The Florida State Seminoles are 1-0 after defeating New Mexico State 34-17, but their Week 0 performance wasn't inspiring. Instead, it left fans far less confident that Mike Norvell will be able to win in a critical season.
Several areas didn't do enough, and the defensive line was at the top of the list. After receiving praise from coaches and players like Ashton Daniels, the D-line was virtually non-existent. If that's the case going forward, the Seminoles are in big trouble. Thankfully for them, junior defensive lineman Jalen Anderson was one of the best players upfront for this defense.
Jalen Anderson gives Florida State a bright spot amid D-line concerns
Anderson played in 34 total snaps and finished with a sack, two QB hits, and three pressures. Overall, the defensive front failed to get after the quarterback, which isn't ideal for any unit. Defensive coordinator Tony White spoke to the media on Monday. He expressed that the lack of pass rush juice came from New Mexico State quarterback Trey Hedden getting the ball out quickly and the pass rushers not getting off the ball.
While calling out some flaws, White gave a shoutout to Anderson and Rylan Kennedy. Overall, the defense didn't answer the call, and the lack of pass rush juice was a major reason for it.
Two of the biggest names to return to the front were Mandrell and Darryll Desir. Those two initially stated they were going to transfer but decided to return after landing presumably significant NIL deals. And neither player was overly productive on Saturday. They combined to log four tackles and two hurries.
Meanwhile, other guys like Daniel Lyons, Kevin Wynn, and Deamontae Diggs also struggled to make a consistent impact. Considering that New Mexico State is one of the easiest games on their schedule, the Seminoles' front could be in for a long year.
That puts Anderson's performance into the limelight, as he looked like a solid presence for the Noles' defensive front. White pointed out that Anderson was able to win with a variety of moves that featured speed and power.
This is a good sign, as Anderson transferred from Pearl River Community College at the JUCO level, so jumping into ACC action is an uptick in competition. There's still room to grow, but at first glance, Anderson showed the moment wasn't too big for him.
For a Florida State team whose defensive line was hyped up within the program, the results didn't follow on the field. The Seminoles will face stiff opponents, which starts with No. 19 SMU coming to town for a Week 1 tilt.
If the Noles want any chance of making noise this fall, their defensive line will need to play much better. They can't have Anderson be the top player for that unit. In an ideal world, he's more of a rotational piece instead of being the top guy.
Time will tell how things will unfold, but after the season opener, the arrow around Anderson is pointing up, while everyone else is headed in the opposite direction.
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