FSU lands productive Western Kentucky DL Deante McCray
The Florida State Seminoles have picked up another important piece for their rebuilt defensive front with the addition of former Western Kentucky defensive lineman Deante McCray.
McCray, who hails from Jacksonville, committed to Florida State on Friday after his two-day visit.
*Also See: McCray breaks down his two-day visit to FSU
The 6-foot-4, 283-pounder was very productive during his time at Western Kentucky. As a redshirt sophomore this fall, he racked up 59 tackles with three tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
In 2023, while still a redshirt freshman, he started four of 12 games and registered 42 tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss and one sack.
McCray seemed to play his best football in the second half of the 2024 season.
He registered nine tackles — all solo stops — against Liberty on Nov. 23. One week later, he made five tackles against Jacksonville State, then three more against Jacksonville State in the Conference USA Championship Game. And then in the Boca Raton Bowl against James Madison on Wednesday, he recorded six more tackles.
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McCray was rated highly by Pro Football Focus in most categories. While starting at both defensive end spots during the 2024 season, he was given an overall grade of 76.1 and a run defense grade of 79.5. His pass-rush grade was much lower at 59.8.
The rising redshirt junior will have two more years of eligibility when he becomes a Seminole.
Florida State earlier added defensive end James Williams and linebacker Stefon Thompson of Nebraska. All three of those additions should be heavily featured in the Seminoles’ new 3-3-5 defense under coordinator Tony White.
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