5 Best Florida State NFL Players
Florida State spent fourteen straight years finishing in the top five, and the roster shows why. Here are five Seminoles ranked on what they did in Tallahassee.
1. Deion Sanders
Cornerback · 1985 to 1988
Sanders won the Thorpe Award in 1988 and was a two time All American. Quarterbacks stopped looking his direction, so he took over on punt returns. He also played baseball and ran track for the school, sometimes in the same week.
2. Charlie Ward
Quarterback · 1989 to 1993
Ward won the 1993 Heisman by the largest margin in the award's history and led Florida State to its first national title. He threw for 3,032 yards and 27 touchdowns that season. He was also a point guard good enough to play in the NBA, which he did instead of the NFL.
3. Derrick Brooks
Linebacker · 1991 to 1994
Brooks was a two time All American with 274 career tackles and 22 tackles for loss. He read plays quickly and covered ground that most linebackers could not. He was the model for the fast, undersized linebacker who wins with instincts.
4. Chris Weinke
Quarterback · 1997 to 2000
Weinke won the 2000 Heisman after throwing for 4,167 yards and 33 touchdowns. He came to college late after a run in minor league baseball and used that maturity to run a complex offense. He won a national title in 1999.
5. Jameis Winston
Quarterback · 2012 to 2014
Winston won the Heisman as a redshirt freshman in 2013 with 40 touchdowns and a national title. He went 26 and 1 as a starter and made a habit of second half comebacks. The arm talent was obvious from his first start.
Names Left Off
Peter Warrick, Terrell Buckley, Jalen Ramsey, Warrick Dunn, and Ron Simmons all belong in a longer list. Warrick's 1999 title game was a one man show. Trimming to five in Tallahassee is not easy.
Built on Speed
Florida State recruits the state hard and has always leaned on speed at every level. That style translates well to the pro game, especially in the secondary. Corners and safeties from this program keep showing up on draft boards year after year.
Test Yourself on Florida State Players
Reading about them is one thing. Naming them on sight is another. CollegeGuessr shows you an NFL player and asks which college he came from. Build a streak, post your score on the Big Board, and see how your football knowledge holds up.