The greatest players in Florida State football history

Biletnikoff was such school huge receiver throughout the Sixties that there is an award named in his honor. Although accidents plagued Biletnikoff early in his Florida State profession, he was a consensus All-American by the tip. (He additionally performed protection as a junior.) As a senior in 1964, Biletnikoff had 70 receptions and led the nation with 1,179 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. His then-school-record 13 catches for 194 yards and 4 touchdowns throughout the 1964 Gator Bowl is taken into account one of many all-time nice performances in school soccer historical past.

Whereas Fred Biletnikoff could be probably the most well-known receiver exterior the Tallahassee trustworthy, Sellers is arguably one of the best pass-catcher to go well with up for the Seminoles. Sellers, who performed simply 30 collegiate video games, ranks second at Florida State in profession receptions (212), receiving yards (3,598) and seventh in touchdowns (23). In the meantime, his 86 receptions from 1968 are the second-most for a single season with the Seminoles. Sellers’ 260 yards versus Wake Forest and 259 in opposition to South Carolina in 1968 rank Nos. 1 and a pair of, respectively, in Florida State historical past. He joins Biletnikoff among the many 11 gamers to have their uniforms honored by Florida State.

The all-time main tackler in Florida State historical past with 512, Carter won’t be a family identify exterior Tallahassee. But, he earned Corridor of Fame standing from the college and has lengthy been celebrated as among the finest defenders in Seminoles’ historical past. Maybe making issues even sweeter for Seminoles followers is that Carter hailed from Gainesville — dwelling of the rival Florida Gators. Carter’s 181 tackles from 1977 are nonetheless probably the most of any Florida State participant for a single marketing campaign. 

A two-time consensus All-American (1979, ’80), Simmons is thought to be one of the best nostril guard ever to play for the Seminoles. From that place, he recorded 383 tackles, rating among the many high 5 at school historical past for a profession. Simmons’ 12 profession sacks reside inside the high 10 in program historical past, and the 5 he recorded in opposition to North Texas State in 1977 are tied for probably the most by a Seminole. His 44 tackles for loss are tied for fourth-most by a Florida State participant. Simmons can be this system chief with 17 compelled fumbles.

Informal followers of Florida State soccer won’t bear in mind, and even remember, of simply how good a school operating again Allen was within the Eighties. For greater than 20 years, Allen’s 3,769 yards have been probably the most at school historical past for a profession. That whole ranks third all-time at Florida State, whereas his 44 touchdowns are second. Allen nonetheless holds the Seminoles’ single-season dashing touchdowns document with 20 from 1982. Whereas his 322 yards in opposition to Western Carolina in 1981 are probably the most in a single sport from any Florida State rusher. 

“Prime Time” by no means gained a Heisman Trophy, however is he the best soccer participant in Florida State historical past? Maybe. He is most likely the most well-liked. Sanders, a two-time unanimous All-American who additionally performed baseball and was a member of the monitor and area program at Florida State, is tied for third at school historical past with 14 profession interceptions. The 1988 Jim Thorpe Award winner’s 4 pick-sixes are tied for probably the most amongst all Seminoles. Sanders ranks first at Florida State with 1,429 profession punt return yards and is tied for the highest spot with three punt returns for touchdowns.

For as nice as Deion was at Florida State, it is Buckley who’s the varsity’s all-time interceptions chief with 21 — and the NCAA chief with 501 interception return yards. The 1991 Jim Thorpe Award winner, Buckley picked off a school-record 12 passes throughout his stellar 1991 season for the Seminoles. Throw in Buckley’s cowl expertise on the corners, and it is no marvel he is not solely thought of among the finest defensive backs ever to play at Florida State however among the many biggest to ever play the sport.

In 1992, Jones was one of the best defensive participant within the nation. He has the Butkus Award, Lombardi Award, and Lambert Trophy to show it. A two-time consensus All-American (1991, ’92), Jones ranks seventh at school historical past with 369 profession tackles for the Seminoles. Along with having his No. 55 honored by the Seminoles, Jones was not too long ago inducted into the Faculty Soccer Corridor of Fame, making him the eighth Florida State participant to obtain stated honor.

Ward will go down as one of the crucial versatile collegiate athletes. He opted for a profession within the NBA after not being chosen within the first spherical of the NFL Draft. Nonetheless, Ward was the primary Florida State participant to win the Heisman Trophy. That got here in 1993 when Ward threw for 3,032 yards with 27 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. He ran for an additional 349 whereas profitable many of the different nationwide participant of the 12 months awards that season. The Seminoles went 22-2 with Ward as a starter, and he completed his school profession with 5,747 passing yards, 49 touchdowns, 22 interceptions, and finishing 62.3 p.c of his passes whereas additionally yielding 889 yards and 10 touchdowns on the bottom.

