Jalen Anderson's disruptive force adds elite JUCO talent to Florida State's surging defensive line, bolstering their ACC-leading class.
It was Week 2 of the 2025 football season and Pearl River Community College edge rusher Jalen Anderson had the performance of the season against Itawamba Community College.
Anderson was a disruptive one-man force against the Indians, recording 11 tackles, three sacks, four tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one pass breakup in a 48-42 win by the Wildcats.
Over this past season, Anderson racked up 41 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, one interception, forced two fumbles, and recovered two fumbles on his way to being named first-team All-MACCC and also the South Division Defensive Player of the Year.
According to 247 Sports, Anderson is the No. 5 JUCO recruit in the country and is ranked No. 1 at his position. Anderson held 35 scholarship offers, including seven Power 4 offers -- from Arizona State, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Nebraska and Vanderbilt -- before committing to Florida State.
Defensive coordinator Tony White has to be chomping at the bit to get Anderson on the field for the Seminoles.
Anderson will join other talented Seminoles along the defensive line. Mandrell and Darryll Desir, twin brothers out of Miami, return for their sophomore seasons. The duo combined for 53 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.
Sacks and tackles for loss are indicative of good defensive line play. Last season, the Seminoles recorded at least one sack in every game and multiple sacks in 10 games.
In a three-point loss to Pitt, Florida State posted a season-high five sacks. With tackles for loss, the Seminoles had seven or more in six games last season, including a season-high nine in a 77-3 win over East Texas A&M.
Anderson is part of a Florida State recruiting class that is ranked No. 2 in the ACC for the 2026 cycle, behind only the Noles' arch-nemesis, the Miami Hurricanes.
Anderson has said publicly he wants to be the best FSU football player he can be, and will do all he can each day to accomplish that goal. That kind of attitude bodes well for coach Mike Norvell and the Seminoles. Florida State has just seven wins over the last two seasons, including only three conference wins. Anderson brings a fresh attitude to a team that is desperate for a breakout season.
FSU needs the ball to bounce its way a few times here and there to break the cycle of failure on the football field and give Florida State fans something they have not had since 2023: a winning season.
ㅤ
Join the Community! Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news! It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!