UM transfer Davonte Brown proving to be a hit at safety for FSU

Of the five main positions in the FSU secondary, it was the one that entered this spring with the most uncertainty. And after three weeks of practice, one of the leading contenders to fill it is perhaps the most unexpected.

Davonte Brown, a redshirt senior who played three years at UCF and one year at Miami before transferring to Florida State in January, is not just merely getting acclimated to new teammates and coaches and a different defensive scheme. He is playing safety for the first time in his career.

And, according to all accounts, he is playing it surprisingly well.

“The first time he’s playing safety is here on the field,” FSU defensive coordinator Adam Fuller said. “But he’s picking things up. He’s a natural tackler. And he fits on the ball really well. And he’s coachable. So we’re just mounting on the reps.”

Because Florida State essentially returned two starting cornerbacks in Fentrell Cypress and Azareye’h Thomas and several talented young corners, the addition of Brown through the transfer portal took some by surprise.

He had started 31 games over three seasons at UCF — all at corner — and he didn’t exactly make a big impact during his one season at Miami. He finished the year with 10 tackles and one pass breakup, and he played more than 20 snaps on defense in only two games.

But FSU was intrigued when Brown entered the transfer portal for several reasons.

Defensive backs coach Patrick Surtain Sr. actually coached Brown in high school at American Heritage, so he was intimately familiar with him as a player and person. The fact that Brown has already played in 47 college football games suggested he could bring maturity and knowledge to the position group.

And looking at his size (6-foot-2, 185 pounds), coverage skills and physicality, FSU’s coaches believed he might be a natural at the free safety position.

So far, definitely so good.

“I feel like I’ve been able to come in, starting to pick up the playbook, be a role model for the younger guys,” Brown said. “And I’m gonna continue to do that.”

When Surtain spoke with Brown about the possibility of transferring to FSU, he told his former pupil that he needed him to be more than another player. He wanted him to provide leadership and guidance to the Seminoles’ younger defensive backs.

That wasn’t easy right off the bat. Brown was already busy trying to learn the Florida State playbook and a brand-new position. But now that he is settling in, the fifth-year senior is embracing the opportunity to provide that veteran voice.

He also is starting to show that he could be a real contender for the starting job alongside returning safety Shyheim Brown. Some of the other candidates include sophomore Conrad Hussey, who saw extensive action as a backup last season and started the Orange Bowl; redshirt freshman KJ Kirkland; and redshirt sophomore Ashlynd Barker.

It stands to reason that the former cornerback might have the best coverage skills of the group. “I feel like that’s a tool some safeties might not have under their belt,” Davonte Brown said.

But what has surprised many Seminoles is the way Brown has taken to being physical in run support. In several practices this spring, he has been seen making plays at or near the line of scrimmage.

“He ain’t scared to fly down there, stick his hat in there,” Shyheim Brown said.

Not even Davonte Brown knew how much he would like it at first. Before spring practice started, he confided in some teammates that he was a little uneasy about trying out the new position.

It took all of about two practices to alleviate those concerns.

“First week of practice, he came to me after the practice that Thursday,” Shyheim Brown said. “He’s like, ‘I’m starting to like safety.’”

And when he spoke with the media after practice on Tuesday, Brown said he’s learning to like it more all the time.

“You’ve definitely got to come and put your pads on somebody,” Brown said. “That’s another skill set I feel like I’m ready to be able to show and put on display — that I’m not afraid to come up and hit.”

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

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