![[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Sep 5, 2025; Sao Paulo, BRAZIL; Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. (3) celebrates after a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Corinthians Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amanda Perobelli/Reuters via Imagn Images](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_365,w_4127,h_2321/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/270/01k5ap02a46t4nw8k424.jpg "[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Sep 5, 2025; Sao Paulo, BRAZIL; Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. (3) celebrates after a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Corinthians Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amanda Perobelli/Reuters via Imagn Images")
FLORIDA STATE FOOTBALL
Florida State football is "cool" again as they have begun the season with a 2-10 with victories over Alabama and East Texas A&M. The 2025 campaign is still young, but the play on the field has been felt by former players across the landscape, such as Dalvin Cook, Jalen Ramsey, and Derwin James.
The Seminoles have had a long history of excellent players who have had an opportunity to wear the Garnet and Gold. Remarkably, the program is relatively young, with starting its football program in 1947.
There are moments where discussion comes up that former legendary head football coach Bobby Bowden could have had more national championships to his name if he had access to a College Football Playoff like the great Nick Saban did.
DERWIN JAMES
Florida State has been confident in the abilities of its former players. Some even claim the school holds certain titles, such as "DBU". Secondary member Deion Sanders played for the program in the late 1980s and had fourteen career interceptions
Many defensive backs went under the radar during their tenure with the Seminoles, such as Derwin James. There was a time when the former five-star prospect suffered a lower-body injury. However, James had combined to record 186 tackles (16 for loss), 15 pass deflections, three interceptions, and 5.5 sacks during his three-year career in Tallahassee.
James was selected with the 17th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Chargers. His NFL team defeated the Las Vegas Raiders in Monday night's game by a score of 20-9.
Chargers head football coach Jim Harbaugh spoke after the victory to the media, mentioning James.
"The best safety I've ever seen in the history of the National Football League."
— NFL (@NFL) September 16, 2025
Jim Harbaugh has some high praise for Derwin James 🤩 @chargers pic.twitter.com/tFFT0nNTnr
The former Florida State defensive back could be a very good player, but he has to continue not getting hurt. Personally, there is an argument that Ravens' Kyle Hamilton, Packers' Xavier McKinney, and Falcons' Jessie Bates could be in the mix of today's safeties. It could be a stretch when talking about the category of "all-time", but that is no disrespect to the former Seminole.