Florida State football added defensive lineman Deante McCray before the 2025 season. He ended up being a solid contributor in Tony White’s defense as he finished with 25 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and one sack. He was named the team’s defensive Newcomer of the Year.
As a fifth-year senior, McCray has one season of eligibility remaining. He talked about what he’s been focusing on in fall camp so that he can end his collegiate career with a bang.
“Working on my technique, qorking on my strengths, weaknesses, all that,” McCray said. “I feel like we’re heading in a great direction and I’m ready to dominate everybody in front of me.”
McCray was able to have the season he had with just two starts under his belt. In 2026, he is slated to have a big role in White’s scheme, especially in their 3-man front alongside Kevin Wynn and Daniel Lyons.
This puts McCray in a position where he will be depended on heavily. With that comes the expectation to be one of the leaders of the Seminoles’ defense, and it’s something that McCray is totally fine with.
“Regardless of the praise or not, I’m gonna do that cuz that’s who I am,” said McCray. “I push my guys, I push myself to be better cuz I will be better. I will always work on everything I need to work on to get better. And I take pride in that because that’s just what was instilled in me since Day One, since I started football.”
McCray spent three years with the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. Coming into a new program, there’s certainly an adjustment period. Not only does he have a whole season in Tallahassee under his belt, but it’s his second year in White’s system, and familiarity makes things much easier.
That comfort has McCray confident that he is one of the driving forces of the entire unit.
“I feel great. I feel like it’s time to take the next step,” McCray said. “I feel like this is my defense and I gotta lead my boys to victory. I feel like we’re definitely gonna go as far as we can with this. We preach it every day, especially being my second year, I’m more comfortable. I was comfortable last year, but obviously it was some stuff I had to work on, getting used to the scheme. But I feel good about this year now.”
McCray will need to stay healthy and take his game to the next level this season as the Seminoles look to get back to being a stout team defensively.
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: FSU’s Deante McCray talks being a leader, taking the next step
Reporting by Matthew Lenix , FSU Wire / FSU Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Matthew Lenix , FSU Wire | USA TODAY Network
