From Tallahassee to Manhattan: The Coaching Journey of Former FSU Defensive Backs Coaches
The Florida State Seminoles have a rich history of producing talented defensive backs and defensive back coaches. Throughout Jimbo Fisher's coaching tenure, notable figures in college football, including Mark Stoops, Jeremy Pruitt, and Charles Kelly, oversaw the development of defensive backs in Tallahassee. These coaches went on to become head coaches at various FBS programs, with Stoops and Pruitt even leading SEC teams.
One former FSU defensive backs coach, Marcus Woodson, has been steadily climbing the coaching ranks. After coaching at FSU for three seasons, Woodson spent three years at Arkansas as the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach. Following Sam Pittman's departure from Arkansas, Woodson was offered a coaching position at Kansas State, where he will focus on coaching defensive backs.
Woodson expressed his excitement about joining Kansas State, emphasizing his commitment to developing players and contributing to the program's success. He will work under Collin Klein, the new head coach at KSU, who praised Woodson's character, work ethic, and winning mentality. Klein is confident that Woodson will play a key role in leading the defense and shaping the secondary unit.
Meanwhile, the Seminoles made changes to their coaching staff by parting ways with their previous defensive backs coach, Patrick Surtain Sr., and bringing in Blue Adams, a former secondary coach at Michigan State, to fill the role. Adams will work alongside safeties coach Evan Cooper to coach the defensive backfield in the upcoming season. The addition of Adams and the existing coaching staff signal a new chapter for the Seminoles' defensive back unit.