FSU football: Options at defensive end with Derrick McLendon departure
By Kelvin Hunt
FSU football lost Derrick McLendon to the transfer portal Tuesday morning. McLendon started 12 games last season as a redshirt junior in 2022 and graduated in December, which allows him to enter the transfer portal as a graduate transfer without sitting out a year.
He recorded 37 tackles, including 5.0 for loss with 3.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, and three quarterback hurries.
McLendon was displeased he wasn’t named to Leadership Council by his teammates, which is telling in and of itself.
McLendon wasn’t a bad player, but it became clear younger players and transfers were passing him by on the depth chart, potentially decreasing his role.
McLendon’s departure does eat into the depth a bit, but that will allow more snaps for development for other players.
Here are some options FSU football can use at the defensive end position.
The two obvious options are Jared Verse and Patrick Payton. Verse likely would have been an NFL Second Round Draft selection at worst had he chosen to forgo this season at FSU.
Payton was the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year as a redshirt freshman last season. These two players were No. 1 and No. 2 in sacks, and No. 1 and No. 4 in tackles for a loss.