Rylan Kennedy delivers an update on the Desir twins that should get fans pumped

It's been a pretty hectic offseason for FSU and the Desir twins. When Mandrell and Darryl Desir decided to enter the transfer portal, it appeared like things were at their lowest point, but both sides came to an agreement for the 2026 season that put everyone at ease.

And according to Rylan Kennedy, the twins remain two of the hardest-working players in the building and someone that the Texas A&M transfer draws inspiration from.

"They've been good. Hearing how they've been All-American and all that stuff, it's really inspiring.... When I was a freshman I was never like that," Kennedy said. "Seeing them...I told them they've got a head start on everything. They're putting the work in."

Rylan Kennedy believes in the greatness of the Desir twins

This is a great sign that an incoming player can immediately single out the work ethic of these rising sophomores. FSU has been through these sorts of "holdout" situations recently, most notably with Patrick Payton. Unfortunately, Payton struggled in 2024 and failed to put together the productive season that was expected of him after the departure of Jared Verse.

Some fans have pretty long memories and when the Desir twins decided to go back to the negotiating table, comparisons between them and Payton were popular talking points. Kennedy squashes some of that narrative by saying that they are continuing to work hard and raise the standards on defense.

"They're not too cocky. They're none of that. They're just regular athletes, players," Kennedy added. "They don't try to act like they're better than anybody else. They're just good teammates."

Mandrell Desir is coming off of a breakout season with 30 tackles and 6.5 sacks. He was named to nearly every Freshman All-American team. Darryl Desir's numbers (25 tackles, 1.5 TFL, one sack) were more of what you'd expect from a first-year guy getting adjusted to college competition. But he started the final two games of the season (N.C. State and Florida) and had 11 tackles to provide a sample of what we might expect in the upcoming season. 

It's a good sign that the twins are not only working hard to be even better in 2026, but that Kennedy noticed it. Both sides should benefit from being on the field together. Mandrell Desir is going to draw a lot of attention, and it could give Kennedy an opportunity to put up career-best numbers. And as the former Aggie says, everyone will be working together.