DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: ROV EARL LITTLE JR.
One of the more interesting factors of this offseason is that Florida State football added new coaches to its staff. I didn't know if that had been possible, since I was hesitant to see if head football coach Mike Norvell would make the appropriate changes.
However, one of my favorite pick-ups was former Nebraska defensive coordinator Tony White. Coach White has been an aggressive mind that emphasizes the importance of disguising coverages. That is especially important when it comes to playing against inexperienced quarterbacks.
This isn't to say that I am wishing bad on former defensive coordinator Adam Fuller. I am just a fan of Coach White's body of work. He has served previous stints at Syracuse and Nebraska over the past four years, and has recorded top-25 defenses in each season.
The Cornhuskers did not allow a rushing touchdown at home last year, and he emphasizes the importance of physicality and aggressiveness. One player that I believe will benefit from his defense is redshirt junior defensive back Earl Little Jr. That is why he is listed as my Defensive Player of the Year.
The former Alabama transfer made the switch from cornerback to safety halfway through 2024, and Coach White came into Tallahassee calling the defender "Him". While I know that Little Jr. didn't do much last season, he is projected as the starting Rover safety in the defense, where he is going to be used as a versatile piece in the box and in the secondary.