Top FSU Football Players All Time From North Florida

FSU football has been able to get some of the top recruits from across North Florida over time – here are some of the best to play for the Seminoles.

For 362 miles in the northern part of the Sunshine State, Interstate 10 rides through big cities like Pensacola, Tallahassee and Jacksonville along with small towns like Milton, Live Oak, Madison and Lake City. What do all those locations have in common? Well, all have produced players that have gone on to star for FSU football over the history of the Seminoles program.

It’s the widest part of the Sunshine State, as the panhandle has been the site for some great moments in Florida State history – both in Tallahassee and Jacksonville – along with some great recruits who have only made the program better. The Noles have won some great recruiting battles over that time with rivals like Florida and other southeastern powers, never giving up the battle for top talent.

But just which of those players were the best of the best? Here is a look at who we think are the top five players in FSU football history from all of North Florida.

No. 5 – RB Greg Allen (Milton)

Before there were names like Sammie Smith, Warrick Dunn and Dalvin Cook running the ball for the Seminoles, Allen was the first major back of the Bobby Bowden area, coming from his Pensacola area school and becoming the team’s all time leading rusher by finishing with just under 3,800 yards until Dunn broke his record 13 seasons later. His best year was in 1983, rushing for 1,134 yards and 13 touchdowns in route to being named a consensus All-American.

No. 4 – DE DeMarcus Walker (Jacksonville Sandalwood)

After originally committing to play for Alabama, Walker had a change of heart and decided to go down I-10 and play for the Seminoles. It may have been one of the best pickups for current head coach Jimbo Fisher, as Walker ended up being one of the best ends in the entire country. After having two sacks his first two seasons, he had 26.5 the last two years while being the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year, first team all conference and a consensus All-American in 2016.

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No. 3 – CB LeRoy Butler (Jacksonville Lee)

Coming from a high school that also produced fellow FSU football legend Edgar Bennett, Butler was a consistent three-year starter in the secondary – playing at different points with other stars like Deion Sanders and Terrell Buckley. He had nine interceptions over his career and will forever be associated as the man who went 78 yards down the field during the famous Puntrooskie play to defeat Clemson during the 1988 season.

No. 2 – WR Ron Sellers (Jacksonville Paxon)

After arriving in Tallahassee as a matched set with his high school quarterback, Sellers excelled under the pass happy offense of then head coach Bill Peterson (just missing out being coached at receivers by a man named Bobby Bowden). Sellers would be a two time All-American during his last two years, finishing his career with just under 3,600 yards receiving (then a NCAA record) to go along with 23 touchdowns – including five in one game against Wake Forest.

No. 1 – LB Derrick Brooks (Pensacola Washington)

One of the top prep players in Florida history, Brooks chose the Seminoles over rival Florida and made every FSU football fan glad he did so. Originally a safety, Brooks flourished after a move to linebacker, at one point having outscored the Seminoles’ first five opponents during the first five games of 1993 by himself. In the end, Brooks left Tallahassee a two-time consensus All-American as well as being the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1993 while helping FSU win their first national title.

Honorable Mention: LB Sam Cowart (Jacksonville Mandarian), CB Antonio Cromartie (Tallahassee Lincoln), LB Ernie Sims (Tallahassee North Florida Christian), QB Casey Weldon (Tallahassee North Florida Christian)