Florida State football has an entirely new jack position this year. They brought in Nick Williams to coach the position and added Rylan Kennedy and Jalen Anderson out of the transfer portal to provide a boost to their pass rush.
While they still have to go out and do it, Williams explained why he thinks they will be threats for the Seminoles and credited the work they put in.
“I just like the approach that they bring to the game,” he said. “They love football. Anything that I ask of those guys and Coach T-Knight, they try to do it at a very high rate.
“Get off, get off the rock. That’s the most important thing about the pass rush. They’re embracing that. They both have toolboxes. They’re not just one-trick ponies. They have a plethora of moves that they can work. We’re just trying to perfect our craft on that aspect of pass rushing. They’ve done a great job.”
“We coach them hard. That’s one thing I like about Rylen and Jalen. I get after them every day. That’s what they want. They want hard coaching. They want to get better. I can’t ask for two better players than those guys.”
Kennedy, the expected starter, spent the past three years with the Texas A&M Aggies and is looking to go from a rotation player to a reliable starter. Part of that role is being a leader for the group, and Williams says he is improving in that area, even if he wants more from him.
“He’s a quiet kid,” he explained. “He makes plays. He’s kind of a leader through his actions. I wasn’t much of a leader growing up. I tell him all the time, ‘Hey, I want you to be a leader I can live through.’ Talk, communicate.
“Talk about what you see pre-snap. That’s one of the things I’ve been trying to get Rylan to do is just open his mouth up and talk to us. He’s embraced it. He’s doing a better job.”
Anderson had to climb his way to FSU, coming out of the JUCO ranks, and Williams pointed out some areas he needs to continue to develop, while once again crediting him for wanting to be coached hard.
“He’s a smart kid,” he explained. :He plays hard. He’s had it hard coming up in his college career. He’s had to go to JUCO. He hasn’t had anything given to him. You can tell through his play. He’s always wanting more. He wants to be coached hard. I’m watching that kid get better and better.
“Right now, he’s just focused on his stance and alignment, doing your job, playing with good eyes. He’s embracing that piece of it. He has a really good get-off. He can rush the passer. He’s just got to continue to be physical and be who he is.”
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: FSU’s Nick Williams can’t ask for better players at the jack position
Reporting by JD McCarthy, FSU Wire / FSU Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By JD McCarthy, FSU Wire | USA TODAY Network
