Florida State walked away from its 34-17 win over New Mexico State with a 1-0 record, but the opener didn’t exactly calm nerves around Mike Norvell’s team. The Seminoles had plenty of areas that fell short, and the defensive line stood out for all the wrong reasons.
That’s what makes junior defensive lineman Jalen Anderson such an important early development. While the front as a whole struggled to consistently affect New Mexico State quarterback Trey Hedden, Anderson was one of the few players up front who actually flashed.
In 34 snaps, Anderson finished with a sack, two quarterback hits and three pressures. Defensive coordinator Tony White said on Monday that some of the pass-rush issues came down to Hedden getting the ball out quickly and the rushers not getting off the ball cleanly. Even with that explanation, White still singled out Anderson and Rylan Kennedy for their work.
The rest of the group didn’t match that level. Mandrell and Darryll Desir, two of the bigger names back on the front, combined for four tackles and two hurries. Daniel Lyons, Kevin Wynn and Deamontae Diggs also had trouble making a steady impact.
For Anderson, though, the opener offered a clear bright spot. White noted that he was able to win with multiple moves, using both speed and power. That matters because Anderson came to Florida State from Pearl River Community College at the JUCO level, so the leap into ACC competition is a real one.
There’s still plenty for him to clean up, but the first look suggested the stage wasn’t too big.
That’s good news for Florida State, but it also underscores how much work remains for a defensive line that had been hyped inside the program. The Seminoles head next into a Week 1 matchup with No.
19 SMU, and if they want to make noise this fall, that front has to be much better. Anderson can be part of the answer.
He can’t be the answer.
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For a team always looking to establish balance, that kind of outing matters beyond the box score. It also puts a spotlight on what comes next, because the Seminoles now have a strong first answer at running back and a chance to see whether one strong opener turns into something more lasting as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
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Norvell made clear that the evaluation will continue through practice and game action, with performance driving the final call. He pointed to areas that need improvement while also praising the effort of specific players, leaving SMU week as a real test for a line that is still trying to turn consistency into certainty. [Read more 🡒]
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Florida State honored Pritchard with the Doc Fauls Rise Above Adversity Award, recognizing the resolve it took to reach this point. Mike Norvell called him a walking miracle and pointed to the mental toughness and faith that helped carry him through the recovery, a journey still unfolding but one that already stands as one of the most moving stories around the program. [Read more 🡒]