'An NFL Guy' ... Praise Builds for FSU Football's Key Transfer

Florida State's defensive line doesn't appear to be very deep, at least on paper.

The Seminoles lost a handful of starters and key reserves this offseason. In their place, Florida State brought in a veteran pass-rusher from the SEC, a defensive lineman from the G6 level who previously played in the FCS, a top JUCO recruit, and a bunch of true freshmen.

Considering the lack of consistency off the edge in 2025, the coaching staff is counting on Texas A&M defensive end transfer Rylan Kennedy to fill the gap.

Kennedy doesn't bring flashy stats to Tallahassee. He's only got 40 career tackles to his name. With that being said, Kennedy does sport some impressive physical attributes, such as his speed and explosiveness.

Last season at Texas A&M, Kennedy recorded a pressure rate of 19.4%, among the highest marks in the country.

Kennedy has made a swift impression at Florida State.

FSU DE Rylan Kennedy 'Is An NFL Guy'

Kennedy is one of roughly 60 new faces transitioning to FSU.

Another recent addition to the defensive end room, Jalen Anderson, has worked side-by-side with Kennedy since his arrival.

Anderson pays close attention to Kennedy during practice, noting that he moves at a different level.

"I love watching him [Kennedy]. Obviously, we take mental reps off each other. We all do," Anderson said. "Watching Rylan, even the other guys, it's really fun to watch. You can tell that Rylan is an NFL guy. Everybody knows he's twitchy, explosive, he jumped 20 feet in long jump, whatever it was. He played basketball in high school, and you can see it every day on the field."

"When he uses it in football, it's so different to watch," Anderson added. "He's explosive, powerful, he gets off the edge, he's quick, he bends the corner really well, he knows how to sink his pads, flip his hips, he has really good ankle flexibility, and he's really a good person to learn from. It's really fun to have him in the run, especially because we have a good relationship. We talk, and we rebound off each other a lot."

Anderson is just the latest member of the defensive front to highlight Kennedy.

Redshirt senior defensive lineman Deante McCray spoke about Kennedy last month.

"He's a good player. He's definitely somebody we're going to need to help us get to where we're going to be," McCray said. "He's already got the tools needed, and like myself, just need to hone in on what we need to do and just keep getting better off what we do now. Just keep getting better, but he's a great player."

Head coach Mike Norvell is expecting a lot out of Kennedy.

Florida State is going to move him around to try and maximize his impact.

"I think he's done a really good job physically, just his continued physical development. You watch on film, and you felt his explosiveness," Norvell said. "That absolutely shows up. I think he's a guy that is going to be an impact for us. He has a lot of versatility of where he can align, the different things that he can do."

"We're expecting big things from him, and I think his confidence is definitely riding high with the work that he put in during the offseason program, and now truly getting a great shot to showcase all of his skills and abilities. I'm excited for what's in front of him," Norvell added.

FSU returns to practice on Thursday, April 2.

Who Does Florida State Have At Defensive End For The 2026 Season?

Deamontae Diggs, Redshirt Senior

Rylan Kennedy, Senior

Jalen Anderson, Junior

Mandrell Desir, Sophomore

Darryll Desir, Sophomore

Cam Brooks, Freshman

Chris Carbin, Freshman

Jaemin Pinckney, Freshman

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