Ranking the 16 greatest Florida State players of all time, from Charlie Ward to Deion Sanders

How loaded is the Florida State list when it comes to the greatest all-time players? 

It is the definition of "next level." Just look at the top six players. Four players won national championships, and three of those quarterbacks won Heisman Trophy awards. The other two players in the top won Super Bowls and are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

The trick is the order. How do you stack up Charlie Ward and Jameis Winston? Where do defensive stars Deion Sanders and Derrick Brooks fit in? Chris Weinke and Peter Warrick worked together to win a national championship, too. 

A total of 12 of the 16 players on this list – or 75% – played under legendary coach Bobby Bowden, who won 377 games from 1976-2009. 

Who made the list? Here was the formula Sporting News used to determine the top players for each school: 

• Heisman Trophy winner: 10 points
• Heisman top-five finish: 2nd place (4 points), 3rd place (3 points), 4th place (2 points), 5th place (1 point) 
• Major awards (3 points): Maxwell, Walter Camp, Doak Walker, Davey O'Brien, Unitas, Biletnikoff, Mackey, Outland, Lombardi, Rimington, Bednarik, Nagurski, Butkus, Thorpe, Groza, Guy, Hendricks, Campbell, Lott, Hornung, Wuerffel, Manning
• Consensus All-American: 3 points
• Legacy (15-1 points, AP Poll style with first place receiving 15 points): A subjective ranking of those players' standing in school history. 
• Stats (15-1 points, AP Poll style): A subjective look at a player's statistics by era. Are they a school record-holder? 

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16. Jordan Travis, QB (2019-23) 

(Getty Images)

Florida State accolades: Heisman Trophy fifth place (2023) 

Why he made SN's list: Jordan Travis was a three-year starter under Mike Norvell, and the Seminoles compiled a 23-4 record in his final two seasons. Travis was an efficient quarterback. He averaged 2,985 passing yards with 44 TD passes and just seven interceptions in those two seasons. He also averaged 296.5 rushing yards with a total of 14 TDs rushing. 

Place in Seminoles' history: Travis is one of five quarterbacks on this list, and one has to wonder how much different it would be had he not suffered a gruesome ankle injury against North Alabama on Nov. 18, 2023. The Seminoles were snubbed from the College Football Playoff despite a 13-0 record. 

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15. Casey Weldon, QB (1988-91) 

Florida State accolades: Heisman Trophy second place (1991), Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (1991) 

Why he made SN's list: Casey Weldon gets lost in the shuffle a bit with the former Seminoles’ quarterbacks, but he did finish second to Michigan’s Desmond Howard in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1991 despite the fact the Seminoles beat the Wolverines 51-31. Weldon had 268 yards and three TDs in that game. He finished with 2,527 yards, 22 TDs and eight interceptions that season. 

Place in Seminoles' history: The Seminoles were 21-4 in two seasons with Weldon under center – and the only losses were to top-10 teams. Weldon was part of the group that helped Florida State stay on the national radar – and that set up the 1993 national championship team. 

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14. Ron Simmons, DT (1977-80) 

Florida State accolades: Consensus All-American (1979, 1980) 

Why he made SN's list: Ron Simmons – a 235-pound nose guard – ranks second all time in school history with 483 tackles – on the interior. Simmons also had 25 sacks and 17 forced fumbles. He was a force for Florida State teams that finished 21-3 in his final two seasons. 

Place in Seminoles' history: Simmons is probably more known as the professional wrestler Faarooq, where he enjoyed a tremendous career. That all started on the interior line at Florida State, where he set a high standard at the position. 

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13. Sebastian Janikowski, K (1997-99) 

Florida State accolades: Groza Award (1998, 1999), Consensus All-American (1998, 1999) 

Why he made SN's list: Sebastian Janikowski filled a void for the Seminoles at kicker, where he totaled 324 points in three seasons. Janikowski hit 66 of 83 (79.5%) of his field-goal attempts in three seasons, and he missed just three extra points. The two-time All-American was a key piece of the 1999 national championship team. 

Place in Seminoles' history: Bowden once asked, "How many national championships we might have won if we had Janikowski every year of my career?" Janikowski set a standard for Florida State kickers, which future Groza Award winners Graham Gano and Robert Aguayo would follow. 

