Fentrell Cypress evaluates competition with receivers

Florida State featured one of the nation’s best passing attacks a year ago and figures to again with the return of star quarterback Jordan Travis, so the defensive backs’ competition with the receivers this spring was fascinating to watch unfold.

The Seminoles brought in some excellent targets to supplement the already existing talent on the roster.

Pretty much everyone in the group challenged the defensive backs this spring.

“It’s a great group,” defensive back Fentrell Cypress said. “Everybody have their little different ways they want to run routes and release, so whoever you guard you’re going to learn something every rep, so it’s just good to compete versus many different guys and see how they play. It helps you learn and makes you a better player.”

The competition with the receivers should only make the defensive backs better, too. And that group was already really good.

Florida State finished the 2022 season ranked fourth nationally in passing defense, allowing just 165.4 yards per game through the air. In the modern era of pass-happy offenses, that was a remarkable feat.

Now, there’s still areas the unit can improve. For one, the group recorded only eight interceptions a year ago, ranking 92nd nationally.

But the receivers should help the defensive backs learn to position better and attack the ball aggressively in the air. At the very least, it’s been a fascinating battle to see shape up heading into fall camp.

And even the youngsters have gotten involved.

One of the spring standouts was freshman signee Vandrevious Jacobs, who impressed with his ability to get free and make things happen as a 6-foot, 170-pound playmaker.

“He’s got good talent,” Cypress said. “Really quick and smooth with his routes, so he’s still just learning things and trying to figure out how he wants to run his routes and how he wants to compete against press coverage. Even when going against him, you’ve got to just be patient.”

The other thing that’s been unique for the defensive backs in the competition with the receivers is the sheer difference in prototypes they’ve had to face.

It runs the gamut from 5-foot-9 wideouts Keyshawn Helton and Ja’Khi Douglas to 6-foot-7 monster Johnny Wilson.

The defensive backs have had to learn to adjust accordingly depending on who they’re defending, something that should give them an extra edge when preparing for different teams and different matchups this fall.

“Of course you can’t play everybody the same, but at the same time you’ve always got to depend on your technique and that will help you at the end of the day,” Cypress said.