Earl Little Jr. becoming what FSU football 'needs him to be' after hot start to fall camp

A name consistently on the tongue of Florida State football's coaching staff this offseason has been Earl Little Jr.

He's been hailed as one of the most consistent performers throughout the offseason, both in his approach on the field and in the weight room. It's an evident change for Little, who had a rocky start to his career in Tallahassee after transferring from Alabama.

Playing out of position for much of the woeful 2-10 season, Little's potential was showcased after transitioning from nickel to safety toward the end of the season.

"You saw the flash plays towards the end of last year, and I think he's grown into and he's playing in a position that I think is very comfortable being a safety ... you saw when he moved back and got a chance to do that late in the year you saw a very comfortable player," head coach Mike Norvell said on Friday, August 1, after the first padded practice of preseason.

"Now it's still the growth and some of the finer details of it, but he's embraced and embodied that. He comes with the right mentality every day. Even in the areas where he gets coached, he wants it. Everybody says they want to be a great player until you get challenged ... he's a guy that comes with the right mentality, the right attitude and he loves playing the game. You see all of that showing up."

Little was asked to be a more vocal leader, and he's embraced that alongside the safety position that he feels more comfortable in.

With a change in coordinators and a new 3-3-5 system that is favorable for Little's skill set and a position that suits him in White's "rover" role, there is a belief within the program that Little can reach the potential that enticed the Seminoles to take him in the portal last season.

White previously described the rover as a safety who plays in the middle of the defense while being more physical and closer to the tackle box. It's something Little feels comfortable and confident in.

"Physicality, that's something I was brought up on... ever since I was young, that's what I was taught, I would definitely say that's one of my biggest attributes to my game," Little said on Sunday. "I want opposing offenses to feel me, so that's how I'm going to practice and how I'm going to approach my practice every day, and that's how I'm going to approach the game."

"Being at the rover position, it allows me to play fast. With eyes in the backfield so that allows me to come down full speed and make those big hits on opposing offense ... it just allows me to showcase my talents overall."

In limited playtime last season, he posted 15 tackles, one tackle for loss, and a sack, with a career-high six tackles coming against Miami, a game he played at safety. In White's defense, the rover plays a vital role in imposing the physical nature of the defense.

Little could be one of the most important players for the Seminoles when his former team comes to town on August 30.

He's continued to impress in the early days of preseason camp, with Norvell praising him for three good days of work so far. In the Seminoles' first day of pads on Friday, Norvell said you could "feel" Little's presence on the field.

"With what we need him to be, what we're challenging him to be, I think he's really showing up," Norvell said. "He's done some good things there in the defensive backfield."

The phrase "what we need him to be" has been echoed by other coaches on staff and Little himself. He said he needs to be a consistent leader for the Seminoles, and that was the challenge presented to him in the offseason.

As he continues to embrace his new role, both in leadership and on the field, Little is focused on elevating those around him as much as himself ahead of Week 1.

"To take that step and be a leader on the team and be more vocal on the backend. I'm kind of controlling it back there at the rover position," Little said. "Obviously, I need to be more vocal and take guys by the hand and try and bring that physicality mindset to their game and their approach."

"How I attack things, coach just wants me to bring those guys up with me. And that's what I'm doing."

FSU football 2025 schedule

• Aug. 30, Alabama, 3:30 p.m.
• Sept. 6, East Texas A&M, Noon
• Sept. 20, Kent State, TBA
• Sept. 26, at Virginia (Friday), 7 p.m.
• Oct. 4, Miami, TBA
• Oct. 11, Pittsburgh, TBA
• Oct. 18, at Stanford, 10:30 p.m.
• Nov. 1 Wake Forest, TBA
• Nov. 8 at Clemson, TBA
• Nov. 15 Virginia Tech, TBA
• Nov. 21 North Carolina State (Fri.), 8 p.m.
• Nov. 29, Florida, TBA

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 football's Earl Little Jr becoming more complete player on defense