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Top returning defensive FSU football players, according to Pro Football Focus

ehsan kassim, tallahassee democrat
·4 min read

Despite what the College Football Playoff Committee deemed, Florida State football had a successful 2024 season.

The Seminoles had an undefeated regular season and won the ACC Championship for the first time since 2014.

As a result, FSU is seeing a ton of talent head to the 2024 NFL Draft.

Here's a look at the Seminoles' top returners on defense for the 2024 season, per stats from Pro Football Focus.

11. Byron Turner Jr., defensive end

Florida State Seminoles defensive back Shyheim Brown (38) celebrates his fumble recovery alongside defensive lineman Byron Turner Jr. (54) against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the fourth quarter Nov. 4, 2023, at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Florida State Seminoles defensive back Shyheim Brown (38) celebrates his fumble recovery alongside defensive lineman Byron Turner Jr. (54) against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the fourth quarter Nov. 4, 2023, at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Class: Redshirt junior

Snaps: 260

2023 stats: 26 tackles (12 solo), 2.0 tackles-for-loss, 1.0 sacks and nine quarterback hurries

PFF stats: 65.4 overall grade; 69.4 run defense grade; 73.9 tackling grade; 64.9 pass rush grade; 59.1 coverage grade

10. Edwin Joseph, defensive back

Class: Redshirt freshman

Snaps: 45

2023 stats: One tackles (one solo)

PFF stats: 69.0 overall grade; 68.0 run defense grade; 72.5 tackling grade; 67.4 coverage grade

9. K.J. Kirkland, defensive back

Florida State football and coaches players arrive for the fifth FSU spring football practice of the 2023 season on Thursday, March 30.
Florida State football and coaches players arrive for the fifth FSU spring football practice of the 2023 season on Thursday, March 30.

Class: Redshirt freshman

Snaps: 39

2023 stats: 26 tackles (nine solo), 3.5 tackles-for-loss, 0.5 sacks, two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble

PFF stats: 70.6 overall grade; 74.1 run defense grade; 82.0 tackling grade; 65.7 coverage grade

8. Shyheim Brown, defensive back

Florida State Seminoles defensive back Shyheim Brown (38) smiles after a defensive stop against the Syracuse Orange during the first half Oct. 14, 2023, at Doak S. Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.
Florida State Seminoles defensive back Shyheim Brown (38) smiles after a defensive stop against the Syracuse Orange during the first half Oct. 14, 2023, at Doak S. Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.

Class: Redshirt junior

Snaps: 742

2023 stats: 53 tackles (25 solo), 2.0 tackles-for-loss, 2.0 sacks, six quarterback hurries, four pass deflections and fumble recovery

PFF stats: 71.0 overall grade; 66.7 run defense grade; 81.7 tackling grade; 71.8 pass rush grade; 70.9 coverage grade

7. Patrick Payton, defensive end

Florida State Seminoles defensive lineman Patrick Payton (11) hits and causes a fumble against Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck (15) during the first half in the 2023 Orange Bowl on December 30, 2023, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Florida State Seminoles defensive lineman Patrick Payton (11) hits and causes a fumble against Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck (15) during the first half in the 2023 Orange Bowl on December 30, 2023, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Class: Redshirt junior

Snaps: 608

2023 stats: 44 tackles (29 solo), 14.5 tackles-for-loss, 7.0 sacks, 32 quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and 10 pass deflections

PFF stats: 71.2 overall grade; 72.8 run defense grade; 51.2 tackling grade; 74.2 pass rush grade; 52.8 coverage grade

6. Daniel Lyons, defensive lineman

FSU defensive tackle Daniel Lyons finishes a rep during the Seminoles' fourth spring football practice on Friday, March 11, 2022.
FSU defensive tackle Daniel Lyons finishes a rep during the Seminoles' fourth spring football practice on Friday, March 11, 2022.

Class: Redshirt sophomore

Snaps: 144

2023 stats: 16 tackles (six solo)

PFF stats: 71.4 overall grade; 72.1 run defense grade; 55.8 tackling grade; 64.0 pass rush grade; 60.0 coverage grade

5. Fentrell Cypress II, defensive back

Florida running back Montrell Johnson Jr., left, runs past Florida State defensive back Fentrell Cypress II (23) for a 5-yard touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Florida running back Montrell Johnson Jr., left, runs past Florida State defensive back Fentrell Cypress II (23) for a 5-yard touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Class: Redshirt senior

Snaps: 606

2023 stats: 40 tackles (28 solo), 1.5 tackles-for-loss, 10 pass deflections, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.

