The returning defensive coordinator believes there's more structure and discipline for the '26 Seminoles defense.
Florida State football has a defense to fix before the fall. Tony White and his defensive staff are attacking it during the spring.
White returned after rumors of fielding other job offers. This time he's working with 13 true freshmen on the Seminoles defense.
But despite the youth, White is taking a liking to the 2026 FSU defensive unit. To the point he believes this group will have more structure and discipline compared to the 2025 one.
White spoke glowingly about the Noles on defense while addressing reporters on Monday. He already believes he's coaching a high-character group.
"You don't have all the off-the-field stuff and the guys who don't respect this logo and school and what coach provides and what FSU provides—you don't have that with this group," White said to reporters. "You got a bunch of guys that want to win right now. They want to win, and they're doing it with action."
His defense took some key losses this offseason. Nose tackle Darrell Jackson Jr. is off to the NFL and just completed his FSU Pro Day. Talented do-everything safety Earl Little left for Ohio State in the transfer portal.
But White shared where he sees the most defensive improvement alongside head coach Mike Norvell.
"The physical deficiencies you got to help and improve on, but it's the mental, it's the emotional," White said. "It's the chemistry that I think Coach Norvell and everybody sat around and said, 'hey, we need to get rid of this over here and bring in this.'"
White added how this time, "It's just a different kind of chemistry." Which is more to his liking this time around.
"I think everybody feels it—that we can be really, really good, especially on defense. So they're running with it, and we just have to keep that momentum and be upfront with the guys: this is acceptable, this is not. This is where we should be, this is what we're not doing right," White said. "Those guys have responded and done their part. So it's a good thing right now."
White isn't just welcoming some high-profile recruits to the defense. But also key transfers, including former Texas A&M edge rusher Rylan Kennedy, who's bringing College Football Playoff experience in tow over to Tallahassee.
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