Wait so everyone is talking about these massive portal hauls at Colorado and Oklahoma State but nobody is looking at what Florida State is quietly doing with the defensive scheme this spring? The numbers from last season tell a story that most people are ignoring. The defense allowed 5.6 yards per play which ranked 35th nationally but that number is misleading because the front seven generated havoc on 18% of snaps in the second half of the season. That is top 15 level disruption.
The coaching staff has shifted to more single-high safety looks during spring practice and the early returns from the scrimmages show the secondary is playing with way more confidence. The cornerbacks are jumping routes instead of sitting back in soft zones. The pass rush numbers from last year were already elite with 38 sacks but the new alignment should push that closer to 45 this fall. Clemson runs a similar structure and they consistently rank top 10 in defensive EPA per play. The blueprint is right there.
People want to obsess over portal classes and recruiting rankings but the real story is scheme development. Florida State is building something sustainable on that side of the ball. The ACC better be ready because this defense is gonna be a problem.