We have all followed up on the lives of FSU alumni who travel to the pros, from recent graduates like Trey Benson, Keon Coleman, Jared Verse, and Braden Fiske who are finding success in their time in the big leagues, to past legends such as Deion Sanders, a two-time Super Bowl Champion and NFL Hall of Famer now coaching at the University of Colorado, and Super Bowl MVP Fred Biletnikoff, whose career has left huge marks on the game and a lasting impression on FSU football history. But while we celebrate touchdowns and trophies, we often overlook the success of Seminole athletes who went on to excel in entirely different fields.
Take Burt Reynolds, for example. The halfback who played under Coach Tom Nugent may have had his career cut short by injuries, but Reynolds went on to become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, earning fame through iconic films like Deliverance, Smokey and the Bandit, and The Longest Yard, and even receiving an Academy Award nomination for Boogie Nights. Reynolds dominated the box office and was one of the top-grossing actors of the ‘70s and ‘80s, remaining a timeless figure in film and pop culture until his passing in 2018.
Then there’s Charlie Ward, and if you know anything about FSU, then you know his name —Florida State’s first Heisman Trophy winner in 1993, who led the Noles to their first national championship. While at Florida State, Ward also earned recognition as one of the greatest dual-sport athletes in program history. After college, he pursued professional basketball rather than heading to the NFL, enjoying an 11-year NBA career primarily with the New York Knicks and even starting as point guard in the 1999 NBA Finals. Following his retirement, Ward became a coach and mentor, leading both high school football and basketball programs in Florida and Texas while also serving as a motivational speaker. Today, he continues to shape athletes as the head men’s basketball coach at Florida A&M University, bringing the same discipline and faith that defined his playing days.
And let’s not forget Casey Weldon, the star of the late 80’s and early 90’s, who finished his senior year at FSU by throwing for 2,527 yards and 22 touchdowns, leading the Seminoles to a 10-2 record and a Cotton Bowl victory. Weldon left Florida State with the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, finishing as school’s second all-time leader in both touchdown passes and total offense, and was the runner-up for the 1991 Heisman Trophy. I could talk Weldon’s football statistics with you all day, but it’s the numbers he grossed after college that I am here to talk about. After his NFL career and coaching, Weldon transitioned into business and launched Advanced Drying Systems in 2003, building a thriving water damage and mold remediation service that operated across Florida and Louisiana. This entrepreneurial move has allowed Weldon to maintain competitiveness off the field while achieving an estimated net worth of $5 million.
There are countless Florida State football alumni worth noting, and it would be impossible to highlight them all. At the end of the day, the message is the same: FSU doesn’t just produce football stars—it makes legends. Whether it’s on the field, in business, or anywhere else, Seminoles know how to compete and thrive.