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12. Peter Boulware, LB (1993-96) 

Florida State accolades: Consensus All-American (1996) 

Why he made SN's list: Peter Boulware emerged as a dominant edge rusher in 1996. He set a school single-season record with 19 sacks in 1996. He finished his career with 34 sacks and 344 career tackles, which ranks sixth in school history. 

Place in Seminoles' history: Boulware is one of the faces of the rivalry with Florida State during that four year-run. He helped Florida State beat Florida 24-21 in the No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown on Nov. 30, 1996. The Gators won the rematch 52-20 in the Sugar Bowl, but Boulware had two sacks in that loss. He was one of the best edge rushers of that era. 

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11. Terrell Buckley, CB (1989-91) 

Florida State accolades: Thorpe Award (1991), Consensus All-American (1991) 

Why he made SN's list: Terrell Buckley – a flashy cover cornerback – made his mark in a fantastic 1991 season where he led the nation with a then-record 12 interceptions. Buckley still holds the Florida State career record with 21 career interceptions, and he had four interception returns for TDs.

Place in Seminoles' history: Buckley doubled as an outstanding punt returner – where he had three returns for TDs. He returned to Florida State as an assistant coach and has worked up the coaching ranks. He will make his debut as Mississippi Valley State’s head coach in 2025.

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10. Fred Biletnikoff, WR (1962-64)  

Florida State accolades: Consensus All-American (1996) 

Why he made SN's list: Fred Biletnikoff emerged as a superstar receiver over a three-year period with Florida State where he compiled 57 catches for 988 yards and 11 TDs. He ranked third in the NCAA in receiving yards that season and averaged 17.3 yards per catch. Biletnikoff had 165 yards and two TDs in a 14-0 win against Miami in the opener that season and closed his career with 13 catches for 192 yards and four TDs in a 36-19 victory against Oklahoma in the Gator Bowl on Jan. 2, 1965. 

Place in Seminoles' history: The Biletnikoff Award is given to the nation’s best receiver every year. Biletnikoff started a proud tradition of receivers at Florida State, and he added to that legacy when he earned Super Bowl MVP honors for the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XI.  

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9. Warrick Dunn, RB (1993-96) 

Florida State accolades: Heisman Trophy fifth place (1996) 

Why he made SN's list: Warrick Dunn was the ultimate all-purpose running back for the Seminoles. He totaled 511 rushing yards, 357 receiving yards and 10 total TDs as a freshman on the 1993 national championship team, and  he had three straight seasons with 1,000 or more rushing yards from 1994-96. He finished with 3,959 yards, which ranks second all time in school history. 

Place in Seminoles' history: Dunn – a 5-foot-9, 180-pound running back – remains a Florida State icon because of his versatility and toughness, which he took to the NFL with a 12-year NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons. 

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8. Dalvin Cook, RB (2014-16) 

Florida State accolades: Consensus All-American (2016) 

Why he made SN's list: Dalvin Cook had three straight 1,000-yard seasons for the Seminoles, and he is the school’s all-time leading rusher with 4,464 yards. He finished in the top 10 of the Heisman Trophy voting twice and had five games with at least 200 yards rushing. He stepped in as a freshman with the 2014 team, which reached the first College Football Playoff. 

Place in Seminoles' history: Cook – 5-foot-10, 210-pound back – ran with a punishing style that translated well into the NFL. But he also averaged 26 catches and 312 receiving yards per season. He is one of the underrated stud running backs of the College Football Playoff era. 

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7. Marvin Jones, LB (1990-92) 

Florida State accolades: Heisman Trophy fourth place (1992), Butkus Award (1992), Lombardi Award (1992), Consensus All-American (1991-92) 

Why he made SN's list: Marvin Jones is the most-decorated Florida State linebacker. He led Florida State’s defense as a three-year starter, and he recorded 369 tackles in that stretch. Jones had 111 tackles and seven tackles for loss in 1992 and became the first Florida State linebacker to sweep the Butkus Award and Lombardi Trophy. 

Place in Seminoles' history: The Seminoles were 33-5 during that stretch, and the 1992 team allowed just 15.6 points per game. Jones’ reputation as a hard-hitting linebacker remains, and he set the stage for the next linebacker on this list. 

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6. Derrick Brooks, LB (1991-94) 

Florida State accolades: Consensus All-American (1993, 1994) 

Why he made SN's list: Derrick Brooks – a four-year starter at linebacker – is the most-revered Florida State linebacker. He personified the intensity of those Seminoles’ defenses that compiled a 44-5-1 record in those four years. Brooks was the definition of the complete linebacker with 274 tackles, 8.5 sacks, five interceptions and three fumble recoveries during his career. He was constantly around the football. 

