Mike Norvell addresses Derrick McLendon transfer decision

After beefing up its defensive line this offseason, Florida State EDGE Derrick McLendon hit the transfer portal on Tuesday. He was set to be one of the leading returners on FSU’s defensive line, but those recent additions seem to have made him the odd one out.

Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell addressed McLendon’s decision to enter the transfer portal and had nothing but good things to say about about him as a player, and as a person.

“I wish him all the best,” Norvell said of McLendon’s decision to transfer. “There are choices to be made as we go through college athletics. It’s definitely a new age, but Derrick did a lot of good things for this program. He will leave as a graduate, and I’m very proud of him for that. He is going to explore situations that might be the best fit for him.

“We’re [still] going to be very competitive here. There are still a lot of great players that are going to push daily. Derrick did all of that, to be able to play for us and do all of the things that are necessary, and I wish him all the best wherever he ends up next.”

McLendon played four seasons with the Seminoles and was most productive in 2022. He finished his time in Tallahassee with 60 total tackles, 29 solo tackles, 12 tackles for loss, seven sacks, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. In 2021, McLendon recorded 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.

Norvell won’t have to look very far to find replacements on the defensive end. Jared Verse is expected to be one of America’s best EDGE rushers, while redshirt sophomore Patrick Payton is looking to pick up where he left off in 2022.

Payton was named ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year last season and ranked second among Florida State defenders with five sacks. Verse led the Seminoles with nine sacks and earned first-team All-ACC honors. No one would be surprised if he ended up on most of the preseason All-American lists ahead of the season.

FSU also acquired the services of South Carolina DE transfer Gilber Edmond. After posting 44 tackles, 9.5 TFL and 2.0 sacks last year with the Gamecocks, he has reportedly impressed coaches through his first few spring practices.

The first opportunity to check out this defensive line unit will be on April 15 at 4 p.m. inside Doak Campbell Stadium during Florida State’s annual spring game, which they are dubbing the ‘spring showcase’ this year.