The shoulder pads are on and Florida State defensive line coach Terrance Knighton is a happy man.
“Flying around on both sides of the ball, O line and D line today, it was a physical day,” Knighton said on Sunday. “You're happy to see it, especially coming off a day off. Teams tend to relax that way, but that speaks volumes to the leadership in the locker room. There's a lot of leaders in the O line, a lot of leaders in the D line, and they made a choice to come out and be physical.”
As FSU begins week 2 of preseason camp, Knighton discussed the depth of talent and leadership in the defensive line group. FSU’s coaching staff had to fight to retain Mandrell and Darryll Desir, who flirted with a transfer in January before the Seminoles were able to retain them. Knighton echoed prior comments from FSU coach Mike Norvell, who said the twins have an understanding of the demands from FSU’s staff as well as how to be successful in college football as they prepare for year 2.
Mandrell Desir had 6.5 sacks in 2025 as a true freshman and graded at 69.5 as a pass rusher (on 339 snaps). Darryll Desir, had 20 pressures and 15 tackles on 300 snaps. Darryll graded better as a defender (66.3 by PFF) than Mandrell (57.4).
“The good thing for them was I told them last year still wasn't good enough,” Knighton said. “Mandrell, he was making a lot of plays and still didn't know what the hell he was doing. Now that he understands this game, he understands where guys fit. It's allowing him to play faster. And a lot of plays he made last year was just off a raw talent, effort and physicality. But now that those two guys understand the playbook and understand the defense and can play fast and don't have to think. Good luck to the offensive linemen.”
This has been an offseason where the coaching staff has shared their enthusiasm about redshirt senior Daniel Lyons. In his first full season as a starter in 2025, Lyons had 26 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and forced a fumble. Going into his final year, Lyons’ leadership has been evident to FSU’s coaches and teammates.
“Dan has accepted the responsibility of being a leader. He's not afraid now to speak out and also at the same time be the example. He's not scared to make mistakes. He takes ownership of it. He speaks up in the meetings. Me, Coach Nick (Williams) and Odell (Haggins), we could just sit in the back of the room, and Dan can run the meetings. That's how assertive he's been right now.”
DL coach Terrance Knighton
Deante McCray transferred in from Western Kentucky and had 25 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and sack in his first season. The Jacksonville native was also honored this spring for his work ethic and leadership as one of three recipients of the Parrish Owens Heart of a Nole Award.
“He embodies what a leader is,” Knighton said. “He's the example on and off the field. He's the example in the classroom. He's the example in the film room. He's the example in the weight room. If I could have 12 of him, that's what I would want. His body has changed. He's explosive. He's strong. He gives everything he can to every single rep. But he's also the guy when you walk into the film room, he has all the freshmen in there, and he's willing to meet him.”
Knighton said Texas State transfer Jordan Sanders, who missed the spring due to injury, is in good shape in preseason camp.
“His body fat dropped,” Knighton said. “His body was great. But at the same time, in the meeting rooms, he was still asking questions, staying engaged.”
FSU has a large number of veterans, including edge rushers like Texas A&M transfer Rylan Kennedy and junior college standout Dante Anderson.
“I think the versatility now that we've added with that jack position with Jalen and Rylan, gives Tony (White) a real feel for what he can do. Having a real true jack, hybrid guys and they're physical at the same time.”
Knighton was asked about FSU’s use of three- and four-man fronts, knowing when to implement which alignment. Down and distance matters, of course. But there’s not exactly a textbook reasoning either.
“Honestly, it's my fourth year with Tony, and I still don't know what the heck he's thinking about,” Knighton said. “Sometimes he calls stuff, and I'm saying, "Why? Why are we doing this?’ And then it works. Tony's just a mad scientist. When we're going from three down to four down, sometimes five down, he'll go off script, and all the coaches looking around saying, "What the heck is going on?’
“Our guys, their second year in the defense, they understand it, and they have a good feeling for what Tony wants and understands his vision, and it's allowing those guys to play fast.”
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