Top FSU Football Players Under Jimbo Fisher: No. 8

FSU football has had some great talent over the time Jimbo Fisher has been head coach – here’s another one of the 10 best during his tenure.

It was nearly seven and a half yeas ago that everything changed for FSU football. After almost three and a half decades under the leadership of legendary head coach Bobby Bowden, it was time to hand the keys over to Jimbo Fisher – who had spent the previous three seasons as the offensive coordinator and “head coach in waiting”.

Since that time, the Seminoles have come back from the time known as the “lost decade” from many and turned the program back into a perennial winner over Fisher’s seven seasons in charge. It’s a tenure that has included ACC titles, a national championship and countless award winners and All-Americans who reminded the country that Florida State was indeed back.

Of the hundreds of players who have suited up in the garnet and gold under Fisher, which ones have been the best of the best? It’s not an easy question considering all the talent that has come through Tallahassee. In compiling our top 10 list of the best FSU football players under Fisher, countless players who brought home honors and ended up in the pros didn’t make the cut – showing you the amount of talent that is on the list.

Without further ado, here’s another of the top Seminoles during the Jimbo Fisher era.

Florida State Seminoles Football

No. 8 – Derwin James, DB (2015-Present)

Throughout the tenure of Jimbo Fisher in Tallahassee, he has brought in players who were the top ranked recruits at their position or even the top ranked recruit from their state. There may have been no higher ranked recruit than this five star prospect from Haines City, who showed what he means to the Seminoles program by what he does on the field – and what happens when he is off of it.

During his freshman season, James built up his numbers and showed that he was going to be one of the best players in the secondary for FSU football. As the season went on, his numbers only got better – including four games of 10 tackles or more over the final six contests of the seasons, including 12 against Syracuse and 14 in the Peach Bowl loss to Houston. James added 4.5 sacks on the season, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries to be named a freshman All-American by several publications.

In 2016, James was considered one of the top defensive backs in the country and opened the year with eight tackles and his first career interception in the win over Ole Miss. One game later, his season would come to an early end after tearing up his knee against Charleston Southern.

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Rather than risk a premature return, James stayed sidelined and rehabbed into a player who is already getting Heisman hype and is considered one of the top players for the 2018 NFL Draft should he leave after this season.