One of the biggest questions going into the 2025 season is how the FSU defense will generate a pass rush.
FSU fans have become accustomed to great defensive ends like Jermaine Johnson and Jared Verse dominating off the edge, and the expectation was that Patrick Payton and Marvin Jones Jr. would continue that in 2024.
However, both were major disappointments and are no longer on the team. Former FSU defensive coordinator Adam Fuller relied on the defensive ends to do a lot of the work, setting the edge in the run game and winning their matchups in obvious passing downs.
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FSU doesn't have a bona fide defensive end like Johnson or Verse on this year's team. However, the great thing about Tony White's defense is that the pass rush can come from multiple positions.
Honestly, his Nebraska defenses didn't generate a ton of sacks. They had 32 in 2023 and 30 in 2024. However, they affect the quarterback, generating 34 QB hurries in 2023 and 39 last year. That's a QB sack or hurry on 16 percent of all pass plays in 2023 and 18 percent in 2024.
Nebraska had one player with more than 5.5 sacks in those two years (one player had seven in 2024). Nebraska linebackers were always near the top of the list in sacks or QB hurries.
The video against Colorado is a great example of what to expect. Tony White's multiple 3-3-5 defense will morph and give quarterbacks different looks. Sometimes it'll be a four-man rush, other times he'll bring linebackers or rush three.
Those different looks force the QB to hold the ball a bit longer and allow guys to get pressure. Whereas, Adam Fuller lined up in a four-man front nearly every play, and quarterbacks knew what they were getting most of the time.
I wouldn't be overly concerned about FSU not having a defensive end known as an excellent pass rusher. White is adept at creating pressure in a variety of ways, unlike Fuller.
Former FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher used to say that sack are great, but QB pressures are the most important thing in generating a pass rush. I'm sure it'll take some time to iron a few things out early, but the two games after the season opener will be great opportunities to iron some of those issues out.