Corey Clark: Florida State’s Adam Fuller issues clear challenge to Seminoles’ safeties

When the spring began, there was a lot of excitement about the 2023 Florida State football team.

There still is, obviously. Nothing has changed on that front.

But from the sounds of things, something needs to change in Adam Fuller’s secondary.

After Saturday’s scrimmage, in which it sounds like the defense got the better of it again overall — though Jordan Travis did lead a TD drive on his lone possession — the Florida State defensive coordinator was asked about the safety play for the Seminoles.

The veteran assistant coach didn’t mince words, especially when it came to the play of his projected starters, Shyheim Brown and Akeem Dent.

“Akeem and Shy have played a lot of snaps here, and so that’s got to show up,” Fuller said. “They’ve got to play with a little bit more anticipation. We’ve got to make more ball plays back there. When the ball is in the air, we’ve got to make sure that ball ends up in our hands.”

That hasn’t happened much through the first three weeks of spring practice.

It’s not as if the secondary has been poor overall. And it’s not as if the safety play has been atrocious. Or even mediocre. But it hasn’t been very good.

And if I’m trying to translate Fuller’s message — which I’m able to do since I speak bald like he does — the safety play better get better in a hurry. Or else there might have to be another visit to the transfer portal after the spring is over to see if there is an upgrade out there.

That clearly isn’t what Fuller wants. He wants these two guys, as well as their primary backups, Travis Jay and Omarion Cooper, to improve their play to the point where he won’t be lamenting their performance in a post-scrimmage press conference.

But coming into the spring, when you looked at the Florida State defense, you felt OK about the linebacker position, you felt pretty good about the cornerback position, and you felt great about the defensive line.

The biggest question mark, by far, was at safety — where Jammie Robinson leaves after two All-ACC seasons for the Seminoles.

Dent is a senior who has played a ton of football for Florida State the last two years as a starting safety. I think it’s safe to say, at this point, we know what he is as a college football player: Solid. But not spectacular.

Shyheim Brown is the guy Fuller wants to see take that leap, in my opinion. He’s the one that he expects to make a major jump.

Before the spring started, the Florida State defensive coordinator said he thought Brown had a chance to be one of the most impactful defensive players in the country.

It sure seems like, based on my renowned bald interpretation skills, that’s who the message was mainly for on Saturday.

“We can be better at that spot at this point in the spring,” Fuller said. “We need more production at safety at this point of the spring. It’s got to happen — running game, passing game, leadership in the communication. And I don’t question that it will.

“But it needs to happen like now.”

Because here’s the deal: Florida State has a chance to have a special football team in 2023. The quarterback is great. The offense is going to be one of the best in the country. There is loads of experience and talent and depth all over the roster.

The defense was good a season ago, but not great.

Fuller knows it has to be better — it has to create more turnovers, it has to come down with more than eight interceptions as a team — if it’s going to have a realistic chance to chase championships.

The safety spot is going to play a huge role. If they’re just average, well, the ceiling is only so high.

But if they take a leap, if Brown really does become one of the most impactful players in the country, to go along with the likes of Jared Verse, Fabien Lovett, Johnny Wilson, Fentrell Cypress, Jaheim Bell and all the rest?

If the safety play is actually a strength? If they actually become ballhawks?

Well, then the sky is the limit for the 2023 Florida State football team.

But yeah, as another bald man once said, it needs to start like now.

Contact senior writer Corey Clark at corey@warchant.com and follow @Corey_Clark on Twitter.

Talk about this story with other die-hard FSU football fans on the Tribal Council.

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