Florida State kicks off their 2026 season in two weeks against New Mexico State. Safety Ashlynd Barker will play the rover position, a safety/linebacker hybrid, and says this year's defense has been relentless in fall camp. That is a different unit compared to last season's defense.
Going into his fourth season with the Florida State football program, safety Ashlynd Barker will move to a hybrid position called rover, which is a safety/linebacker role.
That means in addition to covering the boundary on passing routes, he will also line up in the box to take on running backs at the point of attack and pressure the quarterback.
Barker was a guest on the ACC Huddle-Florida State Road trip show, and he was asked what is the difference between last year’s defense and this year’s defense in the second season under defensive coordinator Tony White.
“Definitely relentless,” said Barker. “Every single day we get after it. From the D-line, the linebackers, of course the new additions, we get after it every single day. If someone is lacking, someone else picks him up and hold him to the standard.”
Last season, Barker posted 48 tackles (second-most on the team), 3.5 sacks and two passes defended. That relentless defense Barker spoke of is the hallmark of great Seminoles teams of the past, led by these notable Florida State defenders:
- NG Ron Simmons: Two-time All-American
- DB Deion Sanders: Two-time All-American, Jim Thorpe Award winner, Pro Football Hall of Fame
- DB LeRoy Butler: All-American, Pro Football Hall of Fame
- DB Terrell Buckley: All-American, Jim Thorpe Award winner
- LB Derrick Brooks: Two-time All-American, 1993 National Champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame
- DB Jalen Ramsey: All-American, 2013 National Champion
Barker was later asked what things he wanted to work on to be cleaner in 2026. “Definitely get my body ready for the long season,” said Barker. “Last year was the most I’ve played since I’ve been here. My body wasn’t prepared for a long season. So that is my main focus to be ready to play a lot of snaps.”
That preparation will be crucial as Barker moves to different role on the field, one that will require multiple shifts and lining up with multiple responsibilities, covering different areas of the field. Going up against running back Ousmane Kromah in practice every day has certainly prepared Barker for this game day challenge.
“Ous is the hardest person I’ve ever had to tackle in my life,” Barker said.
Last season, the Florida State defense ranked among the top 30 in the FBS in total defense. They allowed 328 yards per game. The Seminoles pass defense ranked No 2 in the ACC as they allowed just 190 yards per game through the air.
If there was an area of the defense that Barker and his teammates could work to improve on this season, it is takeaways. The Seminoles were among the worst teams in college football last season at forcing turnovers, at -5. That was terrible enough for No. 105 in the country. Florida State did pick off 12 passes last season, which was in the middle of the pack, both in the ACC and nationally.
Barker has echoed a common sentiment this off-season, that the Seminoles are changing their mindset and playing more aggressively. A ball-hawking, relentless pursuit of the football and taking it away from the opposition will be crucial, helping the Seminoles maintain leads in ball games and ultimately get a victory.
That is something that was sorely lacking last season. In two weeks, Florida State will tee it up and unleash that newfound aggressiveness against New Mexico State on August 29.
