FSU Alums: Timmy Jernigan keeps positive outlook after injury plagued year

Former FSU football star Timmy Jernigan took a serious pay cut to come back to the Philadelphia Eagles and make up for a forgetful 2018 season.

For former FSU football star defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan, a five season stretch from 2013 to 2017 was the stuff dreams are made of – a former five star recruit, Jernigan brought home a national title with the Seminoles before being taken in the NFL Draft and eventually signing with Philadelphia and winning a Super Bowl ring.

But, in what may have just been a case of the wrong place at the wrong time, Jernigan’s chance to celebrate was short lived after a back injury kept him out for nearly all of the 2018 season in Philadelphia – and ended up with the Eagles declining an option that cost him about $10 million for this upcoming season.

For the former FSU star, it isn’t about the money at this point in his career. As he prepares to enter year six in the professional game, Jernigan told the team’s website that the main thing at this point for him is to keep focused on what he can do to both bounce back from his injury and get the team another title.

"“I feel good and I’m having fun. That’s my goal this year. If I do those things, the rest will take care of itself,” Jernigan said. “I’m going to control what I can control. This defense, it has a lot of pieces. I just want to help us win games and play my best football and have fun doing it.”"

After combining for 120 tackles and 15.5 sacks in his first four seasons in the league, Jernigan finished last regular season with exactly two tackles – numbers that shocked many in Eagles green even in knowing how injured he was.

Still, even with all of that, Jernigan has put last season in the past and is looking forward to starting things back off this September.

"“I’m here to give it everything I’ve got. That’s what you’re going to see this year. All go. Everything in. It’s going to be fun.”"

FSU fans will get a chance to see Jernigan and the Eagles twice in the Sunshine State when they travel to face Jacksonville in the preseason on August 15th and Miami in the regular season on December 1st.