The junior college journey has a way of inspiring athletes. But it can also begin with a self-confidence punch to the gut.
Jalen Anderson found himself attending a junior college, not because of grades but there weren’t any Division I schools willing to take a chance on him.
“It's definitely not for everybody,” Anderson said. “There was a time when I used to ask, 'Why me?' Or whatever. But I realized that it's just part of my journey. It's something that God had for me. Whatever the reason, whether it was because I had to mature more or learn more about my position or the game or the fundamentals, nuances of what I'm doing on the field and where I am in space. I think I just developed physically, mentally more as a player.”
Anderson isn’t completely a self-made man. He did need some help along the way. Even though Anderson was an all-state defensive lineman at Slidell (La.) High, his best option was his only option and that was to go to a junior college. Pearl River (Miss.) Community College took a chance on Anderson, who racked up 41 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks as a sophomore in 2025.
After a freshman season where he had 2.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss, Anderson began to be recruited by DI schools and was a top-10 junior college player in ESPN’s and 247Sports’ rankings.
“It's a hustle. Every single day,” Anderson said. “And especially with so many guys, a lot of people look at JUCO that don't know about JUCO and say, 'Maybe he had bad grades.' A lot of guys, it's a lot of bounce backs, a lot of guys that had DI (scholarship) offers. So much competition. If you're not bringing your best every day, you're not going to get to where you want to go because you're the only person that's going to push you there.”
Anderson spoke at length about how he had self-doubt but also used his internal drive. He initially felt like he hit a “massive brick wall” in junior college but also felt like he aggravated people he met at Pearl River by insisting that he would make it to the NFL one day. Anderson has a long way to go toward that goal, but his hard work and skill set helped him navigate one hurdle — the lack of a DI offer out of high school — and became one of the top prospects in junior college football.
And it’s easy to connect the dots: Anderson’s work ethic and playing time, even at the JUCO level over two seasons, could give him an edge in a battle for playing time at FSU in 2026.
The Seminoles’ line went through a roller-coaster offseason. Mandrell Desir, Darryll Desir and Kevin Wynn are among the linemen who went in the transfer portal before opting to return. Veterans like Daniel Lyons, Deante McCray and Deamontae Diggs return, as does Tylon Lee. The Seminoles also added experienced Division I players like Rylan Kennedy (Texas A&M) and Jordan Sanders (Texas State).
It's a room that is crowded again — not counting Lee, eight linemen have DI experience — but it’s also a group that is seeking pass rushers and edge-setters to defend the run.
Anderson very well could be in the mix, and he’s intent on letting everyone know in his first few months on FSU’s campus. Two years ago, he had doubts as he competed against junior college players (some of them who were a year older or had DI scholarship offers). Anderson knows what’s ahead of him this time, and he’s willing to push himself in the next step of his football journey.
“I'm re-climbing that ladder. I'm going to have to establish myself,” Anderson said. “I got to lift heavy weights and let everybody know I'm not some freshmen. When I'm practicing in the indoor, I don't have time to be sluggish and be behind and take two extra weeks to learn plays. I'm not a freshman. I have to be a guy that's ready to play and ready to work.”
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