Sporting News picks the 10 greatest players in Florida State history:
1. QB Charlie Ward
He’s so much more than the Heisman Trophy winning quarterback of the first FSU national championship team. After all those years of so close for Bobby Bowden, he finally found the unique player — on and off the field — that put his program over the top. A tough, smart, gutty, big-moment player, and more talented than any skill player in FSU history. Completed 70 percent of his passes and threw for 3,032 yards and 27 TDS (only 4 INTs) in the national championship season.
2. CB Deion Sanders
No one was quite like him — and no one ever will be again. From standing in the end zone at Clemson’s Death Valley and daring the Tigers to run down in the traditional pregame run down the hill, to developing into the best pure cover cornerback in college football history. And one more thing: there was never, and likely never will be again, a return man as dynamic and dangerous as Sanders. Truly a once-in-a-generation player.
3. RB Warrick Dunn
The heart and soul of the mid 1990s FSU teams that won one national title, and had the talent to win three (maybe four) with a few breaks. Rushed for nearly 4,000 yards and 37 TDs in his four seasons, and had 5,273 career yards from scrimmage and 49 TDs. If FSU wasn’t forced to play rival Florida again in the 1997 Sugar Bowl, the Seminoles likely would have won two national championships with Dunn playing a critical role in each.
4. QB Chris Weinke
In three seasons as the starting quarterback at FSU, the former MLB bust turned college football star nearly won a national title in 1998 (injury forced him to miss BCS NCG loss to Tennnessee), won a national title in 1999, and nearly won another in 2000 (suspension to All-American WR Snoop Minnis limited FSU offense in 13-2 loss to Oklahoma in BCS NCG). Along the way, he threw for 9,839 yards and 79 TDS and won the 2000 Heisman Trophy.
5. LB Derrick Brooks
No one player defined the famed FSU defenses under legendary coordinator Mickey Andrews quite like Brooks. Arguably the biggest recruit in the Bowden era (and that’s saying plenty), Brooks started as a freshman and eventually developed into a two-time All-American and one of the greatest defensive players in college football history.
6. QB Jameis Winston
It has taken all of one season for Winston to become one of the 10 best Seminoles of all-time. Make no mistake, Winston is the reason FSU is back on top of college football again. The 2013 team was essentially the same team from 2012 — but with Winston (not EJ Manuel) playing quarterback. His numbers were outstanding (4,057 yards, 40 TDs), but his ability to get the rest of the team to play to its absolute best — something a quarterback at FSU hadn’t done since Chris Weinke) — was the difference.
7. LB Marvin Jones
A two-time consensus All-American, Jones finished fourth in the 1991 Heisman Trophy race. Like Derrick Brooks, he’s one of the best linebackers to play college football. Had 369 career tackles (27 for loss) and nine sacks. A force in the middle of some of the best defenses in the game over the last quarter-century.
8. WR Peter Warrick
The most exciting player in the game every time he stepped on the field. A threat to score every time he touched the ball — as a receiver or on returns. His 32 career receiving touchdowns are an FSU record, and the two-time consensus All-American also averaged 13 yards per punt return.
9. DE Reinard Wilson
Never gets enough credit for his record-setting career as a pass rusher. When you think of FSU defensive linemen, it’s Ron Simmons and Andre Wadsworth and Jamal Reynolds. But Wilson holds the school record for career sacks (33.5) and broke all of Simmons’ records as a pass rusher. Wilson had an All-American season for the ages in 1996: 13.5 sacks, 22 tackles for loss, 105 total tackles.
10. WR Fred Biletnikoff
The first All-American at Florida State, and the one player who put FSU football on the map. As the passing game became more prevalent in the early 1960s, Biletnikoff became the receiver everyone watched. He had 57 catches in his senior season in 1964, and 11 went for touchdowns.