Florida State came out of its trip to Tuscaloosa with a defense that has plenty to fix, but the Seminoles also found one clear answer up front in Kevin Wynn.
The second-year defensive tackle logged a career-high 16 snaps in Saturday’s loss to Alabama, and he made them count. Wynn finished with two tackles and was Florida State’s only player to earn a PFF grade above 70, posting a 79.1. On tape, the reason shows up fast: the 6-foot-2, 317-pound sophomore brings a level of raw power that stands out on a defensive front that spent much of the game getting moved around by the Crimson Tide.
"I’m just a bigger body," Wynn said. "So I can just hold up more."
That strength is a big part of why Wynn arrived in Tallahassee as Florida State’s highest-ranked recruit in the 2025 signing class, even ahead of running back Ousmane Kromah, and as a top-100 player nationally. He has the kind of anchor that lets him absorb double teams and stay alive through contact, using a knee-drop technique that helps him fight through blocks and finish plays at the line.
Both Mike Norvell and defensive coordinator Tony White were frustrated by what Florida State’s defense put on the field against Alabama, but they made sure to point out Wynn’s performance. White said Wynn showed the level of play the staff wants to see.
"He played some big-time ball," White said on Monday. "He's working himself into shape, added more plays to him every game. He's in different packages now, so he's starting to emerge as a guy who, I thought he played really well out there."
Norvell echoed that sentiment and said the staff has to be careful with how much it puts on Wynn right now.
"He's putting in a lot of good work," Norvell said. "You feel his speed.
You saw some flashes from him. Obviously, he's a big presence.
He's done a great job with his body. But we want - hopefully, we'll be able to see that progression where you get in 20, 25 snaps in a game.
Productive snaps. And I think that would be a really good spot - would help us on that defensive front."
Wynn said he is still working back after an injury limited him to four games as a freshman last season. Along with getting back into game shape, he also slimmed down to improve his conditioning and make better use of his athletic traits.
"I feel real light. I'll tell you, I'm moving," Wynn - listed at 340 pounds as a recruit and 334 for the Seminoles last season - said with a smile on Wednesday.
"I can move better. I feel way back - more explosive like I used to.
Once I dropped all that weight, just getting back into the groove like I used to be, it just feels way better and more healthy for me to do what I need to do on the field and execute."
He said Florida State Director of Performance Nutrition Jaden Hamil helped him adjust by shifting to more frequent, smaller meals. And even with the change, Wynn said he never had to give up the kitchen.
"Since I already know how to cook, it was really easy for me," Wynn said. "Most of the time when people were switched, they're like, 'Oh, I've got to eat healthy.
That means my food has got to be bland, and this and that.' Nah, seasoning don't have no calories.
It's got to have straight flavor."
Florida State’s interior defensive line has been a problem area this season, especially against the run. The Seminoles’ primary inside players all weigh under 300 pounds, and opponents have averaged 2.79 yards before contact, which ranks 133rd in the country. If the front is going to change that this season, Wynn looks like the best bet to do it, and his workload appears ready to keep climbing.
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Mike Norvell has pointed back to takeaways as a key missing piece, and for good reason. When a defense isnt flipping possessions, it puts extra pressure on everything else, especially against a quality opponent that can punish mistakes. Florida State still has time to clean it up, but until the Seminoles start turning stops into turnovers, the questions around that side of the ball are going to keep growing. [Read more 🡒]