Florida State’s defensive line is going to be one of the loudest talking points around the program heading into 2026, and Jordan Sanders may end up sitting right at the center of it.
The Seminoles are expected to lean on a group that does not bring the kind of mass fans have associated with the front in past seasons. Instead, the coaching staff has stressed speed, burst and overall athleticism. That puts a lot on the shoulders of the players expected to handle the middle of the line, including Daniel Lyons, Kevin Wynn and Sanders.
Sanders arrives from Texas State with a profile that makes him easy to notice. He’s listed at 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds, and he’s coming off a productive season in which he posted 16 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumble before transferring to Florida State late in the cycle. But he’s also something of a question mark because he missed most of spring camp with an injury.
Even so, defensive line coach Terrance Knighton said Sanders did not disappear from the process while he was sidelined. Knighton said Sanders stayed locked into the learning part of the job and kept himself involved every way he could.
"In the meeting rooms, he was asking questions, staying engaged. Putting himself, taking vicarious reps, putting himself in the position of the nose," Knighton said.
"On the sideline, he was standing right by me asking questions. Standing by coach Odell [Haggins] asking questions.
He stayed locked in."
Knighton also pointed to Lyons as someone who helped keep Sanders plugged into the room, reminding him that Florida State is going to need what he brings.
The bigger picture is clear: this front does not have the kind of physical anchor the Seminoles have had with players like Joshua Farmer, Darrell Jackson and Fabian Lovett. That’s the tradeoff with this group. The hope is that the lighter build brings more explosiveness, which fits Tony White’s 3-3-5 defense, but that also means Sanders has to be one of the bodies holding down the middle.
Knighton said Sanders has handled the challenge well, especially for a transfer coming into a new system.
"That's what I love most about Jordan, him being a transfer, him being an older guy, he's accepted the hard coaching. Myself and coach Odell are probably harder on him more than everybody else.
He's accepted it, he responds well, and he's a tough kid. Playing in this system takes a little time, but he's done everything off the field he needs to do... he's done all the right things.
He'll be an impactful guy for us."
Florida State’s 2026 schedule opens Aug. 29 at home against New Mexico State, followed by SMU on Sept. 7.
After a bye, the Seminoles travel to Alabama on Sept. 19 before returning home for Central Arkansas on Sept. 26 and Virginia on Oct. 3.
They then go to Louisville on Oct. 9 and Miami on Oct. 17, have another bye, and finish with Clemson at home on Oct. 31, Boston College on the road on Nov.
7, Pittsburgh on Nov. 13, NC State on Nov. 21 and Florida on Nov.
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 🡒]