There was some unknown disconnect a year ago between perception and reality with regard to the Florida State defensive line unit.

It was expected by NFL scouts, coaches and media members to be a position group loaded with future NFL talent even after losing a pair of defensive linemen taken in the top two rounds of the NFL Draft months prior.

The harsh reality, though, was the sum of the defensive line parts didn't remotely add to what was expected. FSU ranked outside the top 50 nationally in sacks (27, 56th) and tackles for loss (74, 51st). It didn't get pressure with four often enough and was also at times a liability against the run.

These struggles certainly played a role in FSU's defensive coordinator change this offseason. Adam Fuller is gone after five seasons at FSU and in comes Tony White from Nebraska.

However, it seems to have also changed the approach of how FSU went about adding defensive line transfers this offseason. After gambling on some high-potential, somewhat-unproven players who didn't need to be immediate leaders last offseason, FSU went after more proven guys who they believed could be the leaders from the day they arrived on campus this offseason on the defensive line.

According to Mike Norvell, the early returns on that decision this spring have been overwhelmingly positive.

"I feel really good and excited about what I've seen from the older guys that have come in," Norvell said Saturday after FSU's first spring scrimmage. "Deante McCray has done a really nice job. Tae Diggs, I think is probably further along I thought he was. He's got such a unique backstory just in his experience. I like what I'm seeing from him."

Add this to what Norvell said unprompted earlier in the week when discussing a Tuesday practice in which the defense responded well after a slow start to the day's work, a notable issue that last year's FSU defense consistently battled.

"I think James Williams has had a really, really good last few days in pads," Norvell said. "I've been really pleased with some of the early strides from Tae Diggs. I thought his physicality, some of the movement things he's been able to show are really encouraging. Deante McCray, those guys who have played a good amount of football before, coming in and trying to establish that expectation on a play-in, play-out basis."

Upon his arrival at FSU in December, White had to quickly scour the vast expanse of the transfer portal to find defensive linemen who could work in his scheme as FSU moves to a multiple 3-3-5 look this offseason.

One option, Williams, was an obvious choice to recruit as he played for White and new FSU defensive line coach Terrance Knighton at Nebraska. McCray played in a similar defense the last few years at Western Kentucky. Diggs, meanwhile, was only one year removed from playing at FCS Youngstown State, spending the 2024 season at Coastal Carolina. He seemed to be the biggest risk of the bunch in terms of immediate production.

Coming out of FSU's first scrimmage, White has seen enough from all three transfer defensive linemen to believe they'll be able to contribute to a large degree at this level.

“They’re all hits so far. Not only athletic ability-wise, but they’re learning, they’re making plays. All of them have done something every practice where they’re doing something to where you’re like ‘That’s a heck of a play, man, you’re going to be a really, really good player,' " White said. "Seeing them here, all of them can play and contribute. It’s fun to watch because now you can put some of them in different packages and stuff like that, like ‘Well, how about we put these guys in there, what happens when we put these guys in there? … Those guys are good, they’re going to be good football players here.”

A fourth defensive line transfer addition, Tennessee transfer Jayson Jenkins, is out for the spring with an injury, but is expected back sometime over the summer and also could factor into the mix come fall.

Of the three, Williams in particular is being challenged to make a pretty drastic, multi-faceted transformation over his first few months at FSU.

Williams said earlier this spring he's up 20 pounds from the 250 he was when he arrived at FSU in January, citing a carnivore diet he's adapted with an assist from FSU director of strength and conditioning Josh Storms, director of performance nutrition Jaden Hamil and his fiance, who is also a nutritionist.

"I've already felt (the difference) so far. I definitely feel stronger. I feel like I dictate what everyone else does," Williams said. "When I used to be smaller, in the pass game, you know you're going to be able to get around this guy, but in the run game, you have to have perfect technique ... I have more power behind me, in my hips, in my hands. So far, I feel like it's been a lot better for me."

There's also the transformation in role. He was largely a third-down pass-rush specialist at Nebraska. While he was effective in the role (31 pressures in 142 pass-rush reps last season according to PFF), he's now being tasked with becoming an every-down lineman and expected to be a starter for the Seminoles.

But even more than that, Williams was tasked with being a Day 1 leader immediately upon his arrival to the program. That was an area sorely lacking across the entire 2024 FSU team, but notably on the defensive line.

Along with returning defensive tackle Darrell Jackson, Williams is being tasked with ensuring history doesn't repeat itself on that front.

"Both those guys, you feel their ownership. It's an important word, but it's also the actions that come with that..." Norvell said. "I think they have high ceilings in what this next year can be. It's about going out every day and working to be the example for what we want this defensive line, this defense and ultimately what we want this football team to look like. It's pushing that consistency on a play-in and play-out basis...

"I think they've done a really good job in that the first couple days. I'm still trying to take advantage of any opportunity I get to strain them, to continue to push for more. What I've liked is those guys embrace that challenge ... They want to be great leaders, they want to be guys that make an impact on others."

While that could be an intimidating situation to step into for a new player outside of the quarterback position where leadership is expected, Williams isn't shying away from it. Considering where his career started as a junior-college player with no D-I interest, it means a lot to him that he's now considered an important player and a leader within a program like FSU's.

"They're harder on me, but I like that. They expect more out of me. I know this defense, I'm still trying to help everybody else get used to it, get acclimated to it..." Williams said. "To whom much is given, much is expected. That's not something I shy away from. I like that coach Norvell expects me to be a leader and expects me to contend for ACC Defensive Player of the Year. He expects me to stand right next to him and for us to lead this team on defense. That's something that I love and I really hope that it keeps up."

Join the Osceola for 30 days for free, using promo code Osceola30

Follow The Osceola on Facebook

Follow The Osceola on Twitter

Subscribe to the Osceola's YouTube channel

Subscribe to the Osceola's podcasts on Apple