FSU Football: Ranking Best Draft Classes For Noles in Last 30 Years
By Jason Parker
FSU football will add to their list of former players drafted into the NFL in just one week – but what class over the last three decades was the best?
In 1951, Wayne Benner made history when the halfback became the first FSU football player picked in the NFL Draft – taken in the 24th round by the Cleveland Browns. Benner would be the first of 250 former Seminoles who have been picked by teams currently playing in the NFL…a number that will grow in one week with the 2017 edition of the NFL Draft.
While there is no doubt that the class of 2017 features some top talent from Tallahassee – namely running back and likely first round pick Dalvin Cook along with defensive end and likely high round pick DeMarcus Walker – the question still remains if it may end up being one of the best the program has produced in recent history.
FSU football has had some decent classes over the last three decades – a 1992 class that included future Super Bowl champs Terrell Buckley and Brad Johnson as well as a 2000 class that included Peter Warrick and veteran kicker Sebastian Janikowski – but which ones have been the top five over the last 30 years? Let’s take a look.
No. 5 – 1989 Class (Six players taken)
Notable Picks: Deion Sanders, Sammie Smith
It was a small group numbers wise, but anything that includes Prime Time in it has to be up there near the top. Sanders went on to play nearly two decades in the league and changed the way defensive back played after being taken fifth overall by Atlanta. When Smith was taken four picks later, it became the first time the Seminoles had two players taken in the top 10.
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No. 4 – 2015 Class (11 players taken)
Notable Picks: Jameis Winson, Ronald Darby, Rashad Greene
This class is still a work in progress, but the No.1 overall pick has been growing in Tampa Bay and might be the best young quarterback in the NFL. This draft class was most of the nucleus from that 2013 national championship team, with Darby being a major contributor with Buffalo while Greene has been a part of the Jacksonville offense. Add in Mario Edwards Jr., Eddie Goldman and others and this class could be around for a while.
No. 3 – 2014 Class (Seven players taken)
Notable Picks: Kelvin Benjamin, Devonta Freeman, Telvin Smith
Just months after that magical national championship season, the Seminoles sent several major contributors to the next level with the NFL Draft. Benjamin has became the go to target for Cam Newton in Carolina, while Freeman helped lead Atlanta to their second Super Bowl this past season. Smith has become a leader in Jacksonville while another player, Timmy Jernigan, was a major part of the Baltimore defense before being traded to Philadelphia weeks ago.
No. 2 – 1995 Class (10 players taken)
Notable Picks: Derrick Brooks, Corey Fuller, Devin Bush
This group would be fine with the former Tampa Bay linebacker all by himself, as the hall of famer Brooks will go down as one of the best to play his position in the history of the NFL. Fuller had a solid 10 year NFL career while Bush played in two Super Bowls, winning one with St.Louis in 1999. It was a class that saw two players each drafted by Tampa Bay, Minnesota and San Diego.
No. 1 – 1997 Class (Seven players taken)
Notable Picks: Warrick Dunn, Peter Boulware, Walter Jones
Do I really need to say much more after those names. You have a running back who was amazing on the field for FSU football, Tampa Bay and Atlanta but may actually be a better person for all his great charity work. Add in Boulware, who was Defensive Rookie of the Year (while Dunn was offensive ROTY) along with a Super Bowl champ in Baltimore and a member of the Raven’s Honor Roll as one of the best in franchise history.
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Not enough? How about an offensive tackle that gave up a total of 23 sacks in 13 seasons to go along with nine Pro Bowls, six All Pro teams and…oh yeah, being selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This was a class that had four players taken in the top 14 picks when you add in Reinard Wilson, who had 24 sacks in five seasons with Cincinnati.