There was some unknown disconnect a year ago between perception and reality with regard to the Florida State defensive line unit.
It was expected by NFL scouts, coaches and media members to be a position group loaded with future NFL talent even after losing a pair of defensive linemen taken in the top two rounds of the NFL Draft months prior.
The harsh reality, though, was the sum of the defensive line parts didn't remotely add to what was expected. FSU ranked outside the top 50 nationally in sacks (27, 56th) and tackles for loss (74, 51st). It didn't get pressure with four often enough and was also at times a liability against the run.
These struggles certainly played a role in FSU's defensive coordinator change this offseason. Adam Fuller is gone after five seasons at FSU and in comes Tony White from Nebraska.
However, it seems to have also changed the approach of how FSU went about adding defensive line transfers this offseason. After gambling on some high-potential, somewhat-unproven players who didn't need to be immediate leaders last offseason, FSU went after more proven guys who they believed could be the leaders from the day they arrived on campus this offseason on the defensive line.
According to Mike Norvell, the early returns on that decision this spring have been overwhelmingly positive.
"I feel really good and excited about what I've seen from the older guys that have come in," Norvell said Saturday after FSU's first spring scrimmage. "Deante McCray has done a really nice job. Tae Diggs, I think is probably further along I thought he was. He's got such a unique backstory just in his experience. I like what I'm seeing from him."
Add this to what Norvell said unprompted earlier in the week when discussing a Tuesday practice in which the defense responded well after a slow start to the day's work, a notable issue that last year's FSU defense consistently battled.
"I think James Williams has had a really, really good last few days in pads," Norvell said. "I've been really pleased with some of the early strides from Tae Diggs. I thought his physicality, some of the movement things he's been able to show are really encouraging. Deante McCray, those guys who have played a good amount of football before, coming in and trying to establish that expectation on a play-in, play-out basis."
Upon his arrival at FSU in December, White had to quickly scour the vast expanse of the transfer portal to find defensive linemen who could work in his scheme as FSU moves to a multiple 3-3-5 look this offseason.
One option, Williams, was an obvious choice to recruit as he played for White and new FSU defensive line coach Terrance Knighton at Nebraska. McCray played in a similar defense the last few years at Western Kentucky. Diggs, meanwhile, was only one year removed from playing at FCS Youngstown State, spending the 2024 season at Coastal Carolina. He seemed to be the biggest risk of the bunch in terms of immediate production.
Coming out of FSU's first scrimmage, White has seen enough from all three transfer defensive linemen to believe they'll be able to contribute to a large degree at this level.
“They’re all hits so far. Not only ...