The FSU defense was frustrating to watch at every level in 2024. However, the linebacker unit caught most of the venom from the fan base as early as the season opener against Georgia Tech.
Adam Fuller’s 4-2-5 defense, that was borderline elite in 2023, had linebackers shooting the wrong gaps, missing tackles, taking poor angles, and overall giving poor effort at times.
They didn’t get much help from the defensive linemen up front, especially on the edges. The linebacker unit slowly improved as the season progressed, and some players, like Omar Graham Jr., got healthy. However, new FSU defensive coordinator Tony White knew they needed more help if he had any dreams of implementing his 3-3-5 multiple stack.