Florida State makes addition to its defensive staff from ACC rival

Florida State has agreed to terms with Syracuse edge coach Nick Williams to join the Seminoles coaching staff in the same role.

Williams spent the last two seasons coaching edge rushers for the Orange, helping develop seventh-round NFL Draft pick Fadil Diggs during the 2024 season.

This move comes with head coach Mike Norvell still retooling his staff on defense after a disappointing 2025 campaign. The Seminoles parted ways with defensive backs coach Patrick Surtain Sr. this week, which was the first major staff move of the offseason.

Williams brings recruiting ties and defensive line coaching experience from previous stops at Colorado, Texas A&M and Georgia to a program looking for answers after missing bowl eligibility for the fourth time in Norvell's six seasons.

Williams joined Syracuse in December 2023 after spending one season as Colorado's defensive line coach under Deion Sanders. In his first year with the Orange in 2024, Syracuse went 10-3 during the regular season and finished No. 20 in the Associated Press poll.

Per Pete Thamel, Williams coached Diggs to All-ACC honors before the defensive end was selected 254th overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 2025 NFL Draft.