. FSU's starting secondary didn't allow a passing touchdown until past the midway point of the season. They led the nation in pass breakups 80) and passes defended (90). They were No. 1 nationally in completion percentage allowed (48 percent).

The next closest school was at 52 percent. Green, Jones, and Dent will hope to hear their names called by an NFL team next month. That leaves AZ Thomas and Cypress as the two most experienced players at cornerback and Shyheim Brown at safety. FSU will need to find a starting safety to replace Dent, and someone to replace Jones at the nickel position. FSU brought in a talented transfer in Earl Little Jr. They also signed some of the top defensive backs nationally from the prep ranks, and they'll battle some talented players from the 2023 recruiting class. The FSU secondary will likely be stout again, but it'll be interesting to see how the competition shakes out.

Conrad Hussey, KJ Kirkland, Edwin Joseph, Quindarrius Jones, Ashyland Barker, and others will be names to lookout for.