TUCKER, Ga. -- Our Spring Recruiting Tour now heads north to the Atlanta area, where we check in with one of the top defensive ends in the Southeast -- Derrick McLendon of Tucker High School.
McLendon is a four-star prospect who has been seriously considering Florida State since making a trip to Tallahassee earlier this year. During our interview, McLendon discusses his relationship with FSU coach Willie Taggart, his family's ties to north Florida, where the Seminoles stand in his recruitment, when he plans to make a decision and more.
Watch the video feature below, and read the entire report that follows. Also see the previous stops on our Spring Recruiting Tour:
Stop 1: Madison County -- Checking in on FSU commit Travis Jay, more
Stop 2: Hollywood Chaminade -- WR Dunmore, teammates have FSU's attention
Stop 3: Cardinal Gibbons DE Bogle opens up about the 'Noles
Stop 4: FSU commit Akeem Dent oozes confidence
Stop 5: 'Noles hot on trail of several IMG targets
Stop 6: Rivals100 OL Putnam talks Frey, FSU and more
Stop 7: Polk County prospects high on the 'Noles
Stop 8: What's the latest with D-Linemen Fuller, Hunter?
Stop 9: Emerging Peach State LB very high on FSU
Stop 10: Four-star DE Fann impressed by new FSU staff
Stop 11: FSU pushing hard for four-star UGA commitment Marshall
McLendon preparing for June commitment
Although he seems to have a fun-loving personality on the surface, four-star defensive end Derrick McLendon is all business when it comes to playing football.
The talented pass-rusher emerged as one of Tucker's top leaders last season as a junior, and he plans to take his leadership to another level this season.
"You are going to practice how you play, so I put everything into it," McLendon said. "I'm always finding new things that maybe I'm not as sharp at. I would say my biggest improvement last year was my run support. I love hitting.
"This year, my ability to shed blocks and get even faster are the areas I've worked on. But you can't ever be satisfied with your play."
His business-like approach is carrying over to the recruiting process as well.
McLendon, who now stands at 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, is definitely not a prospect who wants to wait until December or even February to make a decision. He's actually planning to take his official visits this summer and then make his commitment known.
"I know Florida State, Tennessee and Florida are ones I will officially visit," McLendon said. "I haven't set any dates for any of them though. But after taking some spring visits, I kind of know where I'm going. But I also want to see how things go with the official visits. I'm planning to make my commitment sometime in June."
