Florida State struggled to set the edge and contain the run well in 2025. It’s clear that Mike Norvell and Tony White made improving the play at defensive end a priority for 2026.

The Seminoles have hired Nick Williams to coach their edge rushers. The move was first announced by Football Scoop, which tracks coaching moves across the sport.

Williams coached at Syracuse in 2024 and 2025 and had prior stops at Texas A&M, Georgia and Colorado. While at Texas A&M, he coached future NFL draft picks DeMarvin Leal and Michael Clemons. At Georgia, he worked with first-round draft picks like Travon Walker, Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt.

He is expected to work with Terrance Knighton, who will focus on the interior defensive linemen.

A native of Bainbridge, Ga., Williams will now be close to home at FSU.

Williams also played linebacker and safety at Georgia (2008-10). He transferred to North Alabama to complete his career in 2013 after a pair of redshirt seasons.

It’s not immediately clear how the hire impacts the rest of FSU’s defensive staff. Cornerbacks coach Patrick Surtain announced on Twitter on Friday that he was fired, although he was in the final year of a contract that expires on Feb. 28, 2026. Associate head coach Odell Haggins has coached 30 years at FSU, and it’s plausible he could move into another role (on or off the field) or retire.