Top FSU Football Players Under Jimbo Fisher: No. 10

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. 10 – Devonta Freeman, RB (2011-2013)

Freeman was a longtime commit to Fisher and the Seminoles, announcing he would join FSU football before his senior season at Miami Central High School and sticking with it after winning a state title and becoming the top rated back in the 2011 class. He arrived on campus at the same time as several other running backs, including James Wilder Jr. and later Karlos Williams – but made the most of his time in the backfield.

Freeman had modest numbers his first two seasons on the field (579 yards and eight touchdowns as a freshman, 660 yards and eight touchdowns as a sophomore) before becoming the first 1,000 yard rusher in a season since Warrick Dunn nearly two decades before during the 2013 season. Freeman had 14 rushing touchdowns on the ground while being named first team All-ACC, scoring in every game but two during the season, which included two in a blowout win over rival Miami and another in the BCS title game against Auburn.

One of the things that singled Freeman out from others was his ability to catch the ball, adding nearly 300 more yards threw the air his final season in Tallahassee – including 98 yards and another score in a memorable win over his hometown team. He loved playing FSU football’s two biggest rivals, scoring six of his 31 career scores against either the Hurricanes or Florida Gators.

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It was that kind of skill that got him selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2014 NFL Draft, where he helped lead them to the Super Bowl this last season.