Not only did Florida State’s Rose Bowl loss to Oregon last week end the nation’s longest winning streak, the nation’s longest bowl winning streak and the Seminoles’ hopes of repeating as national champions, but it also brings about the end of several notable FSU careers.
Four senior starters along the offensive front along with running back Karlos Williams, receiver Rashad Greene and tight end Nick O’Leary will all be leaving to the NFL, but as many as six underclassmen could follow.
The most notable of course is former Heisman winning quarterback Jameis Winston. A redshirt sophomore who turned 21 on Tuesday, Winston compiled a 26-1 record in two seasons as the Seminoles’ starting quarterback along with nearly 8,000 yards passing and 65 touchdown passes. Winston would leave Tallahassee with a career completion rate of better than 66 percent.
Winston is likely the only Seminole on the offensive side of the ball to consider making the jump, but on the defensive side of the football, Florida State could have a very new look up front and in the secondary.
As a whole, Florida State underachieved in 2014 after yielding the fewest points-per-game in the country in 2013. Nevertheless, there is still a plethora of NFL-ready talent.
On the defensive line, juniors Eddie Goldman and Mario Edwards Jr. are each realistic candidates to declare for the NFL Draft. Goldman had a breakout season for Florida State, leading the team in sacks and making huge plays down the stretch in a number of Florida State’s come-from-behind victories.
Edwards never put up the gaudy numbers that was expected from him as the top overall recruit out of high school, but the junior end sets the edge extremely well and is very athletic for a man 300 pounds. Edwards could excel as an end in a 3-4 look in the NFL, but could also provide versatility to a team that runs a 4-3.
In the secondary, both starting cornerbacks could be playing on Sunday next season, but P.J. Williams seems more likely to make the jump than his partner, Ronald Darby. FSU had its struggles against the pass this season, but both junior corners certainly have NFL skill sets. The two combined this season for just one interception.
The rest of the defense, which loses just one notable senior in Desmond Hollin, looks to remain intact. Junior linebacker Terrance Smith looks to be the only other defensive player for Florida State who will even contemplate testing the NFL waters.
Perhaps the most interesting of the underclassmen considering leaving early is redshirt sophomore placekicker Roberto Aguayo. With the exception of former FSU kicker Sebastian Janikowski, kickers aren’t usually taken very high nor are they highly valued or paid compared to the rest of the 53-man roster.
During his Florida State career, Aguayo was 46-for-50 on field goal attempts with a long of 53 yards. Aguayo has a leg that would already be among the best in the NFL were he to enter the draft.
On the bright side for Florida State, some key replacements may already be on campus. Seven members of the Seminoles’ 2015 recruiting class have enrolled early including three 5-star prospects in safety Derwin James, wide receiver George Campbell and defensive end Josh Sweat.
The other four players to enroll early are safety Calvin Brewton, quarterback and Florida Mr. Football De’Andre Johnson, wide receiver Da’Vante Phillips and running back Jacques Patrick.
There’s no question that Florida State will lose a multitude of players who were instrumental in bringing the Seminoles not only a national championship, but three ACC titles. The deadline for players to declare for the 2015 NFL Draft is January 15th.
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