Place in Seminoles' history: Brooks helped Florida State win its first national championship in 1993, and he is one of four defensive players in school history to have his number retired. He enhanced that legacy with a Pro Football Hall of Fame career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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5. Chris Weinke, QB (1997-2000) 

Florida State accolades: Heisman Trophy winner (2000), Johnny Unitas Golden Arm (2000), Davey O’Brien Award (2000) 

Why he made SN's list: Chris Weinke arrived at Florida State at 25 years old after a minor-league baseball career, but he took over the starting job as a sophomore and compiled a 32-3 record over three memorable seasons where he led Florida State to a national championship in 1999 and a BCS championship appearance in 2000. 

Place in Seminoles' history: Weinke still holds Florida State records for career passing yards (9,839) and single-season passing yards (4,167) and career passing TDs (79). Those records have held up for 25 years - -which is impressive. Weinke is the co-offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech heading into the 2025 season.  

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4. Peter Warrick, WR (1995-99) 

Florida State accolades: Consensus All-American (1988, 1999) 

Why he made SN's list: Peter Warrick was the first star of the Bowl Championship Series era. He emerged as a playmaker for the Seminoles in 1997 – and he had his best season in 1998 with 61 catches for 1,232 yards – an incredible 20.2 yards per catch – with 12 TDs. He helped the Seminoles win the BCS championship in 1999 and might have won the Heisman Trophy if not for a two-game suspension he served during the regular season. He finished sixth in the voting that season. 

Place in Seminoles' history: Warrick reminded everyone of that star power however with a transcendent performance in the BCS championship game at the 2000 Sugar Bowl. Warrick had six catches for 163 yards and two TDs – including the final TD on a 43-yard pass from Weinke – in a 46-29 victory. He still holds the school record with 31 TD receptions. 

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3. Deion Sanders, CB (1985-88) 

Florida State accolades: Thorpe Award (1988), Consensus All-American (1987, 1988) 

Why he made SN's list: Deion Sanders has a case as one of the best cornerbacks of all time. He had 14 interceptions and three interception returns for TDs and added three punt returns for TDs. He helped establish a tradition of elite defensive backs at Florida State, and he made plays at the right times. That set up his career as "Prime Time" in the NFL. 

Place in Seminoles' history: Sanders also starred in baseball and track at Florida State and has a strong argument to be No. 1 on this list. No play defined Sanders' swag more with the Seminoles in a 24-21 victory against Clemson on Sept. 14, 1988. Sanders told the Clemson's bench "This one's coming back!" then returned a punt 76 yards for a touchdown. 

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2. Jameis Winston, QB (2012-14)

Florida State accolades: Heisman Trophy winner (2013), Maxwell Award (2013), Walter Camp Award (2013), Davey O’Brien Award (2013) 

Why he made SN's list: Jameis Winston arrived on Sept. 2, 2013, when he hit 25 of 27 passes for 356 yards and four TDs in a 41-13 victory against Pitt.  Winston threw a 3-yard TD pass to Kelvin Benjamin with 13 seconds left to beat Auburn 34-31 in the final BCS championship game.  He would win 26 straight starts before the Seminoles lost to Oregon in the first CFP semifinal at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 2015. 

Place in Seminoles' history: Winston had 4,057 yards and 40 TDs that season. He faced sexual allegations in 2013 and had the infamous shoplifting incident involving crab legs the following season, so the success was not without controversy. Winston went on to be the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft and is in his 11th season in 2025. 

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1. Charlie Ward, QB (1990-94) 

Florida State accolades: Heisman Trophy (1993), Maxwell Award (1993), Walter Camp Award (1993), Johnny Unitas Golden Arm (1993), Davey O’Brien Award (1993) 

Why he made SN's list: Charlie Ward validated Florida State's success under Bowden. He took over the starting job in 1992 and led the Seminoles to a 11-1 record. He guided the national championship run in 1993. Ward passed for 3,032 yards, 27 TDs and four interceptions during his Heisman-winning season, and he added 339 rushing yards and four TDs. He was the most-dynamic player in college football that season. 

Place in Seminoles' history: Ward led the Seminoles to an 18-16 victory against Nebraska in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 1994 to clinch the program’s first national championship. He also starred in basketball at Florida State and played 11 seasons in the NBA. 

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