Early consequences emerge for FSU football after firing Patrick Surtain Sr.

It's been less than a week since the Florida State Seminoles fired defensive backs coach Patrick Surtain Sr. The longtime high school coach and NFL assistant had been in Tallahassee for three seasons.

Shortly after the news went public, multiple former and current Florida State players, along with recruits, voiced their displeasure with the move.

Now, the Seminoles are dealing with the ramifications of firing a coach with plenty of connections across the state of Florida.

Four-Star CB Bryce Williams Decommits From Florida State

On Tuesday afternoon, four-star cornerback Bryce Williams announced he was decommitting from Florida State and re-opening his recruitment.

Williams had been pledged to the Seminoles since April 1. Maybe he just fooled everyone, and no one realized? In all seriousness, Surtain Sr.'s dismissal played a significant role in his decision, as he was coaching the cornerbacks at FSU.

BREAKING: Four-Star CB Bryce Williams has Decommitted from Florida State, he tells me for @rivals⁰⁰The 6’2 175 CB had been Committed to the Seminoles since April⁰⁰He currently holds a total of 35 offershttps://t.co/p3eBknVfWV pic.twitter.com/xy2DZwld2H
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 9, 2025

During his junior season at Western High School, Williams totaled 22 tackles, 12 pass deflections, and an interception in nine games.

In recent months, Williams has picked up offers from programs such as Michigan, Georgia, Penn State, Florida, Texas A&M, Tennessee, and Miami. His last visit to Florida State came on October 4, when he was in Doak Campbell Stadium to watch the loss to the Hurricanes.

It remains to be seen if the Seminoles get can re-involved in his recruitment.

The 6-foot-2, 175-pound defensive back is regarded as the No. 225 overall prospect, the No. 23 CB, and the No. 21 recruit in Florida in the 2027 class according to the 247Sports composite ratings.