Florida State football has had its ups and downs during the 2025 season. Whenever the Seminoles defeated Alabama in the opener, the expectation was that the defense would be aggressive and physical.
However, defensive coordinator Tony White and his unit had a roller coaster ride of performances with living up to expectations then laying an egg like it did against Florida in the season finale. Fans didn't love the fact that Gators running back Jadan Baugh had 266 rushing yards against the Seminoles.
The defense didn't seem to have an answer against the talented ball carrier. It wasn't that Florida State hasn't been formidable against the run because they ranked inside the top-30 in terms of rush defense.
The one issue centered around the fact that the linebackers never came up in run support and were slow to react. Linebacker recruiting has been something that the fan base has been negatively discussing for years. Even though they had picked up solid pieces in the transfer portal, there has been much depth acquired in the room.
Teams like Georgia have dominated linebacker recruiting, and it seems as though they always have a stud in the middle of their defense. However, the problems might be answered, as head football coach Mike Norvell was able to sign four-star linebacker Izayia Williams from Tavares, Florida.
We at ChopChat asked Williams, before he signed with the Seminoles, what excited him most about playing in the Garnet and Gold:
"What makes me most excited is the fact that I've been a fan forever, and also we get to try to turn this around."
Williams was viewed as a "headache" by some of the fans on the outside, since he had de-committed several times during the recruitment process. However, the talented defender finally settled on the Garnet and Gold.
There was a reason that many teams were still in pursuit for him, even with his injury during his senior season of high school, because he showed the ability to locate the football, tackle in space, and has a high motor. The Seminoles' prayers might have been answers, as Williams can have significant snaps in Year 1 as a true freshman.