Thoughts From the Morning After: FSU 38 Syracuse 20

Rashad Greene’s Place in History

Where does Rashad Greene rank in terms of the greatest Florida State receivers of all time?

On Saturday, Greene passed FSU legend Ron Sellers for the most receptions by any WR in Seminoles history. Unlike at tight end, FSU has a rich tradition of receivers that includes guys like Petter Warrick, Sellers and — the NFL hall of famer after whom the annual award given to college football’s best receiver is named — Fred Biletnikoff.

Chances are, by the time Greene finishes at FSU he will have more catches, yards and touchdowns than any of them. Yesterday Greene just went out and did Rashad Greene things, catching six passes for 107 yards.

So where does he rank in FSU history?

The senior from Albany, GA has been the best receiver on the roster since the day he stepped foot on campus. Yes, at points last year Kelvin Benjamin looked like an alpha receiver — and KB may have a higher athletic ceiling — but Greene’s mixture of consistency and proficiency still gave him an edge. Greene isn’t as flashy as some receivers in FSU’s history. Peter Warrick had another gear. Benjamin had prototype size. In almost every category you can find a player who did it better than Greene– a player who is more elite.

But Greene is in the top two or three in most of those athletic categories– he does everything well. He blocks. He runs great routes. He has great hands. He can return kicks. He’s got a high football IQ. He’s the complete package.

And he’ll outwork anybody.

That’s a lethal combination. Rashad Greene came in with plenty of hype but approached his career at FSU as if he had none. He goes out every day and puts in his work, pays the price in blood and sweat and then cashes in on Saturday.

Is he the greatest of all-time? That’s highly subjective.

What he is — to me — is the idealization of the program that Jimbo Fisher has built here in Tallahassee.