PFF stats: 71.8 overall grade; 61.9 run defense grade; 63.5 tackling grade; 51.4 pass rush grade; 72.9 coverage grade

4. Ja'Bril Rawls, defensive back

Florida State's Ja'Bril Rawls (30) and North Alabama kicker Sam Contorno (37) pursue a blocked kick that Florida State recovered and ran back for the final touchdown off an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Colin Hackley)
Florida State's Ja'Bril Rawls (30) and North Alabama kicker Sam Contorno (37) pursue a blocked kick that Florida State recovered and ran back for the final touchdown off an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Colin Hackley)

Class: Redshirt freshman

Snaps: 59

2023 stats: Four tackles (three solo)

PFF stats: 73.1 overall grade; 51.5 run defense grade; 36.3 tackling grade; 68.0 pass rush grade; 78.0 coverage grade

3. Azareye'h Thomas, defensive back

Georgia Bulldogs running back Daijun Edwards (30) rushes the ball against Florida State Seminoles defensive back Azareye'h Thomas during the first half in the 2023 Orange Bowl on December 30, 2023, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Georgia Bulldogs running back Daijun Edwards (30) rushes the ball against Florida State Seminoles defensive back Azareye'h Thomas during the first half in the 2023 Orange Bowl on December 30, 2023, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Class: Junior

Snaps: 493

2023 stats: 29 tackles (21 solo), 4.5 tackles-for-loss, 0.5 sacks, 10 pass deflections, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble

PFF stats: 75.0 overall grade; 61.0 run defense grade; 71.7 tackling grade; 48.1 pass rush grade; 78.7 coverage grade

2. Conrad Hussey, defensive back

Florida running back Montrell Johnson Jr. (2) outruns Florida State defensive back Conrad Hussey (12), defensive back Akeem Dent, back center, and defensive back Fentrell Cypress II, right, on a 52-yard run during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Florida running back Montrell Johnson Jr. (2) outruns Florida State defensive back Conrad Hussey (12), defensive back Akeem Dent, back center, and defensive back Fentrell Cypress II, right, on a 52-yard run during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Class: Sophomore

Snaps: 213

2023 stats: 22 tackles (nine solo), one interception, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, two pass deflections

PFF stats: 75.4 overall grade; 73.7 run defense grade; 75.1 tackling grade; 53.7 pass rush grade; 75.4 coverage grade

1. DJ Lundy, linebacker

Florida State football players take part in drills during an FSU spring football practice of the 2023 season on Thursday, March 30.
Florida State football players take part in drills during an FSU spring football practice of the 2023 season on Thursday, March 30.

Class: Redshirt senior

Snaps: 403

2023 stats: 54 tackles (17 solo), 6.0 tackles-for-loss, 2.0 sacks and five quarterback hurries.

PFF stats: 78.2 overall grade; 90.9 run defense grade; 84.1 tackling grade; 68.1 pass rush grade; 57.9 coverage grade

Overall analysis of FSU defensive returners

While the Seminoles lose a lot of depth in its defensive back room with safety Akeem Dent, as well as corners Jarrian Jones, Renardo Green and Greedy Vance Jr. to the 2024 NFL Draft, the return of Cypress and Thomas are major wins for FSU.

Cypress was an All-ACC performer with Virginia in 2022 and started to come on near the end of the season. Thomas was one of FSU's best defenders all season and will have a larger role next season.

Some of the freshmen in last year's class did well in limited snaps and could prove to earn bigger roles this season.

Getting Lundy back from the transfer portal was another win for FSU, as the room is thin with starters Tatum Bethune and Kalen DeLoach headed to the NFL.

Payton is another name who flirted with the portal, but he and Turner are two key players who can help replace the production of another NFL-bound player in Jared Verse.

Reach Ehsan Kassim at ekassim@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim. You can also follow our coverage on Facebook (NoleSports), Instagram (tlhnolesports) and YouTube channel (NoleSportsTD).

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Patrick Payton among top returning players for FSU football by PFF