​No position group on Florida State’s defense faced more roster attrition over the offseason than the secondary.However, head coach Mike Norvell and his staff made sure to infuse the group with talent, both out of high school and in the transfer portal, to put together an interesting secondary, to say the least.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIf it works, Florida State could have one of the best pass defenses in the conference. If not, FSU’s youth and inexperience has the potential to be exposed throughout the season, giving way to shootouts that the offense will not be able to keep up with.2025 lookback: It is almost impossible to figure out how to rate the secondary from a year ago. The group did an impressive job on Alabama’s outstanding receivers, but was then torched by Virginia and Pitt a few weeks later. After barely forcing any turnovers in 2024, there was a clear improvement in 2025, but even after all the offseason talk from defensive coordinator Tony White and his staff about taking the ball away, there was still more to be desired. Long story short, the group needed a fresh start and got it this offseason.R-Jr. Ja’Bril Rawls: Rawls missed the end of last season due to injury but was one of Florida State’s best players through the first seven games he played. Head coach Mike Norvell and his staff believe that Rawls can take another step as one of the best corners in the ACC, as evidenced by being one of the most expensive players on the Seminole roster. The Panhandle native is one of three Florida State player representatives at ACC Kickoff, a telling sign of Rawls’ stance as a player and a leader on the 2026 team.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSr. Quindarrius Jones: Similar to Rawls, Jones looked the part to start the season before missing the final seven games of the year with an injury. It is now or never for the senior in his final year of eligibility, who should get all the opportunities he needs to prove himself to NFL teams. The size and athleticism have always been there, but Jones will be counting on a new cornerbacks coach to take his game to the next level.R-So Nehemiah Chandler: After spending a redshirt year at Georgia Tech, Chandler, a Jacksonville native, transferred to South Alabama, where he burst onto the scene and earned First-Team All-Sun Belt after starting 11 of 12 games and recording over one pass breakup per game. He was one of FSU’s top targets out of the transfer portal, and the redshirt sophomore joins a revamped secondary with a ton of new faces. His versatility should allow him to stay on the field early and often, giving defensive coordinator Tony White another chess piece to play with on the back end.Fr. Chuck Kennon: Kennon, Florida State’s highest-rated recruit in the 2026 class, comes to college with a P4 frame, allowing him to earn playing time if he can get it. The Noles have had plenty of highly touted players come through the program over the last few years, but not ma