'Noles in the Pros: How former FSU stars fared in the NFL this season
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In a year already headlined by success, there's a chance Florida State's NFL alumni could have even more accolades as the 2015 season comes to a close.
Former Seminoles Kelvin Benjamin and Graham Gano are in line to win Super Bowl rings should the Carolina Panthers beat the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50 on Feb. 7 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
Then there's the individual awards.
Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman was named a captain in his first-ever Pro Bowl appearance. Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston, the first pick of the 2015 Draft, is a finalist for the NFL Pepsi Rookie of the Year. And longtime NFL star Anquan Boldin is one of three finalists for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.
Here's a look back at how FSU's NFL alumni fared during the 2015 season.
| Name | Team | POS | Season Recap |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Kelvin Benjamin |
Carolina Panthers |
WR |
Benjamin tore his ACL prior to the season. If the Panthers win Super Bowl 50, he would be eligible for a ring. |
|
Anquan Boldin |
San Francisco 49ers |
WR |
At 35, he finished with 789 yards and four TDs. He's 17th all-time in receiving yards with 13,195. |
|
Nigel Bradham |
Buffalo Bills |
LB |
His 59 tackles were the second-most in Bradham's four seasons with the Bills. |
|
Terrance Brooks |
Baltimore Ravens |
S |
Brooks, who recorded eight tackles, had thumb surgery early in the season. |
|
Tank Carradine |
San Francisco 49ers |
DE |
He ended the year with 22 tackles and a sack. But recently fired defensive coordinator Eric Mangini said Carradine has a bright future. |
|
Antonio Cromartie |
New York Jets |
CB |
The 10-year veteran had 29 tackles and helped the Jets win 10 games. |
|
Ronald Darby |
Buffalo Bills |
CB |
Darby was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team after compiling 68 tackles and two INTs in a shutdown role. |
|
Mario Edwards Jr. |
Oakland Raiders |
DE |
Edwards had 42 tackles and two sacks in 14 games. But his rookie campaign ended with a neck injury. |
|
Cameron Erving |
Cleveland Browns |
OT |
The first-round pick started four games but described his rookie year as "tough," per the Akron Beacon-Journal. |
|
Devonta Freeman |
Atlanta Falcons |
RB |
He was tied for the NFL lead with 11 rushing TDs. He also ran for 1,061 yards and earned a spot in the Pro Bowl. |
|
Graham Gano |
Carolina Panthers |
K |
Gano has converted 30 of 36 field goal attempts and has helped the Panthers reach Super Bowl 50. |
|
Eddie Goldman |
Chicago Bears |
DL |
Goldman was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team after recording 39 tackles and 4.5 sacks in 15 games. |
|
Rashad Greene |
Jacksonville Jaguars |
WR |
Greene returned 18 punts for 301 yards and a TD. He also had 19 catches for 93 yards despite injuries. |
|
Letroy Guion |
Green Bay Packers |
DT |
Eight-year veteran had 21 tackles in his second season with the Packers. |
|
Bobby Hart |
New York Giants |
OG |
The seventh-round selection played in nine games and received one start. |
|
Dustin Hopkins |
Washington Redskins |
K |
Hopkins' 89.3 percent success rate on field goals was the ninth-best in the NFL. |
|
Rodney Hudson |
Oakland Raiders |
C |
The former Kansas City Chief started 13 games in his first season with the Raiders. |
|
Tre' Jackson |
New England Patriots |
OG |
Jackson was part of the Patriots' rotating offensive line. He played in 13 games and started nine. |
|
Sebastian Janikowski |
Oakland Raiders |
K |
The 16-year Raider converted 80.8 percent of his field goal attempts. |
|
Timmy Jernigan |
Baltimore Ravens |
DT |
Jernigan started eight of the 15 games he appeared. Finished the year with 37 tackles and four sacks. |
|
Christian Jones |
Chicago Bears |
LB |
Jones was arguably his defense's best player statistically. He led the Bears with 86 tackles. |
|
Lamarcus Joyner |
St. Louis Rams |
CB |
He played in all 16 games and recorded 72 tackles for the now Los Angeles-bound franchise. |
|
EJ Manuel |
Buffalo Bills |
QB |
A former first-round selection, he threw for 561 yards and 3 TDs as the Bills' No. 2 QB. |
|
Nick O'Leary |
Buffalo Bills |
TE |
O'Leary's roller-coaster rookie year ended with one catch for 37 yards. |
|
Xavier Rhodes |
Minnesota Vikings |
CB |
Rhodes started 16 games for a consecutive season. His 58 tackles and one interception helped the Vikings win the NFC North. |
|
Patrick Robinson |
San Diego Chargers |
CB |
After a five-year stint in New Orleans, Robinson recorded 49 tackles and one interception. |
|
Garrison Sanborn |
Buffalo Bills |
LS |
Sanborn has been featured in 112 consecutive games as the team's long snapper. |
|
Telvin Smith |
Jacksonville Jaguars |
LB |
Smith is now the author of consecutive seasons of at least 100 tackles. His 128 tackles tied for sixth in the NFL. |
|
Bryan Stork |
New England Patriots |
C |
When healthy, Stork often was the Patriots' top lineman. Started six of eight games despite injuries. |
|
Chris Thompson |
Washington Redskins |
RB |
His numbers increased across the board. Thompson played in 13 games and ran for 216 yards. |
|
Lawrence Timmons |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
LB |
For the fifth time in six seasons, the Steelers star accrued more than 100 tackles with 119. |
|
Dekoda Watson |
New England Patriots |
LB |
Watson's first year with the Pats was mixed. He was released after Week 3 but later resigned in early January. |
|
Menelik Watson |
Oakland Raiders |
OT |
The Raiders had big plans for Watson until he sustained a season-ending torn Achilles'. |
|
Bjoern Werner |
Indianapolis Colts |
LB |
Werner did not start in 10 games with the Colts and ended the year with 13 tackles. |
|
Vince Williams |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
LB |
The third-year linebacker enjoyed another season of at least 44 tackles. He ended 2015 with 46. |
|
Karlos Williams |
Buffalo Bills |
RB |
Williams impressed in his rookie year by rushing for 517 yards and 7 TDs. |
|
P.J. Williams |
New Orleans Saints |
CB |
His first year started with a setback as he was sidelined by a hamstring injury and placed on injured reserve. |
|
Jameis Winston |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
QB |
Set three NFL rookie passing records. Is a Rookie of the Year finalist and was selected to the Pro Bowl. |