Nebraska recruits FSU could target with Tony White now on staff
Florida State just made official the hire of new defensive coordinator Tony White — who is leaving the same position at Nebraska to join the Seminoles.
With White’s departure from Nebraska and his arrival in Tallahassee, it makes sense to take a look at the prospects White helped recruit for the Cornhuskers and see if they make sense for the ‘Noles to pursue.
There’s only a few days until Signing Day — so time may not be in FSU’s favor here — but we’ll take a look at some possible options FSU and the new leader of their defense could pursue between now and Wednesday:
Nebraska’s top ranked commit in the 2025 class happens to be a player on the defensive side of the ball: four-star linebacker Dawson Merritt. New FSU defensive coordinator Tony White is listed as the secondary recruiter for Merritt — who the Cornhuskers flipped from Alabama earlier on this cycle.
FSU could obviously use an infusion of talent towards any spot in its front seven and linebacker is no exception. We haven’t heard if this hire is going to affect the 6-foot-3, 215-pounder but due to his pedigree, he’ll be a name to monitor.
FSU needs to add talent to its defensive line room by any means and Malcolm Simpson is a blue-chip defensive lineman out of Texas that has been committed to Nebraska since June.
We checked in with Simpson today on whether the news of White’s departure to FSU would affect his recruitment. He indicated he didn’t think it would at this time. Things get interesting if his primary recruiter, defensive line coach Terrance Knighton joins White in Tallahassee — which has been rumored. The 6-foot-3, 255-pounder would make sense from a talent and positional perspective for FSU to look into in this final stretch.
The No. 1 ranked player in Nebraska is Christian Jones, a committment to the in-state Huskers since September. Standing at 6-foot-2.5, 215-pounds, Jones would be the highest ranked linebacker prospect in FSU’s class if he were to end up in Tallahassee.
That’s not to say there is any buzz yet between the ‘Noles and Jones — but it speaks to the idea that FSU should explore getting involved in his recruitment as they aim to improve all position rooms on their roster.
Tony White is the secondary recruiter for Kade Pietrzak, another blue-chip defensive lineman pledged to the Huskers. Pietrzak, listed at 6-foot-4, 250-pounds, is the No. 1 ranked player in North Dakota within the 2025 class.
Like with Simpson, FSU should explore getting involved with Pietrzak due to their need along the defensive line as well as the fact that White was personally involved in recruiting him to Lincoln.
