After wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin became the 40th Florida State player ever to be taken in the first round and the first FSU receiver in 12 years, three different Seminoles heard their names called on Friday as the 2014 NFL Draft resumed.
Defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan was thought to be the second Seminole to go, but to the surprise of many, cornerback Lamarcus Joyner was selected 41st overall and ninth in the second round by the St. Louis Rams. At just 5’8″, Joyner was an All-American and a Thorpe Award finalist a season ago leading FSU with 5.5 sacks while recording a pair of interceptions.
Jernigan’s NFL dreams would finally become a reality at pick 48. The Lake City product was snatched up by the Baltimore Ravens. Jernigan finished with 11 tackles for loss a season ago including 4.5 sacks. Jernigan collected nine of his 63 total tackles against Auburn in the BCS National Championship.
In the third round, safety Terrence Brooks would come off the board with the 79th pick. Like Joyner, Brooks played both cornerback and safety during his Florida State career and like Jernigan, Brooks was selected by the Baltimore Ravens. For the Seminoles last season, Brooks finished with two interceptions and a pair of forced fumbles.
In what is expected to be a big draft for Florida State, four players have now been taken through three rounds. Still waiting to be selected are linebackers Telvin Smith and Christian Jones, running backs Devonta Freeman and James Wilder Jr. and Rimington Award-winning center, Bryan Stork. Fullback Chad Abram, wide receiver Kenny Shaw and defensive tackles Jacobbi McDaniel and Demonte McAllister could also find landing spots over the final three rounds of the 2014 NFL Draft on Saturday.
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