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Florida State football's secondary is the engine room for Tony White's defensive scheme, and through the first week of preseason camp, the unit has been one of the top performers on the team.
Led by Ashlynd Barker, the Seminoles safties have absorbed everything thrown at them as safties coach Evan Cooper says his unit is "built for it."
Cooper said the entire room has improved, and he credited the work ethic of players like Barker and Ma'Khi Jones for inspiring the room.
"That safety room, they are built for it. Anything you throw at them, no sweat, no problem... The carryover from last year is helpful for the guys who were here last year. The new guys, they just outwork everybody," Cooper said. "I get here (The Seminoles facility) pretty early, and they come in right after me."
Barker, Jones and CJ Richard Jr. are among the early risers in the group, and they spend much of their time in the facility working on the JUGS machine, in the film room or doing walkthroughs. Cooper said he's seen the commitment trickle down from the veteran leaders down to the younger players on the roster, which gives him confidence in the unit.
"I walked in the other day and my young guys, they're up in the walkthrough room, walking through plays," Cooper said. "I'm like, 'Okay, we might have something."
In White's 3-3-5 scheme, the safety position is key to any success. The three safties on the field still defend over the top, as traditional safties do, but their eyes are constantly on the ball, and players are encouraged to crash downhill towards ball carriers.
The defense was a mixed bag last season, struggling to stop the run and cover routes out of the backfield and in the middle of the field at times. The blueprint is there, and when executed properly, like against Alabama, it produces results.
However, the challenge is now for White and his secondary to do that consistently. Jones, who transferred from Duke after a successful freshman season, is confident in the versatility of the unit.
"What I like most about coach White's defense is the versatility we all have," Jones said. "In the middle of a play, I know all three safety jobs, the other two safties know all the jobs... We can kind of mix and match. Switch mid-play, show a different look to try and throw off the offense."
The ROVER role is at the heart of the defense, and Barker is expected to take it over from Earl Little Jr. The ROVER role is a hybrid position that will put Barker in pressure packages while also covering wide receivers and tight ends. That role will be rotated, but no matter where a safety lines up, they'll likely be used in pressure packages.
While each player has a different role and skill set, Cooper said the safties work together like parts of a car to make the defense tick.
"Just imagine a car. They are all different parts, but they all work together, and we can drive. Those guys, they have different personalities. Very, very little fear of judgment in that room," Cooper said. "Those guys, they are themselves, and there is nobody trying to pretend to be anything"
There is a striking confidence brewing in the Seminoles' secondary that things will be different for the team this year.
Early August talk doesn't reflect in the win-or-loss column, and things quickly change when pads are strapped up. But neither Barker, who said FSU will be "super good," nor Jones is being bashful in their assessment of FSU in the early days of preseason.
"In practice you are always going to get that competitive energy in there because we all want to be so great. We all want to go to the next level. We all want to go on and chase big dreams, aspirations, and get the championship rings," Jones said.
"This Florida State is different."
Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at [email protected] or on Twitter @__liamrooney.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU's secondary works together, fuels Tony White's defense
Continue reading...
Led by Ashlynd Barker, the Seminoles safties have absorbed everything thrown at them as safties coach Evan Cooper says his unit is "built for it."
Cooper said the entire room has improved, and he credited the work ethic of players like Barker and Ma'Khi Jones for inspiring the room.
"That safety room, they are built for it. Anything you throw at them, no sweat, no problem... The carryover from last year is helpful for the guys who were here last year. The new guys, they just outwork everybody," Cooper said. "I get here (The Seminoles facility) pretty early, and they come in right after me."
Barker, Jones and CJ Richard Jr. are among the early risers in the group, and they spend much of their time in the facility working on the JUGS machine, in the film room or doing walkthroughs. Cooper said he's seen the commitment trickle down from the veteran leaders down to the younger players on the roster, which gives him confidence in the unit.
"I walked in the other day and my young guys, they're up in the walkthrough room, walking through plays," Cooper said. "I'm like, 'Okay, we might have something."
In White's 3-3-5 scheme, the safety position is key to any success. The three safties on the field still defend over the top, as traditional safties do, but their eyes are constantly on the ball, and players are encouraged to crash downhill towards ball carriers.
The defense was a mixed bag last season, struggling to stop the run and cover routes out of the backfield and in the middle of the field at times. The blueprint is there, and when executed properly, like against Alabama, it produces results.
However, the challenge is now for White and his secondary to do that consistently. Jones, who transferred from Duke after a successful freshman season, is confident in the versatility of the unit.
"What I like most about coach White's defense is the versatility we all have," Jones said. "In the middle of a play, I know all three safety jobs, the other two safties know all the jobs... We can kind of mix and match. Switch mid-play, show a different look to try and throw off the offense."
The ROVER role is at the heart of the defense, and Barker is expected to take it over from Earl Little Jr. The ROVER role is a hybrid position that will put Barker in pressure packages while also covering wide receivers and tight ends. That role will be rotated, but no matter where a safety lines up, they'll likely be used in pressure packages.
While each player has a different role and skill set, Cooper said the safties work together like parts of a car to make the defense tick.
"Just imagine a car. They are all different parts, but they all work together, and we can drive. Those guys, they have different personalities. Very, very little fear of judgment in that room," Cooper said. "Those guys, they are themselves, and there is nobody trying to pretend to be anything"
There is a striking confidence brewing in the Seminoles' secondary that things will be different for the team this year.
Early August talk doesn't reflect in the win-or-loss column, and things quickly change when pads are strapped up. But neither Barker, who said FSU will be "super good," nor Jones is being bashful in their assessment of FSU in the early days of preseason.
"In practice you are always going to get that competitive energy in there because we all want to be so great. We all want to go to the next level. We all want to go on and chase big dreams, aspirations, and get the championship rings," Jones said.
"This Florida State is different."
Florida State football schedule 2026
- vs. New Mexico State | Aug. 29
- vs. SMU* | Sept. 7
- Bye
- at Alabama | Sept. 19
- vs. Central Arkansas | Sept. 26
- vs. Virginia* | Oct. 3
- at Louisville* | Oct. 9
- at Miami* | Oct. 17
- Bye
- vs. Clemson* | Oct. 31
- at Boston College* | Nov. 7
- at Pittsburgh* | Nov. 13
- vs. NC State* | Nov. 21
- vs. Florida | Nov. 27
Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at [email protected] or on Twitter @__liamrooney.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU's secondary works together, fuels Tony White's defense
Continue reading...
