FSU Senior Moments: Nate Andrews

The send-off wasn’t what most of Florida State’s seniors had hoped for, but nevertheless, the accomplishments as a program that this year’s senior class helped with are many. With the regular season in the books and only the Independence Bowl to be played, we’ll be looking back on the careers of some prominent FSU seniors.

The outgoing senior class for the Seminoles was part of the first College Football Semifinal ever and helped FSU finish in the top 10 twice and play in three New Year’s Six bowls. Some departing seniors contributed each season while others had small parts in the grand scheme of things.

Nate Andrews’ Florida State career got off to a fast start. Andrews, a native of Alabama, led or was tied for the team lead in interceptions in each of his first two years with the Seminoles.

Injuries derailed the latter years of Andrews’ FSU career, but they also afforded him an extra year to provide leadership in 2017. It’s rare to see a 5-year contributor in college football, but that’s what Andrews was as he served on teams that won a national championship, two ACC titles and participated in four major bowl games.

With still the Independence Bowl to be played, Andrews has tallied more than 180 tackles, two sacks, five forced fumbles and eight interceptions throughout the course of his career. As Andrews get set to wrap up a productive career, here are the five best moments over his time in Tallahassee:

5. Andrews Over the Top
Nov. 2, 2013
The 2013 contest between Florida State and Miami in 2013 featured top-10 teams, but from the early parts of the second half, FSU had seized control. Trailing 35-14 early in the fourth quarter, Miami quarterback Stephen Morris decided to take a shot deep. Over the top in coverage however was freshman Nate Andrews for the interception. The pick served as the final nail in the Hurricanes’ coffin as the Seminoles would go on eat more than six minutes off the clock and kick a field goal in a 41-14 victory.

4. First Interception
Sept. 28, 2013
Thanks largely to an injury to Tyler Hunter, Nate Andrews was forced into the lineup as a freshman. In what was by far FSU’s worst defensive effort of the 2013 season in Chestnut Hill, Boston College threatened to mount a comeback late. Down 48-34 with about two minutes to play and facing 4th-and-13, BC quarterback Chase Rettig took a shot into the end zone, but there was Andrews for his first career pick to seal the victory.

3. “Oh My God, We Got the Ball Back!”
Sept. 20, 2014
Fresh off a national championship in 2013, it looked as though Florida State might lose its 2014 ACC opener. With under two minutes to play and the score tied 17-17 at Doak Campbell Stadium, Clemson was inside FSU’s 20-yard-line, looking to melt the clock and win the game. On a carry by Clemson running back C.J. Davidson that netted enough yards for a first down, FSU defensive tackle Eddie Goldman reached in and stripped the football. An alert Andrews was able to recover to thwart the scoring drive and force overtime. After getting a stop to start overtime, running back Karlos Williams put the game away with a 12-yard touchdown run in a 23-17 FSU win.

2. Career-Day at Wake
Nov. 9, 2013
The 2013 contest against Wake Forest was a good day for just about everyone wearing garnet and gold on defense as the Seminoles came away with six interceptions, but the best day by far belonged to Nate Andrews. Andrews finished the day with two interceptions, including one he returned 56 yards for a touchdown in the first minute of the second quarter. The Seminoles as a whole forced seven turnovers and held the Demon Deacons to just 166 yards in a 59-3 victory in Winston-Salem.

1. Setting the Tone for 2014
Aug. 30, 2014
Fresh off a national championship, big things were expected for Florida State in 2014 as the Seminoles opened the season in Dallas against Oklahoma State. It wasn’t reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston or Rashad Greene, the school’s eventual all-time leading receiver, or soon-to-be John Mackey Award winner Nick O’Leary who scored the season’s first touchdown. It was Nate Andrews. With FSU leading 3-0 and Oklahoma State backed up inside its own 10-yard-line, quarterback J.W. Walsh fired a pass that Andrews tipped to himself and returned nine yards for a score. FSU went on to win 37-31 en route to a third straight ACC title and appearance in the first-ever College Football Playoff.

NOTE: It was unclear whether Andrews would be afforded another year on eligibility at this time last year. A similar piece was written last year.

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