Texas football interested in FSU EDGE transfer Derrick McLendon II

We’re returning to busy times in the NCAA Transfer Portal for Texas football as spring ball is closing this week. Texas and head coach Steve Sarkisian appear to be more active in the transfer portal in the closing stages of spring camp from some of the recent contacts we’ve heard them making in the last few days.

On April 9, it was reported that Texas is set to host the former Minnesota Golden Gophers senior grad transfer defensive lineman Trill Carter on a multi-day visit to Austin starting on April 11. Carter is the first transfer target the Longhorns will host since spring ball began on March 6.

Texas now appears to be looking at another portal player that can fill a depth need along the defensive front early this week. Bobby Burton of Inside Texas reported on the morning of April 10 (paid content) that Texas is kicking the tires on the former Florida State Seminoles redshirt junior edge rusher transfer Derrick McLendon II.

Burton reported that Texas put out “initial feelers” after McLendon put his name in the portal late last month. But it sounds like McLendon is leaning toward staying in the southeast with his next landing spot out of the portal. That will be the biggest hurdle for Pete Kwiatkowski and the Longhorns to convince McLendon the Forty Acres is the right place for him to take his talents out of the portal this offseason.

The 6-foot-4 and 255-pound edge rusher is a native of Tucker, GA, and visited the South Carolina Gamecocks last week.

Texas football showing interest in former FSU EDGE Derrick McLendon II

And it looks like McLendon took a visit to Columbia, MO, last weekend to see the Mizzou Tigers. McLendon posted on his Instagram story over the weekend that he was in Columbia for an official visit.

If McLendon has interest in Mizzou (which is obviously not in the deep south), then it looks like there is a realistic shot that Texas can give him a convincing pitch to take his talents to the 40.

Moreover, Texas is clearly still not fully confident in the depth it has along the defensive front in the closing stages of spring ball. Sark, PK, and the Longhorns had most of spring ball to evaluate the personnel on the current roster and are still seeking other options along the defensive line and at edge rusher in the portal.

What McLendon could bring to Texas

McLendon is a four-year edge rusher/defensive end that was mostly a rotational player along the Florida State defensive front. He did become a full-time starter for the first time in his collegiate career during the 2022 season.

The last two seasons were the most productive during McLendon’s four years in Tallahassee. Since 2021, McLendon registered more than 50 combined tackles, 10 tackles for loss, seven sacks, 45 quarterback pressures, 33 stops, 24 run stuffs, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries.

McLendon was a steady run-stopper for the Noles in the last two seasons. The Georgia native plays with a good pad level and sets the edge effectively in run defense. He ranked in the top five among ACC edge rushers in run stops last season, with 18.

While run defense was McLendon’s most reliable strength during his time at Florida State, he is still plenty capable of getting after the quarterback on a consistent basis. He did his best work as a stand-up edge rusher out of the five-technique at Florida State last season.

McLendon actually led all Power Five edge rushers/defensive ends in pressure rate out of the five-technique last season (18.4 percent) on more than 50 pass rush snaps out of that spot along the defensive line.

All in all, McLendon isn’t going to be a game-breaker for the Longhorns in pass rush or run defense. But he can be a steady force that is a proven and reliable edge rusher in multiple phases of the game.

After the departure of senior edge rusher Ovie Oghoufo, who transferred to LSU earlier this offseason, Texas is left with just one player at the position with legitimate live-game reps under his belt. Junior edge rusher Barryn Sorrell could probably use some help with another proven edge player in the mix heading into the fall.

Texas finished up last season with a record of 8-5 (6-3 Big 12) following a loss to the Washington Huskies in the Alamo Bowl. Sark and the Longhorns will return to action at DKR for the annual Orange-White spring football game on April 15.