Freshman defensive lineman Franklin Whitley is impressing at Florida State's spring practice, showing potential to join the two-deep rotation in his first year. His performance has drawn comparisons to last season's impactful Desir twins.
Florida State was able to put together a top 15 recruiting class despite back-to-back losing seasons. The defensive line made up the majority of their top 10 signees, which included blue-chip recruit Franklin Whitley out of Greenville, South Carolina.
Although he's a young pup, Whitley comes in with a reputation for making plays behind the line of scrimmage and forcing quarterbacks to move off their spot due to his pressure. That has translated well during spring ball, according to Noles247's Zach Blostein.
True freshman defensive lineman Franklin Whitley continues to trend as someone who will crack the two-deep rotation for FSU in year one. A source told Noles247 a few weeks ago that they felt he would have a similar impact that the Desir twins had for the 'Noles last season. That only continues to be the sentiment around the building after Saturday's scrimmage, which saw him making several plays in the backfield.
Mandrell Desir racked up 6.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss as he earned a FWAA Freshman All-American award, Freshman All-American honors from On3, and an honorable mention All-ACC nod. Darryll Desir had 23 and a sack as he appeared in 12 games. At 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds, Whitley has the same body type as the Desir twins, making it plausible why the skill sets would be similar and their fits within Tony White’s 3-3-5 scheme would be so as well.
Elite defensive line recruit Earnest Rankins, along with blue-chip edge signees Jalen Anderson and Jaemin Pinckney, were all ranked in the top 10 of the Seminoles' recruiting class, like Whitley was. However, he is outshining them all so far, and he's looking like a player who will get some pretty significant playing time early.
Contact/Follow us @FSUWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Matthew on X @StarConscience
This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: FSU Football: DL Franklin Whitley shining during Florida State spring
Franklin Whitley is expected to make a significant impact in his freshman year, potentially cracking the two-deep rotation and contributing similarly to the Desir twins from last season.
Franklin Whitley's performance has drawn comparisons to the Desir twins, as both share a similar body type and have shown the ability to make plays behind the line of scrimmage.
Mandrell Desir recorded 6.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss, while Darryll Desir had 23 tackles and 1 sack in 12 games during their freshman season.
LIV Golf's future appears uncertain as reports suggest Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund may withdraw funding after investing $5 billion. Despite assurances for the 2026 season, the tour faces challenges from low ratings and strong competition from the PGA Tour.
Wings shut down questions about Fudd and Bueckers' relationship
Damon Jones, former NBA player, to change plea to guilty in conspiracy case involving Terry Rozier.
Indiana Fever bolster roster by signing veteran guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough
Joe Cole advises Arsenal to adjust their attack for the Man City match.
Former Indiana basketball players appeal dismissal of their lawsuit against the school.
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.