Kalen DeLoach brags about Florida State’s linebacker room

Coming into this season, Florida State linebacker Kalen DeLoach is expected to be one of the Seminoles’ best players. However, he feels the entire linebacker room is incredibly talented going into the 2023 season.

As DeLoach explained at the 2023 ACC Football Kickoff, Florida State should have depth at linebacker for years to come.

“I love them boys,” Kalen DeLoach said. “Like I told them before I left, I’m gonna brag about that linebacker room because there’s so many different pieces.”

While DeLoach headlines a core group of talented veterans, he also took the time to praise the team’s younger linebackers.

“You know, we’ve got some young guys like Blake [Nichelson] that just came in, Dylan [Brown-Turner]. You’ve got some — Ashton [Bracewell], Brandon [Torres] — so, you know, just like them from day one they was ready to learn. They tried to get the whole playbook down in one day, and I was the same way. I told them, ‘Your time will come but you’ve got to slow it down,'” DeLoach said.

“Because, as freshmen we like to think a lot. You try to do everything perfect. So, just being the older leader and somebody who’s been through it, just trying to get them guidance and just let them know to slow down and just play. Mistakes gonna come, but just play.”

Amid that talented linebacker room, head coach Mike Norvell knows that Kalen DeLoach is still the key to the defense.

“Kalen’s a guy that, you know, he’s got to be one of those heartbeats for us. And he’s been here since we came through the door as a coaching staff. Probably as much growth from a young man from that first date to where he is now,” Norvell said.

“Just, in all things. His attitude, his approach. You know, if he’s not exceptional on a day, it really shows up. Like, if he’s not bringing that type of intensity because that’s just who he is, and I thought it was great today to see him get a couple takeaways. Both in good situations. One on an interception. One on when the ball got to the ground. You know, just being around the ball, being active, being physical.”

Kalen DeLoach says FSU isn’t shying away from national championship talk

Expectations are high for Florida State in 2023, with many expecting the Seminoles to compete for the College Football Playoff. As Kalen DeLoach explained, Florida State isn’t shying away from those expectations.

“We say national championship, playoff, yessir. I feel like that’s — we know what we’re capable of. But we want to focus on more things, more so every day. We want to focus on every game, each week, week-by-week. We never look ahead, although there is a lot of people talking about it,” DeLoach said.

“But we just focus on what we need to do. And we know what we need to do every day and that if we do it every day, we’re going to be where we need to be.”