True freshmen can often hit a wall late in their first year of college football. That’s far from the case for Mandrell Desir, who is disruptive and has been making plays each week.
And he’s putting together one of the best seasons by a Florida State true freshman defensive lineman.
Desir sacked Kyron Drones and forced a fumble on the same play, the most recent highlight for the 6-foot-4, 262-pound tackle.
“As I saw him (Drones) curling up, I shed off the block and went and made it,” Desir said in his understated, no-nonsense way.
Desir has played in every game for FSU and earned 246 snaps. He has 17 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, and now has a sack in each of FSU’s last three games. But when asked by a reporter for a self-evaluation of his season, Desir was critical.
“I definitely feel like I could do way better,” Desir said. “I definitely left a lot of sacks out there. I could have gotten two or three sacks. It’s just all about getting better.”
Desir and defensive coordinator Tony White said forcing takeaways was a point of emphasis leading into the game. And it was Desir’s play that was a big play for the Seminoles, preventing what could have been a big play for Virginia Tech.
“If he misses that play, it’s probably going for 40,” White said. “It’s wide open, he’s taking off running. For him to lock out, see the ball, to go over there, and then to actively try to put his hand through there and punch at the ball like that, that’s headsy. I know he’s a freshman All-American. But he’s truly growing into being one of the better d-linemen in the country. Period.”
The Seminoles retained defensive tackle Darrell Jackson, brought in defensive linemen James Williams, Deante McCray, Jayson Jenkins and Deamontae Diggs and developed Amaree Williams as a part-time tight end, part-time defensive end. Who would have thought Desir would lead the team with five sacks?
“He’s going off of pure instinct now,” White said. “Just wait until he’s bigger, faster, stronger and he anticipates and he knows blocking schemes. Right now he’s taking two blinks to see it and he’s just reacting. Pretty soon he’s going to be back, fast and strong. He’s going to blink, and in that first blink he’s going to know exactly the play.
“That’s where you get guys whose pictures go on the wall and they’re All-Americans and they’re up for the Nagurski (Award) and all that kind of stuff.”
Desir has that kind of stuff. And don’t be quick to dismiss White’s comments as exaggerated words. Brian Burns had 9.5 sacks as a true freshman defensive end in 2016, but few of FSU’s interior defensive linemen through the years play all that much or record that many sacks as a true freshman.
Again, Desir has five sacks, plus the pressures. And can admit to media and fans that he was close on a few more sacks. While critical of where he came up short, Desir said he’s enjoyed his first season at FSU and playing at Doak.
“Absolutely, playing at Doak is a blessing,” Desir said. “I love it here. I don’t think I ever want to leave honestly.”
That should make FSU coaches, his teammates and fans happy. But in the short term? FSU hits the road to play NC State and then Florida. The Seminoles will need Desir to bring the disruptive show on the road.
“We’re raising the intensity in practice to go get this road game. That’s the No. 1 thing,” Desir said. “Everybody says we can’t get a road game. That’s what we’re going to go out here and do.”
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