The 10 Greatest Seasons from FSU Freshman Running Backs

For Florida State in 2017, the hype around a pair of freshman running backs is real. The Seminoles reeled in a pair of 5-stars in Cam Akers and Khalan Laborn, who are each expected to battle with returning players, Jacques Patrick and Amir Rasul, for reps.

With Akers and Laborn expected to make an immediate impact, we look at the 10 best seasons ever for FSU freshman running backs:

10. Jermaine Thomas (2008)
Stats: 69 carries, 482 yards, 3 rushing touchdowns
Serving as the No. 2 behind Antone Smith, Jermaine Thomas quietly put together a solid freshman campaign, averaging seven yards per carry. Thomas scored FSU’s only touchdown in a 45-15 loss to Florida.

9. Larry Key (1974)
Stats: 123 carries, 602 yards, 3 rushing touchdowns
In what was a dreadful 1974 season, Larry Key was one of the few bright spots for Florida State. Key led the team with 602 yards rushing and scored three of FSU’s 15 touchdowns that season.

8. Sammie Smith (1986)
Stats: 107 carries, 611 yards, 4 rushing touchdowns
As a redshirt freshman in 1986, Sammie Smith was named a Freshman All-American, rushing for 611 yards and four touchdowns. Although bowl stats didn’t count back then, Smith saved his best for last, going for 205 yards on the ground and a pair of scores in a 27-13 Hall of Fame bowl victory over Indiana.

7. Victor Floyd (1985)
Stats: 90 carries, 619 yards, 4 rushing touchdowns, 10 catches, 71 yards, 1 touchdown catch
Freshmen Victor Floyd and Keith Ross shared the tailback duties in 1985 and did so with great success behind starter Tony Smith. Floyd’s 619 rushing yards ranked second behind Smith and his five total touchdowns were tied for a team-best.

6. Devonta Freeman (2011)
Stats: 120 carries, 579 yards, 8 rushing touchdowns, 15 catches, 111 yards
With Chris Thompson done for the year with an injury, freshman Devonta Freeman was asked to carry the load for FSU the second half of the season. Freeman did just that and did so admirably. Freeman twice hit the 100-yard rushing mark and scored FSU’s only two offensive touchdowns in a 21-7 victory at Florida to conclude the regular season.

5. Greg Allen (1981)
Stats: 139 carries, 888 yards, 3 rushing touchdowns
Greg Allen’s storied FSU career was storied from the get-go as Allen earned Freshman All-American honors in 1981. That year, Allen averaged 6.4 yards per carry and led the team with 888 yards on the ground. In a 56-31 win over Western Carolina, Allen set a school-record with 322 yards rushing. The record still stands.

4. Rock Preston (1994)
Stats: 68 carries, 587 yards, 9 rushing touchdowns, 15 catches, 126 yards
After using a “thunder and lightning” approach with Sean Jackson and Warrick Dunn in 1993, FSU went to lightning and more lightning with Dunn and Rock Preston. As a redshirt freshman in 1994, Preston averaged a remarkable 8.6 yards per carry and rushed for nine touchdowns. The most famous was his final score of the year as his 4-yard touchdown completed the biggest comeback in FSU history as the Seminoles rallied from 31-3 down in the fourth quarter to tie rival Florida, 31-31.

3. Travis Minor (1997)
Stats: 112 carries, 623 yards, 9 rushing touchdowns, 27 catches, 207 yards, 2 touchdown catches
Facing the unenviable task of replacing all-time leading rusher Warrick Dunn, Travis Minor eased the blow of losing Dunn, who hailed from his hometown of Baton Rouge. Minor eventually distanced himself from fellow freshman Davy Ford and wound up tying receiver E.G. Green for the team lead with 11 total touchdowns. On three occasions, Minor broke the 100-yard rushing mark.

2. Warrick Dunn (1993)
Stats: 68 carries, 511 yards, 4 rushing touchdowns, 25 catches, 357 yards, 6 touchdowns
As the change-of-pace back behind starter Sean Jackson, Warrick Dunn wasted little time letting Florida State know that it had something special. Dunn’s 10 total touchdowns led the team and his versatility was hard for opposing defenses to match. Dunn came up big late in the year as his 80-yard touchdown catch in the regular season finale put away Florida and in the Orange Bowl, his 21-yard reception in the fourth quarter set up the game-winning field goal as FSU went on to beat Nebraska for its first national championship.

1. Dalvin Cook (2014)
Stats: 170 carries, 1,008 yards, 8 rushing touchdowns, 22 catches, 207 yards, 2 touchdowns
Despite being worked along slowly in 2014, Dalvin Cook became the first FSU freshman ever to rush for 1,000 yards. Cook averaged nearly six yards per carry and scored winning touchdowns against both Louisville and Miami. Cook rushed for 100 yards five times en route to leading the Seminoles to an ACC title and the College Football Playoff. He would finish his career as the school’s all-time leading rusher.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson