Florida State’s defensive line has been one of the early bright spots of fall camp, and after a week of practice, defensive coordinator Tony White is starting to see the shape of what this group could become.
The Seminoles still have plenty to prove before anyone can stamp the unit as a finished product, but there’s been clear movement since spring. Several players have stood out in the trenches, including Daniel Lyons, Deante McCray, Mandrell Desir, Darryll Desir, Rylan Kennedy, Deamontae Diggs, and Jalen Anderson. The bigger question now is whether Florida State can keep building depth, especially with so many different bodies needed up front.
That’s where Kevin Wynn and Jordan Sanders come in.
White said Wynn has made a noticeable physical transformation and is moving with far more confidence than he did last season. Sanders, meanwhile, is giving Florida State the kind of interior strength it needs, especially after missing the spring with an injury. Tuesday night’s scrimmage was his first real action at Florida State.
"Juju [Wynn] doesn't get enough credit, man," White said. "He transformed his body, and you can see it on the field. You can see him moving around better, you can see him playing for longer stretches."
"Jordan [Sanders] coming back, you can see his strength," White added. "He's just a strong individual, like he's just brute strong in there, and now him getting comfortable in there with what we're asking him to do."
Florida State is also watching true freshman Franklin Whitley closely. He arrived in January and has spent the last several months reshaping his body to handle work on the interior. A blue-chip recruit in the 2026 class, Whitley put together a big senior season with 39 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 4 pass deflections.
White thinks Whitley could turn into a major piece sooner rather than later.
"Franklin Whitley's another guy who's gained 20-25 pounds since he's been here. He's 285, 287, something like that," White said. "For being a young buck, a guy who has a basketball background, he's one that wouldn't surprise me that's going to be a great one here pretty soon."
White also pointed to the work done by the staff, along with Wynn, Sanders, and Whitley, in sticking with their individual development plans. Wynn and Sanders have both trimmed down, while Whitley has added bulk over the last eight months.
"Those bigger-body guys, you do need them, but you need them to fit into your defense," White said. "Those guys have done a nice job.
T-Knight and Nick [Williams] have done a nice job of training those guys... It's been good to see."
Florida State is in Jacksonville for two practices at UNF before heading back to Tallahassee for its second scrimmage on Sunday night.
In Other News...
Tony Whites First Scrimmage Reaction Says A Lot About FSUs Defense
Florida States defense has been under close watch this offseason, and defensive coordinator Tony Whites first reaction to the teams recent scrimmage offered a familiar mix of frustration and perspective. White initially came away focused on the negatives, which is usually how a coach sees a live work day before the film brings a clearer picture, and that was the case here too. After going back through the tape, he saw more signs of progress than he did in the immediate aftermath, a reminder that the Seminoles are still sorting through details even as camp moves along.
Tom Herman has also become part of that process in a meaningful way since joining Florida States OPS staff this offseason. White pointed to Hermans long coaching background and the support he offered during the scrimmage, using that experience as another layer of help in refining the defense and sharpening the teams overall preparation. For a unit trying to find its footing, having another veteran voice in the building can matter, even if the most important answers still have to show up on the field. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Running Back Battle Just Took An Unexpected Turn
Quintrevion Wisners push to move into Florida States backfield picture hit a small snag this week when he was held out of the Seminoles first preseason scrimmage. Offensive coordinator Tim Harris Jr. said the absence was tied to a minor issue, but he also noted that Wisner has been practicing well and has made progress since spring ball, which keeps him firmly in the conversation as camp rolls on.
For now, the opening created by Wisners absence has given Ousmane Kromah and Sam Singleton Jr. a little more room to make their own case in the competition for the top running back spot. Those extra reps matter in a battle that was already expected to be one of the more closely watched storylines of preseason, and Florida State will be paying close attention to how the rotation sorts itself out once everyone is back on the field together. [Read more 🡒]
Ousmane Kromah Is Forcing A Florida State Backfield Shakeup
Florida States backfield already had a crowded look to it before camp, and the addition of Texas transfer Quintrevion Wisner only added another layer to the mix. But Ousmane Kromah has kept pushing his way into the conversation after a freshman season that appears to have given way to a much stronger offseason and a fall camp that drew steady praise from Mike Norvell and the Seminoles staff.
Norvell has made it clear this years rotation will look different, which matters in a room that also includes Samuel Singleton Jr. and a newcomer expected to compete for touches. For Kromah, the real significance is less about being part of the mix than about how far he has climbed within it, with the early-season pecking order now sounding very much like a competition the Seminoles will keep watching closely. [Read more 🡒]