The greatest players in Florida State football history

Biletnikoff was such a superb faculty vast receiver through 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 top. (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 through the 1964 Gator Bowl is taken into account one of many all-time nice performances in faculty soccer historical past.

Whereas Fred Biletnikoff is perhaps probably the most well-known receiver outdoors the Tallahassee devoted, 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 couple 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 title outdoors Tallahassee. But, he earned Corridor of Fame standing from the college and has lengthy been celebrated as probably the greatest defenders in Seminoles’ historical past. Maybe making issues even sweeter for Seminoles followers is that Carter hailed from Gainesville — residence 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 in class 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 also be this system chief with 17 compelled fumbles.

Informal followers of Florida State soccer won’t keep in mind, and even remember, of simply how good a university working again Allen was within the Nineteen Eighties. For greater than 20 years, Allen’s 3,769 yards had been probably the most in class 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 received a Heisman Trophy, however is he the best soccer participant in Florida State historical past? Maybe. He is in all probability 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 in class 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 surprise he is not solely thought-about probably the greatest 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 in class 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 School Soccer Corridor of Fame, making him the eighth Florida State participant to obtain stated honor.

Ward will go down as some of the 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 yr awards that season. The Seminoles went 22-2 with Ward as a starter, and he completed his faculty 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 listing, Brooks was one particular NFL performer with a rightful place within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame. Brooks can also be a member of the School 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 Yr 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 Yr 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 Yr 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 Yr honors, was a four-time Professional Bowler, and received a Tremendous Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens.

Dunn ranks second all-time in class historical past with 3,959 dashing yards, together with three straight seasons of not less than 1,000, and sits third with 37 touchdowns on the bottom. He additionally stays probably the greatest receiving backs in faculty soccer historical past, catching 132 profession passes for 1,314 with 12 touchdowns. Dunn was a three-time All-ACC First-Group 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 in class 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 in class historical past. He was additionally a wonderful returner for the Seminoles.

Considered one 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 faculty 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 further factors and 66-of-83 (.795 share that ranks second in class historical past) on area objectives. The 56-yard area purpose 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 listing. 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 in class historical past on a marketing campaign). His 23.5 sacks are tied for sixth all-time in class 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 in class historical past) passing yards with 33 touchdowns and 11 interceptions through 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 in class historical past. He went 32-3 as a starter and was additionally the one Florida State quarterback to put up two video games with not less than 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 manner as much as recording 23.5 sacks (tied for sixth all-time) and 35 tackles for loss. His 13 sacks through the 2012 season had been an enormous motive Werner was named ACC Defensive Participant of the Yr. 

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 latest Seminole to win the Heisman Trophy, doing so in 2013, when he threw for 4,057 yards (second in class historical past) with 40 touchdowns (most in class 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 achieve 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-Group performer and unanimous All-American (2016), Prepare dinner can also be the varsity’s profession chief with a hefty 46 dashing touchdowns