23 Days Until FSU Football: No. 23 Travis Minor Provides Dependability in FSU Backfield

There are 23 days left until Florida State football starts the 2018 season. As part of the offseason, we’re highlighting players, games, and specific moments from FSU football history.

On Friday, it was former FSU wide receiver Andre Cooper and his 24 career touchdown receptions.

Today, it’s former running back Travis Minor, who wore No. 23 and handled the unenviable task of replacing a legend with effort deserving of admiration.

A Gatorade National Player of the Year, Minor came to Florida State in 1997 and was tasked with helping replace the school’s all-time leading rusher Warrick Dunn. Like Dunn, Minor hailed from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Early on as a freshman in 1997, Minor shared carries with Davy Ford and Dee Feaster. Against Virginia on Oct. 25 of that season, Minor took the game’s first carry 87 yards for a touchdown in electrifying fashion. Minor finished the night with 157 yards rushing and 72 receiving for a grand total of 229 yards and three total touchdowns. From there, Minor never relinquished his role as feature back.

Travis Minor opened his sophomore year with 146 yards rushing and a touchdown in a win over Texas A&M. (Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

Minor never hit the 1,000-yard rushing clip, but would become the first player in FSU history to be the team’s leading rusher in four straight seasons. Minor was a 4-time All-ACC performer, including a first-team selection during Florida State’s national championship season of 1999.

Minor’s best season in terms of yards per carry (5.6) and total touchdowns came as a freshman in 1997. As a senior in 2000, Minor finished with career-highs of 923 yards rushing and 333 yards receiving. Minor eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark 12 times throughout his career, which spanned 48 games.

Minor would go on to get selected in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. Minor spent eight years in the league with the Dolphins and St. Louis Rams.

Minor remains near the top of the statistical leaderboards in just about every FSU career rushing category. Minor remains second all-time in Florida State history in carries, fourth in yards and sixth in touchdowns. Despite great backs like Greg Allen, Warrick Dunn and Dalvin Cook having come through Tallahassee, Minor remains the only FSU running back ever to lead the team in rushing in four straight seasons.

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