Florida State football's defensive backfield could have a big season, and both Jeremiah Wilson and Shyheim Brown could be at the heart of it.
The return to Doak Campbell Stadium is drawing closer for Florida State football fans as the kickoff of the 2025 college football season is less than 50 days away.
As FSU looks to turn the page and prove last season's 2-10 season to be a fluke, the Seminoles overhauled the coaching staff with new offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn and defensive coordinator Tony White. Both coaches revamped their coaching staffs and a total of 46 new players between the transfer portal and high school recrutinment.
With excitement building for the Seminoles' 2025 season, it's time to dive into the most important players at each position ahead of kickoff against Alabama in Week 1.
Let's start with the defensive secondary, an area that saw significant turnover for the Seminoles. We will look at two players we believe to be the most important for success at each position group.
Houston transfer Jeremiah Wilson brings excitement, veteran presence
Transferred in from Houston and having prior experience with White at Syracuse, Jeremiah Wilson has emerged as an important figure in the defensive backfield. With both Azareye'h Thomas and Fentrell Cypress in the NFL, there will be new starting corners for the Seminoles, and Wilson is likely to be one of them.
Wilson had an 86.7 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus in 2024, a top-15 grade in his position. His 12th overall grade was 126 spots higher than FSU's highest-ranked corner last season in Thomas, who was ranked 138th.
This will be the first time that Wilson is likely to be a full-time starter, and in a 3-3-5 system he's familiar with, considering his one season with White at Syracuse. In his career, he has recorded 61 tackles, 6 for a loss, 10 pass breakups and five interceptions.
He started the final eight games for Houston in 2024 and ended the season with 24 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions, the third most in the Big 12, and four pass breakups.
Wilson will face a stiff test against Alabama and wide receiver Ryan Williams in Week 1, and his performance in that will be key if the Seminoles want to pull off the upset. If FSU's defensive backfield is going to return to being one of the best position groups on the team, as it historically has been, expect Wilson to be at the heart of that resurgence.
Shyheim Brown is key to success at safety
One of the few returning starters from 2024, Shyheim Brown comes into the 2025 year with high expectations placed on his shoulders.
The 2-10 season wasn't the worst for Brown, but he didn't take a huge leap. With a blank slate and a new defensive coordinator who has a play style that could suit him, Brown's final year of eligibility could shape up to be his most important.
He graded out at 69.8% in 2024 according to PFF, about an average grade for a player, and had his open field tackling called upon frequently due to FSU's deficiencies on defense. He recorded a team-leading 70 tackles, had two pass breakups and added two blocked field goals. In a 3-3-5 system that prioritizes versatile defensive backs, Brown could be, and should be, a crucial piece in the system.
With his ability to tackle in the open field, Brown should be a leading tackle for the Seminoles again in 2025, with his ability to make plays. Paired alongside Wilson, the pair will not only be crucial to the success of the defensive backfield but also the entire Seminoles roster in 2025.
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: Why FSU football DBs Jeremiah Wilson, Shyheim Brown are most important
Category: General Sports
