National Football League

Teeming with an abundance of NFL-caliber talent, FSU could set draft record

Published Apr. 23, 2015 11:00 a.m. ET

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State built quite the pipeline to the NFL under legendary coach Bobby Bowden, annually sending college stars to the pros.

But FSU has never produced this many NFL draft picks. After two seasons of success on the football field, which included a 2013 national title and a 29-game win streak, the Seminoles are close to placing more stars in the NFL draft than any other college program over a three-year period.

FSU had 11 draft picks in 2013 and then followed that up with seven more last year. If 11 former Seminoles are selected in next week's draft, it will give FSU 29 draftees over the last three seasons, breaking the modern-day record of 28 held by Miami (2002-04) and Southern California (2008-10).

Coach Jimbo Fisher feels that illustrates how well he and his coaching staff are doing as far as identifying prospects at the high school level and then developing them into college stars.

"When you want to go to Florida State to get a great degree in whatever major you have, you know they want to get a great degree but they also have a talent to go to the NFL," Fisher said. "So what we're doing in the classroom and our development stages and our coaching is also being rewarded, too.

"Our player development, getting guys to reach their potential, as a coach, you wonder, 'Am I really doing this right?' And it tells you that what you're doing is right and hopefully we can continue to do that."

Fisher has joked a few times this spring that the Seminoles have sent the equivalent of a football team to the NFL the past few seasons. The NFL has a 53-man roster, and FSU hasn't come close to that number, of course. But take for example the 22 starters for FSU in the BCS championship game against Auburn in January 2014.

Seven were drafted last spring: center Bryan Stork, receiver Kelvin Benjamin, running back Devonta Freeman, cornerback Lamarcus Joyner, defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan and safety Terrence Brooks. Linebacker Christian Jones was an undrafted free agent who played in the NFL in 2014, and fullback Chad Abram also went undrafted but spent time with the Detroit Lions before getting cut during training camp.

And 11 players could potentially be taken in this year's NFL draft: quarterback Jameis Winston, receiver Rashad Greene, tight end Nick O'Leary, defensive end Mario Edwards Jr., defensive tackle Eddie Goldman, cornerbacks P.J. Williams and Ronald Darby, and offensive linemen Cameron Erving, Tre' Jackson, Josue Matias and Bobby Hart.

"I feel like FSU, coach Jimbo Fisher, (offensive line) coach Rick Trickett, did a great job preparing me for this," Jackson said. "Everything that we went through is preparing me for life."

When FSU held its pro day in Tallahassee on March 31, a capacity crowd of NFL coaches and front-office personnel flooded the school's indoor practice facility. In part to watch Winston, who is a potential No. 1 overall pick. But also the depth of talent that was available to NFL teams.

"As talented a group as you'll see anywhere in the country," NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said.

Fisher has a reputation of developing quarterbacks, and Winston will give him three first-round quarterbacks since 2011 (Christian Ponder and EJ Manuel were the others). But FSU has also had at least one player taken at every position with the exception of tight end since 2011. And FSU O'Leary will likely go in the middle rounds this year.

One of the main reasons why FSU sends so many players to the NFL is one Fisher takes pride in: he prefers to run a pro-style offense and also a defense that is similar to ones in pro football.

"If you want to be an NFL player, play in an NFL system on offense, on defense and special teams," Fisher said. "To me that only helps you become that."