We stand 80 days away from Florida State football taking the field against Virginia Tech. As part of the offseason, we’re doing a countdown that highlights players, games, and specific moments from Florida State football history.
Today, it’s former wide receiver Rashad Greene, who were No. 80 during his illustrious Florida State career.
Greene was a bit of a surprise when he arrived on campus in 2011. Despite not being a top-100 recruit, Greene made a strong impression in spring practice and was able to receive reps in his freshman season.
Greene went up in between two Oklahoma defenders and made an incredible grab before sprinting towards the end zone, sending the crowd at Doak Campbell Stadium into a frenzy. The Seminoles would end up losing that game 23-13, but every FSU fan was made aware of the impressive freshman receiver.
His freshman season concluded with a team-high 596 yards and seven touchdowns. It was highlighted by performances against Clemson, Wake Forest, and Notre Dame, where he combined for 360 yards and three touchdowns.
Greene was again the leading receiver in 2012 with 741 yards and six receiving touchdowns, as well as two punt return touchdowns. None more important than his incredible play vs. Virginia Tech in the regular season.
Down by two points with under a minute to go, FSU quarterback E.J. Manuel found Greene sprinting across the middle of the field. Initially it seemed like it would just be a first down for the Seminoles, but Greene accelerated past the crowd of defenders and worked his way into the corner of the end zone for the eventual game-winning 39-yard touchdown.
Most remember Greene for his exceptional play in 2013, where he recorded five games with over 100 receiving yards. That includes the 2014 BCS National Championship against Auburn — another game where Greene’s heroics took over the spotlight.
On the eventual game-winning drive in the fourth quarter, Greene made a catch by the sideline and slipped under a defender for a 49-yard reception to put them in Auburn territory. He finished that season with 1,128 yards and nine touchdowns as he and teammate Kelvin Benjamin became the program’s first 1,000-yard receivers in 11 years.
Yet it was 2014 that might’ve been Greene’s best season of his Seminole career, with 1,365 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. It often goes overlooked because of the blowout loss that concluded it, as well as the week-to-week close performances that blended together. Yet Greene was the one constant on an offense composed of very few experienced receivers. It could legitimately be argued that Greene had a better season than Jameis Winston at the end of the day.
Greene had two moments in particular that helped solidify his reputation for clutch play. The first was in the opener against Oklahoma State, where the Seminoles found themselves on upset alert late in the fourth quarter. Though they were ahead 30-24 and FSU needed to put the game out of reach to feel comfortable about its chances.
Enter Rashad Greene. In a catch mirroring that miraculous play against the other Oklahoma team, Greene caught the ball amidst a haze of defenders, who then found themselves playing catch-up as Greene ran in for a touchdown. He finished that game with a career-high 203 receiving yards.
The contest against Clemson in the same season provided the final mark. Under seven minutes remained with FSU down 17-10 and backup quarterback Sean Maguire at the helm. Maguire had just taken a sack to make it a daunting 2nd-and-24. But as Greene’s career dictated, the moment was prime for another big play. He sprinted past a defender and caught a deep pass in stride to help tie the game on a 74-yard touchdown. Florida State ended up winning in overtime, 23-17.
Greene’s place in the record books will be secure for quite a while. He maintains the top spot in career receptions (270), single-season receptions (99 in 2014), and career receiving yards (3,830). His 29 career receiving touchdowns are also good for second place.
Yet no specific number will truly capture what Greene meant for Florida State football. He was one of the clutchest players to ever come through the program and one of the most consistent offensive players in the last decade. Greene did everything the team needed him to do and more. For this reason, it’s safe to suspect that it won’t be too long before fans hear his name getting inducted into the FSU Hall of Fame.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login