SCOOP: FSU Transfer Derrick McLendon II Sets For Official Visit At South Carolina

Shane Beamer and South Carolina's Football staff are set to host an official visitor that could help fill in the void of depth at the defensive end position.

Florida State transfer edge defender Derrick McLendon II will be on campus tomorrow checking out South Carolina's Football program. The 6'4" defensive end from Decatur, Ga., is a redshirt sophomore who played in all 13 games with 12 starts this past year for Florida State and recorded 37 tackles, including 5.0 for loss with 3.5 sacks and one fumble recovery. In 2021, he appeared in all 12 games, recording 16 tackles, including 4.5 for loss, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. Derrick also played in nine games for Florida State in 2020 and four games in 2019.

McLendon II has also made a significant impact off the field for the Seminoles. He was one of the recipients of the Bill McGrotha Award last season, an award given to the top humanitarians in Florida State's Football program. On the field, Derrick is an experienced edge rusher, a position of need for South Carolina, who lost Jordan Burch, Gilber Edmond, and Hot Rod Fitten to the transfer portal this off-season and has had legal problems with freshman EDGE Monteque Rhames. 

What's left is a position group that's relatively thin in depth and doesn't possess much experience outside of returning senior Jordan Strachan, who was out all year with an injury. This is why Derrick McLendon II could be a colossal portal target for Shane Beamer and his coaching staff in the following portal window in the first two weeks of May.

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