All-time Florida State football player bracket (First-round results)

Do you smell that? March Madness is finally in the air! One of the more exciting times in college sports as the 64-team tournament takes place in a matter of days.

Individuals (including your grandmother) will be filling out their brackets in hopes of being that .00000000000000001% who possess the coveted perfect bracket.

I am not here to break down the current 2025 NCAA Tournament and my bracket, but I want to have a little fun since the college football season for the Florida State Seminoles is a little under twenty-four weeks away from its season opener versus the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Here is my projected field of the all-time Florida State football players (not saying that these are the best sixteen):

(1) DB DEION SANDERS VS (16) DL ANDRE WADSWORTH

Should this be a question? When individuals think about Florida State football, defensive back Deion Sanders always comes to mind. Prime Time had 14 career interceptions (three returned for touchdowns) during his Seminole career from 1985-1988 and was a Hall of Famer. Defensive end Andre Wadsworth had an incredible 1997 season where he had 16 sacks and 19 tackles for loss. The pass rusher should not be discredited, but Deion is the choice here.

Pick: (1) DB Deion Sanders

(8) WR FRED BILETNIKOFF VS (9) LB DERRICK BROOKS

This is a heavyweight matchup between two former players who made impactful plays during their times in the garnet and gold. Biletnikoff had his No. 25 jersey retired and became the Seminoles' first consensus All-American in football, but Derrick Brooks consistently struck fear in opposing offensive players where he finished his career with 274 tackles, five interceptions, 8.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles. I know this might be debatable, but my selection is linebacker Derrick Brooks.

Pick: (9) LB Derrick Brooks

(5) QB JAMEIS WINSTON VS (12) QB CHRIS WEINKE

Well, well, well... Would you look at that? Two Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks in the same matchup. It seems fitting that this would happen, right? Weinke came back from a serious neck injury in 1998 and then delivered a remarkable season where he had 4,167 passing yards with 33 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions. Meanwhile, Jameis Winston was a polarizing figure who had 4,057 passing yards with 40 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Just from stats alone, Famous Jameis wins!

Pick: (5) QB Jameis Winston

(4) WR PETER WARRICK VS (13) DB DERWIN JAMES

I believe that this is a sneaky good matchup, and I would love to see the two of them pair up against one another. Wide receiver Peter Warrick was someone who is often a forgotten piece in Seminoles' history, and if you blink, you might miss him in the open field as he scores a touchdown. As for Derwin James, he laid bone-crushing hits for anyone that came his way. I am going to side with Peter Warrick as he was as dynamic as it gets as a wide receiver and a punt returner.

Pick: (4) WR Peter Warrick

(6) DL RON SIMMONS VS (11) DB JALEN RAMSEY

I flipped it back a little bit to a classic with all-time defender Ron Simmons. Some of the younger crowd remembers Simmons's time in the WWE, but some never realized that he went to Florida State. During his Seminoles' career, the legendary defender had his jersey retired and had 25 sacks and 44 tackles for loss. Jalen Ramsey speaks for himself. The lockdown cornerback continues to terrorize opposing wide receivers in the NFL. This was a tough choice, but I am going with the upset in Ramsey.

Pick: (11) CB Jalen Ramsey

(3) QB CHARLIE WARD VS (14) RB DALVIN COOK

This is something that could be a highly debated topic. As we have seen in the NCAA Tournament, especially in the last couple of years, the No. 3 seeds have been knocked off by the No. 14 seeds. This matchup could hit home for individuals as quarterback Charlie Ward was a Heisman Trophy winner and a national champion while running back Dalvin Cook was one of the best rushers that the Seminoles have had in their history. With that said, I am siding with the champion in this one.

Pick: (3) QB Charlie Ward

(7) RB WARRICK DUNN VS (10) DB LEROY BUTLER

Former running back Warrick Dunn is an incredible player who played with the Seminoles, where he accumulated 3,959 rushing yards and 37 touchdowns in four seasons. All I could think about was "Ward to Dunn" in 1993 when Florida State upset the Gators in the Swamp. Not to mention that Dunn is an incredible person with his charitable work. Meanwhile, defensive back Leroy Butler also has his shining moment with Florida State, where he was a key part in the "puntrooksie" versus Clemson in 1988 and originated the Lambeau Leap. It is a tough decision, but I will go with Dunn here.

Pick: (7) RB Warrick Dunn

(2) LB MARVIN JONES VS (15) DB TERRELL BUCKLEY

This is another tough one... Two Hall of Famers. However, only one can win. Let's start with Marvin "Shade Tree" Jones. He was a bad man. He brought the pain to any and every opposing offensive player that he could make contact with. Jones Sr. recorded 111 tackles (seven for loss) in 1992, where he finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting. Just like Deion Sanders, defensive back Terrell Buckley was a ball-hawking cornerback that would make you pay for making a bad throw. He had 12 interceptions in his final season at Florida State. It's so close, but I lean toward Shade Tree.

Pick: (2) LB Marvin Jones

Be sure to tune into the round-two matchups in the next article! As always, Go Noles!