10 ‘Noles Pegged as Preseason All-Americans

This past week, USA Today released its preseason All-American team which features seven different Florida State players. USA Today joined Athlon Sports, Sports Illustrated and Phil Steele/ESPN as major publications to release All-American teams. Among those four outlets, 10 Seminoles were named either a first or second team All-American. Here’s a look at those players:

Roberto Aguayo, Kicker
1st Team All-American: Athlon, Sports Illustrated, Steele/ESPN, USA Today
As a freshman last season, Roberto Aguayo became the third Florida State player to win the Lou Groza Award. Aguayo missed just one kick the entire season and will look to join Sebastian Janikowski as the school’s only two-time winner of the award in 2014.

Tre’ Jackson, Guard
1st Team All-American: Athlon, Sports Illustrated, Steele/ESPN, USA Today
A three-year starter, senior right guard Tre’ Jackson is picked as one of the best at his position. Jackson has 28 career starts to his name and helped Florida State score more points last season than any other school in FBS history.

Nick O’Leary, Tight End
1st Team All-American: Athlon, Sports Illustrated, Steele/ESPN, USA Today
After finishing with 557 yards receiving and seven touchdowns, senior tight end Nick O’Leary joins Jackson and Aguayo as Florida State’s only unanimous first-teamers by all four publications. O’Leary has already scored more touchdowns from the tight end position than any other player in FSU history.

Jameis Winston, Quarterback
1st Team All-American: Athlon, Sports Illustrated
2nd Team All-American: Steele/ESPN, USA Today
Despite being 14-0 as a starter and winning the Heisman Trophy, sophomore quarterback Jameis Winston has not been slotted unanimously as a first team All-American. Winston passed for over 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns last season, but Oregon’s Marcus Mariota is receiving plenty of preseason hype.

Cameron Erving, Tackle
1st Team All-American: Athlon
2nd Team All-American: Sports Illustrated, Steele/ESPN, USA Today
A former defensive tackle, senior left tackle Cameron Erving has blossomed into one of the premier pass protectors in college football. Erving has started all 28 games for Florida State since moving from the defensive side of the ball.

Jalen Ramsey, Safety
1st Team All-American: Athlon, Sports Illustrated
2nd Team All-American: USA Today
After a monster freshman season in which Jalen Ramsey started at both cornerback and safety, Ramsey returns as one of the headliners of perhaps the nation’s best secondary. Though he finished with just one interception as a freshman, Ramsey proved his worth in a number of ways and was rarely caught out of position.

Rashad Greene, Wide Receiver
2nd Team All-American: Athlon, Steele/ESPN, USA Today
After becoming the first Florida State player to break the 1,000-yard receiving mark since 2002, senior Rashad Greene sits 1,134 yards shy of Ron Sellers’ career receiving record at Florida State. Greene looks to also become the first player ever to lead the Seminoles in receiving in four straight seasons.

Levonte “Kermit” Whitfield, Kick Returner
1st Team All-American: Steele/ESPN
While small in size, Kermit Whitfield emerged as one of the nation’s top kick returners as a freshman in 2013. Whitfield scored touchdowns on a pair of kickoff returns including a 100-yard return in the fourth quarter of the BCS National Championship to give Florida State a 27-24 lead over Auburn.

Josue Matias, Guard
2nd Team All-American: Athlon
An often overlooked member of perhaps the nation’s best offensive line, Josue Matias was an All-ACC performer for Florida State last season. A senior guard, Matias made a name for himself last season despite playing between Erving and Rimington Award winner Bryan Stork.

P.J. Williams, Cornerback
2nd Team All-American: Steele/ESPN
A physical corner with the ability to lock down opposing receivers, P.J. Williams finished with three interceptions a season ago including one late in the BCS title game. By season’s end, Williams had become one of the nation’s top cover corners and is expected to have a big junior year for the Seminoles.

Notable
Phil Steele named Matias, running back Karlos Williams and defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. as fourth team All-Americans. Athlon Sports named Edwards, Whitfield and P.J. Williams as third team All-Americans with Karlos Williams again landing on the fourth team. Sports Illustrated and USA Today each released just two teams.