FSU Alums: Which 2013 title winner will be next to win Super Bowl?
By Jason Parker
FSU saw two more members of the 2013 national title team bring home a Super Bowl championship when Philadelphia won the title this past weekend.
In 2013, the FSU football team completed one of the best seasons in the history of college football with a 14-0 season that ended with a thrilling BCS title game win over Auburn that brought home the school’s third national title in program history – and put that team in the conversation as the best team to ever play the sport.
Since that point, six members of that team have gone on to play in the biggest NFL game each season – with four of those players now being able to say the hole the rare double feature of a college national title and a Super Bowl crown.
Two of those took place just this weekend when both Tim Jernigan and Ronald Darby – two of the top defensive stars for that FSU team – joined with fellow Noles Nigel Bradham and Patrick Robinson to help the Philadelphia Eagles defeat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 52.
A total of 22 players have been drafted from that team to the NFL – and though the season just ended two days ago, you can never look at the future soon enough. Already, odds from Las Vegas have come out as to who is favored to make it to the Super Bowl in February 2019.
Based on the odds from VegasInsider.com, here are the FSU alumni who have the best chance to become the next “double champ”.
RB Devonta Freeman (Atlanta Falcons – 20/1)
Freeman already has tasted the Super Bowl glory after scoring the first touchdown in Super Bowl LI after the 2016 season. Several former Noles (The Fantastic Four in Philly, Vince Williams in Pittsburgh and Xavier Rhodes and Dalvin Cook in Minnesota) have better team odds, but none were part of that 2013 FSU team aside from Darby and Jernigan.
DB’s Marquez White (Dallas Cowboys), Lamarcus Joyner (Los Angeles Rams) and P.J. Williams (New Orleans Saints – all 20/1)
White and Williams seem to be at the right place at the right time with their teams, while Joyner and the Rams have a chance to be the dominate team in the NFC West for a while and possibly make a deep run for seasons to come.
LB Telvin Smith and DB Jalen Ramsey (Jacksonville Jaguars – 27/1)
There are plenty of people who joined the Jags bandwagon last season when they came within a quarter of their first Super Bowl. Much like during their time at FSU, these players won’t be able to sneak up on anyone this season.
LB Terrance Smith and OL Cameron Erving (Kansas City Chiefs – 27/1)
Smith and Erving were part of a Kansas City team that continues to not be able to get past the first round of the post season. If they can solve their quarterback issue after agreeing to trade Alex Smith, this team could make some noise.
Next: Is Super Bowl LII best group of former FSU football players?
Some other high profile 2013 FSU players include defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. (Oakland Raiders at 30/1), quarterback Jameis Winston (Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 40/1), WR Kelvin Benjamin and TE Nick O’Leary (Buffalo Bills at 100/1) and defensive tackle Eddie Goldman (Chicago Bears at 150/1).