The Daily Nole

Sunday Centerpiece: Remembering the Last FSU Player to Earn First-Team All-ACC at Each Position

FSU athletics

It was a disappointing 2018 campaign for Florida State as a whole and for a lot of individuals.

Defensive end Brian Burns, now a member of the Carolina Panthers, was the only player to earn first-team All-ACC honors for FSU. In 2017, safety Derwin James was the only Seminole to earn that distinction. FSU had at least four selections in each season from 2012-16.

In this piece, we’ll be looking back on the first-team All-ACC season for the last FSU players to earn that distinction at each position. Hopefully for Willie Taggart and company, there will be multiple representatives in the garnet and gold this coming season.

Quarterback: Jameis Winston
Season: 2014
Stats: 65% completions, 3,907 yards passing, 25 TD passes, 18 interceptions, 3 TD rushes
Overview: Jameis Winston’s redshirt sophomore campaign didn’t live up to his Heisman Trophy season the year prior, but Winston still led the ACC in passing yards and ranked second in passing touchdowns and passer rating. Although he was much more turnover prone in year No. 2, Winston was clutch when he had to be, leading the Seminoles on four game-winning drives in the fourth quarter.

Running Back: Dalvin Cook
Season: 2016
Stats: 6.1 YPC, 1,765 yards rushing, 19 TD rushes, 488 yards receiving, TD catch
Overview: As a junior in 2016, Dalvin Cook broke his own FSU single-season rushing mark as well as the school’s career record. Cook finished in the top six nationally in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns while being named a Unanimous All-American. Cook rushed for at least 100 yards in nine of his final 10 games, including a career-high 267 rushing yards in a 55-35 victory over South Florida.

Wide Receiver: Rashad Greene
Season: 2014
Stats: 99 catches, 1,365 yards receiving, 7 TD catches
Overview: The only player in FSU history to lead the Seminoles in receiving in four straight seasons, Rashad Greene capped his time in Tallahassee with a career-year. Greene ranked ninth nationally in receptions in 2014 and eighth in receiving yards while leading the ACC in both categories. The 1,365 yards receiving as a senior ranks second in FSU history. In 2014, Greene broke FSU career records for receptions and receiving yards. His 99 catches is a school-record.

Nick O’Leary is the only FSU tight end to win the Mackey Award and the school’s all-time leader in touchdowns by a tight end. (FSU athletics)

Tight End: Nick O’Leary
Season: 2014
Stats: 48 catches, 619 yards receiving, 6 TD catches
Overview: A Consensus All-American and the first Florida State player to win the John Mackey Award, tight end Nick O’Leary ended his FSU career with a bang. O’Leary broke virtually every FSU tight end record and capped his senior season with 11 games with at least three catches. Three of his six touchdowns came in wins over Florida and the ACC Championship against Georgia Tech.

Center: Bryan Stork
Season: 2013
Stats: 13 starts
Overview: Bryan Stork started 40 games during his FSU career, but settled in as the team’s center over his final two seasons. In 2013, Stork became the first FSU player to win the Rimington Trophy, annually given to the nation’s best center. That season, FSU scored more points than any FBS team ever en route to a national championship.

Guard: Tre’ Jackson
Season: 2014
Stats: 14 starts
Overview: Recruited as a defensive tackle, Tre’ Jackson would become one of the best offensive linemen ever to don the garnet and gold. As a senior in 2014, Jackson was named a Unanimous All-American while starting all 14 games. Over his career, Jackson made 42 starts for the Seminoles.

Tackle: Roderick Johnson
Season: 2015
Stats: 13 starts
Overview: A 6-foot-7, 310-pound left tackle, Roderick Johnson started his final 31 games in an FSU uniform and won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, which goes to the ACC’s top lineman, in each of his final two seasons. After making Freshman All-American teams in 2014, Johnson earned All-American honors from various publications in each of his final two years in Tallahassee.

Defensive End: Brian Burns
Season: 2018
Stats: 52 tackles, 15.5 TFL, 10 sacks, 3 forced fumbles
Overview: As a junior in 2018, Brian Burns ranked second in the ACC in sacks, sixth in tackles for loss and fourth in forced fumbles. The focal point of a disappointing FSU defense, Burns became a complete defensive end and one of the best speed rushers in the country. Burns tied or set a new career-high for FSU in virtually every category.

Defensive Tackle: Eddie Goldman
Season: 2014
Stats: 35 tackles, 8 TFL, 4 sacks, forced fumble
Overview: Once a 5-star prospect out of the Washington D.C. area, Eddie Goldman put it all together for Florida State as a junior in 2014. Goldman was a load in the middle of the defensive line with the ability to stop the run and rush the passer. Goldman’s signature game came in the ACC opener against Clemson when he forced a fumble late in the fourth quarter to keep the game tied and was responsible for a fourth-down tackle for loss in overtime to set up the FSU victory.

Linebacker: Geno Hayes
Season: 2007
Stats: 80 tackles, 17.5 TFL, 5 sacks, interception, touchdown, 2 forced fumbles
Overview: The position with the longest first-team All-ACC drought for Florida State is linebacker. It’s been over a decade since an FSU player earned that distinction when Geno Hayes did so as a junior. Hayes led FSU in tackles for loss and forced fumbles. Hayes’ most memorable moment of the 2007 season was his 38-yard interception return for a touchdown off Matt Ryan to seal FSU’s 27-17 road upset of the No. 2 Eagles.

Tarvarus McFadden led the nation with eight interceptions in 2016. (wlpearce.com/FSU athletics)

Cornerback: Tarvarus McFadden
Season: 2016
Stats: 20 tackles, 3 TFL, 8 interceptions
Overview: As a sophomore in 2016, cornerback Tarvarus McFadden had a breakthrough year. At 6-foot-2 and nearly 200 pounds, McFadden led the nation with eight interceptions and was named the winner of the Jack Tatum Award. The eight interceptions is tied for the second-most in a season for FSU, behind only Terrell Buckley’s 12 in 1991.

Safety: Derwin James
Season: 2017
Stats: 84 tackles, 5.5 TFL, sack, two interceptions, touchdown
Overview: One of the most versatile defenders in recent memory at Florida State, Derwin James came off a season-ending meniscus injury in 2016 to record 84 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and one that was returned for a touchdown. James didn’t put up the gaudy numbers that he did as a freshman in 2015, but did enough to earn first-team All-American honors from the Football Writers of America Association.

Kicker: Roberto Aguayo
Season: 2015
Stats: 21-for-26 field goals, long 51, 49-for-49 PATs
Overview: Roberto Aguayo’s worst of three seasons as Florida State’s starting kicker was 2015, but Aguayo still managed to garner All-American honors. Aguayo was 5-for-10 from beyond 40 yards as a junior and didn’t miss inside of 40 yards. That’s something Aguayo would never do for his career. He also never missed an extra point. Throughout his career, Aguayo made 88.5 percent of his kicks — good for third-best all-time.

Punter: Shawn Powell
Season: 2011
Stats: 47 YPP, long 69, 23 inside 20
Overview: Aside from linebacker, the longest current drought between first-team All-ACC selections is punter. As a senior in 2011, Shawn Powell earned Consensus All-American honors by averaging 47 yards per punt — an FSU record. That also led the FBS. Powell had five punts of at least 60 yards, including two that traveled 69 yards.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. Like The Daily Nole on Facebook. To pitch an idea, author a post or to learn more about The Daily Nole, email Mike Ferguson at Mike@TheDailyNole.com.

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