Standard Bearer: Senior Kalen DeLoach eager to lead younger FSU linebackers

CHARLOTTE — From the outside looking in, Kalen DeLoach might not look like the most vocal player on the Florida State defense.

However, going into his fifth year with the Seminoles and with a few younger linebackers coming into his group, he is gladly taking on a larger leadership role heading into the 2023 season.

“It’s always been different for me,” DeLoach said during his appearance Wednesday at ACC Kickoff. “Like outside of football, I don’t really say too much. But on that football field, that’s where more of me gets to come out. I get to express myself. So doing that, I try to pour into the young guys … show them the example and be that example. So that when my time is up, they know the standard.”

Though he has been in the Florida State program since 2019, DeLoach really emerged on the scene for the Seminoles in 2021. He recorded 69 tackles that season (38 solo) and posted a career-high eight tackles in one game against Florida.

After racking up 65 tackles one year ago, the Savannah, Ga., product now heads into his final college season as a third-year starter. And he’s eager to share his knowledge and experience with his younger teammates.

“Just being here for so long, I’ve been through what they’ve been through. So as an ‘old head,’ it’s only right for me to pass the gems down,” DeLoach said. “Because like I said, I’ve been through what they’ve been through. I know that at some point in time, they’re going to look up to me and they’re going to need me. So being the leader of the linebacker room, I feel like those guys, the young guys, are definitely coming.”

Behind him and fellow starting linebacker Tatum Bethune, the Seminoles only have one experienced backup for this fall — redshirt junior DJ Lundy.

After that, it’s redshirt freshman Omar Graham Jr. and a quartet of true freshmen: Blake Nichelson, DeMarco Ward, Dylan Brown-Turner and new addition Justin Cryer. Sophomore tight end Brian Courtney is also expected to work at linebacker for Florida State this fall.

So that’s a lot of inexperience for the veterans to lead, and DeLoach is looking forward to doing just that — on a person-to-person basis.

“I need to meet everybody so I can find my approach and way of how I’m going to be able to talk to them in a certain moment, because everybody is different,” DeLoach said. “You’ve got to be able to understand everybody’s background and where they come from because, like I say, everybody is different.”

When it comes to the linebacker segment overall, DeLoach said he is especially excited about playing behind a revamped defensive line, featuring a slew of potential stars.

He said that will help the veterans and the newcomers alike.

“I’m very excited. We’ve got some dogs up front,” DeLoach sad. “You know, we’ve got [Jared] Verse. We’ve got Fabien [Lovett]. We’ve got Braden Fiske. We’ve got Darrell Jackson. We’ve got Pat Payton. I feel like there’s a lot to worry about up front, to where it’s going to help the back end — from the linebackers back — to make plays just to be free and run and tackle. That’s what we do best.”

Talk about this story with other die-hard FSU football fans on the Tribal Council.

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