73 Days Until FSU Football: Derrick Gibson’s 73 Tackles Highlight 1999 Season

73 days are left until Florida State football takes the field vs. Virginia Tech. As part of the offseason, we’re doing a countdown that highlights players, games, and specific moments from FSU football history.

On Thursday, it was Dalvin Cook and his 74-yard touchdown run against South Florida in 2015.

Today, it’s former safety Derrick Gibson and his 73 tackles during the 1999 national championship season.

On a team full of impressive defenders, Derrick Gibson remains a player that receives little attention. But as the starting safety on the 1999 national championship team, Gibson was an important cog in the machine who helped lead the Seminoles to the title.

Gibson took over as a starting safety in the last half of 1998 when his athletic abilities became too much to pass up. He could play either safety position and act as both a ball-hawk and run-stopper. Gibson entered the 1999 season with raised expectations.

He was never a superstar, but he certainly proved his worth. Gibson amassed a career-high 73 tackles and four interceptions — all the while showing the versatility that made him such a valued starter.

Perhaps his biggest play came late in the fourth quarter of the Miami contest that year, with FSU up 31-21. The Hurricanes were down but not out and quarterback Kenny Kelly was in the midst of leading a comeback. Miami’s offense advanced all the way to inside the FSU 30-yard-line with four minutes left.

Kelly attempted a pass to the right side, but it was Gibson who came in and jumped at the pass, causing the ball to go up in the air. He then bobbled it for a second before coming down with possession and ending the Miami threat. FSU would go on to win. The play can be seen below:

Gibson used a solid 2000 season to get drafted in the first round by the Oakland Raiders. He was an athletic marvel, running a sub 4.5 40-yard dash and bench pressing over 400 pounds. Unfortunately, he was never able to convert his physical talents and college success into the pros, and the Raiders declined his option after the 2005 season.

Still, Gibson was an underrated part of that 1999 defense which helped the team go wire-to-wire as No. 1 in the polls. His 73 tackles and general performance are worthy of recognition.