Could Florida State defense make another substantial jump in 2023?

There weren’t many defenses in the country that improved more than Florida State’s did from 2021 to 2022.

The Seminoles jumped from 68th to 20th nationally in scoring defense, 66th to 15th in total defense and 74th to 4th in passing defense.

The 2022 season ended with two not-so-great performances against Florida and Oklahoma, but make no mistake, defensive coordinator Adam Fuller’s unit made dramatic strides over the course of that year.

And there’s a chance it could do so again in 2023.

That was certainly the message head coach Mike Norvell and his players were giving during the ACC Kickoff media event in Charlotte.

“Depth, experience, the versatility of our defensive front and what we can do and how we can play that position,” Norvell said. “The versatility of our defensive backfield … I think it really has a chance to be special.”

It’s not just those positions though.

Norvell also brought up the linebacker spot without prompting. And after mentioning the three veteran players — Tatum Bethune, Kalen DeLoach and D.J. Lundy — who have played a whole bunch of college football already, he made sure to bring up the name of a redshirt freshman as well. Somebody he thinks could impact this team this year.

“Omar Graham’s going to be a really, really good football player,” Norvell said. “And we’ve got some newcomers that I think are going to be fun to watch. But when you add those guys to the equation, that competition, being able to keep guys fresh, being able to show a lot of different variations, that’s exciting.

“And I want to be the most relentless defense in the country in how we play. Because I believe we can. It’s just a mindset and a choice of what we want it to look like. And when you have that type of depth and guys with ability, it’s going to be fun to see.”

With a Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback and talented skill players all over the field, it’s not unusual that the Florida State offense is getting so much hype heading into the 2023 season.

But that defense is going to be the key to the next four months.

There is experience everywhere. And there is plenty of talent, especially on a defensive line that features names like Fabien Lovett, Patrick Payton, Braden Fiske, Darrell Jackson and, of course, Jared Verse.

“We have a lot of athletes on the team, so everyone is going to make their plays,” Verse said. “But just playing as one, everybody playing within the defense, is the most important thing.”

The biggest weakness the Florida State defense had last year, by far, was stopping the run. The Seminoles were one of the worst units in the conference, in fact, in rushing defense.

But Lovett was injured for half of the year. Fiske was at Western Michigan. Jackson was at Miami. Joshua Farmer was a freshman still learning the position. And linebackers like Bethune and DeLoach were slowed a bit by their own injuries.

It made for a front-seven that struggled, sometimes mightily, at controlling the line of scrimmage.

Things could be much different in 2023.

“I’m confident just because of the work we put in,” DeLoach said. “I work with them boys every day. Like sun up to sun down. So, I feel like that’s the brotherhood we have on and off the field is going to carry us a long way.

“I’m so confident, and I have trust in no matter who we put out there. I believe and trust that they’re going to do what they need to do, just because they’ve been through what I’ve been through. So, I’m confident.”

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

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