Florida State’s defensive front is finding its rhythm at the right time, and it will get another chance to lean on that momentum when Clemson comes to Tallahassee on Oct. 31.
The Seminoles were pushed by Miami, but the defensive line answered with one of its better outings of the year. Pro Football Focus numbers backed it up, with several Florida State linemen turning in strong grades across the board.
Mandrell Desir stood out with an 80.7 overall grade, tied for the second-best mark on the team. He posted an 81.5 grade against the run and logged three quarterback hurries on 21 pass-rush snaps.
His brother, Darryll Desir, finished with a 75.9 overall grade. He earned a 72.2 against the run and a 75.1 in pass protection, while adding two quarterback hurries.
Rylan Kennedy also matched Mandrell Desir for the team’s second-highest grade at 80.7. Kennedy was especially sharp against the run with an 82.6 mark, and he finished with six quarterback pressures and one sack.
Daniels Lyons added a 76.4 overall grade, including an 80.2 against the run. On 25 pass-rush snaps, Lyons collected three quarterback hurries.
Deante McCray rounded out the group’s impact with four quarterback pressures and one QB hit on 21 pass snaps, good for a 71.5 grade.
Florida State has already shown what this kind of pressure can do. In its 38-7 win over Virginia, the Seminoles produced 10 sacks and 12 tackles for loss.
Clemson’s offense gives them a clear target. The Tigers rank last in the league in passing offense at 187 yards per game, and their quarterbacks have thrown only two touchdown passes against five interceptions. The passing game has gone scoreless in each of the last three games while producing four interceptions.
The protection has been shaky too. Clemson has allowed 17 sacks this season, which ranks No. 14 in the 17-team league.
That sets up a favorable matchup for a Florida State defensive line that already looked energized against Miami. In front of the home crowd, the Seminoles will need to keep that pressure coming and make life difficult on Clemson’s offensive line and inexperienced quarterbacks.
In Other News...
FSU Is Turning Clemson Night Into A Doak Campbell Showcase
Florida State is dressing up its Oct. 31 meeting with Clemson at Doak Campbell Stadium as more than just another ACC marquee game. The school unveiled Operation Garnet Storm, a Halloween-flavored game-day plan that blends campus pageantry with military appreciation, aiming to make the night feel like a full-scale event long before kickoff.
Peter Warrick will be honored in the first quarter for his College Football Hall of Fame induction, adding a familiar Seminole touch to a night built for spectacle. The rest of the evening is set to feature a parachute jump by USSOCOM Para-Commandos and a halftime drone show, giving FSU a chance to turn Clemson night into one of the most distinctive atmospheres on its home schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Auburns Florida State Loss Suddenly Looks More Complicated
A preseason exhibition can be an unreliable snapshot, but Florida State found plenty to like in its meeting with Auburn, especially from the frontcourt. Freshman center Marcis Ponder was everywhere in 25 minutes, piling up rebounds, scoring, and rim protection as the Seminoles used a second-half comeback to turn the game their way.
The bigger takeaway may be what the matchup suggested about Florida States depth near the basket, particularly with forward Alex Steen back in the mix after becoming eligible to play through a temporary injunction. It is still only an exhibition, and those games do not always carry over cleanly once the regular season starts, but the Seminoles suddenly have a much clearer reason to feel better about the shape of their front line. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Bye Week Puts Mike Norvell Under Real Pressure
Florida State heads into its bye week with plenty to sort through after a gutting overtime loss to Miami dropped the Seminoles to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in ACC play. The defeat came with another major setback, as running back Ousmane Kromah is out for the season, adding to a run of frustration that includes a 12-game road losing streak. Still, Mike Norvell has not lost the locker room, and he has earned some credit for the offenses better showings in key moments this fall.
The pause before Clemson in Week 9 gives Florida State a chance to reset, but it also sharpens the pressure around a season that still has a path to bowl eligibility. Norvells standing has been buoyed by the teams belief in him and the flashes his offense has shown, yet the margin for error is now thin. How the Seminoles handle the next stretch will say plenty about whether this bye week becomes a turning point or just another stop in a frustrating season. [Read more 🡒]