Florida State took on new leadership on their defense in 2025 under Tony White. His 3-3-5 scheme had it’s upd and downs, but overall their was clear improvement, and freshman defensive lineman Mandrell Desir was a major reason why.
He played in all 12 games for the Seminoles last season and immediately became an impact player. Desir recorded his first sack by the third game and finished with a least a half sack in six of the last seven games. He earned the top spot for sacks on the team, and he also got named on the honorable mention list in the ACC.
He and his twin brother originally entered the transfer portal but decided to return. With that said, Rodd Baxley of the Fayetteville Observer recently named Desir as one of the players to keep an eye on in the ACC this season.
The ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year runner-up, Desir had 7 ½ tackles for loss and 6 ½ sacks for the third most for a FSU freshman in program history.
Desir showed that he could get after the quarterback last year. However, he will have to improve his run defense as a sophomore, especially with the program investing the money that they have in him. If he can elevate his run defense and combine that with his continued progression as a pass rusher, Desir will be one of the more impactful defensive linemen in the country.
With good play comes higher expectations, and Desir will have a ton of eyes on him. The next step in his development is crucial for FSU’s defense in 2026.
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: FSU’s Mandrell Desir listed as a player to watch in the ACC
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