Like many others on this checklist, Brooks was one particular NFL performer with a rightful place within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame. Brooks can be a member of the Faculty Soccer Corridor of Fame. A standout linebacker, after starting his collegiate profession as a security for the Seminoles, Brooks posted 274 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and 5 interceptions. He was named 1993 ACC Defensive Participant of the 12 months in 1993 and twice earned consensus All-American honors (1993, ’94).

Kanell started his Florida State profession as Charlie Ward’s backup. Nonetheless, when it was time for Kanell to take over the reins of the Seminoles’ offense full-time, he held his personal. He spent two seasons as an FSU starter. As a senior in 1995, he was named ACC Participant of the 12 months whereas throwing for two,957 yards with 32 touchdowns and 13 touchdowns. Kanell, who went 21-3-1 as a starter, ranks among the many faculty’s top-10 passers in yards (6,372), completions (529), and touchdowns (57) whereas finishing 62.2 p.c of his passes.

Following within the footsteps of Seminoles’ teammate Derrick Brooks, Boulware earned ACC Defensive Participant of the 12 months in 1996. After three seasons at Florida State, Boulware recorded 34 sacks, which rank second in program historical past. His 19 from that particular 1996 season stay probably the most by a Seminoles participant. Following that profitable profession at Florida State, Boulware earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the 12 months honors, was a four-time Professional Bowler, and gained a Tremendous Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens.

Dunn ranks second all-time at school historical past with 3,959 dashing yards, together with three straight seasons of a minimum of 1,000, and sits third with 37 touchdowns on the bottom. He additionally stays among the finest receiving backs in school soccer historical past, catching 132 profession passes for 1,314 with 12 touchdowns. Dunn was a three-time All-ACC First-Staff choice, and his No. 28 jersey has been honored by the college as one of many program’s legendary performers. 

Warrick sits third all-time at school historical past with 207 profession receptions and three,517 receiving yards. Nonetheless, his 32 landing receptions amassed at Florida State stays a college document. A 3-time first-team All-ACC choose and two-time consensus All-American (1998, ’99), Warrick totaled 249 yards at Clemson in 1997 — third-most at school historical past. He was additionally a positive returner for the Seminoles.

One in every of solely three kickers in NFL historical past to be drafted within the first spherical. There have been different kickers at Florida State that loved extra statistical success, however Janikowski remains to be talked about as one of many greats in school soccer historical past at his place. He is the one back-to-back winner of the Lou Groza Award and completed his Seminoles’ profession 126-for-129 on additional factors and 66-of-83 (.795 proportion that ranks second at school historical past) on area objectives. The 56-yard area aim he made versus Wake Forest in 1997 is tied for the second-longest in Florida State historical past.

There might be some die-hard Seminole followers who would query Reynolds’ spot on this checklist. However he was a unanimous first-team All-American and the Lombardi Award winner in 2000 — the identical season Reynolds recorded 12 sacks (tied for eighth-most at school historical past on a marketing campaign). His 23.5 sacks are tied for sixth all-time at school historical past, whereas the 33 tackles-for-loss he posted throughout his Florida State profession additionally rank among the many program’s leaders.

The second Seminole to win the Heisman Trophy, Weinke did so by recording 4,167 yards (most at school historical past) passing yards with 33 touchdowns and 11 interceptions throughout the 2000 season. That got here one season after he helped Florida State to a 12-0 document and nationwide championship. Weinke’s 9,839 profession passing yards, 650 completions, and 79 landing passes are all nonetheless probably the most at school historical past. He went 32-3 as a starter and was additionally the one Florida State quarterback to submit two video games with a minimum of 500 yards passing.

Whereas Werner’s NFL profession did not pan out like most pundits or Seminoles followers thought, there isn’t any denying his profession at Florida State put him able to be a first-round choose of the Indianapolis Colts. In three years with the Seminoles, Werner labored his method as much as recording 23.5 sacks (tied for sixth all-time) and 35 tackles for loss. His 13 sacks throughout the 2012 season have been a giant purpose Werner was named ACC Defensive Participant of the 12 months. 

Winston has not at all times been a mannequin citizen throughout and after his profession at Florida State, however we’re speaking about his soccer accomplishments. Winston is the newest Seminole to win the Heisman Trophy, doing so in 2013, when he threw for 4,057 yards (second at school historical past) with 40 touchdowns (most at school historical past) and 10 interceptions. The Seminoles went 12-1 that season however misplaced within the nationwide title sport to Oregon — Winston’s solely defeat in 27 begins at Florida State. Winston ranks third all-time in passing yards (7,964) and second in touchdowns (65).

Unsurprisingly, Prepare dinner has loved a powerful begin to his NFL profession. He left Florida State as the varsity’s all-time main rusher with 4,464 yards — and the one Seminole to succeed in the 4,000 mark. He additionally owns the top-two finest dashing seasons at Florida State, with 1,765 yards in 2016 and 1,691 in ’15. A two-time All-ACC First-Staff performer and unanimous All-American (2016), Prepare dinner can be the varsity’s profession chief with a hefty 46 dashing touchdowns