Much like with the ten best current players, I decided to post Athlon's top 10 and then my top ten and analyze the pics.
Here is the article/slideshow from Athlon.
Athlon Sports
10. Terrell Buckley
9. Warrick Dunn
8. Chris Weinke
7. Marvin Jones
6. Ron Sellers
5. Derrick Brooks
4. Peter Warrick
3. Ron Simmons
2. Deion Sanders
1. Charlie Ward
Simmons and Sellers are clearly Seminole legends, but they are also before my time. Therefore, I cannot put them on my list. Simmons is probably better known by my generation as Farooq. The guy is an absolute legend, but its hard to put him in a top ten when you haven't seen the guy play that much.
My List
10. Corey Simon
9. Reinard Wilson
8. Terrell Buckley
7. Warrick Dunn
6. Chris Weinke
5. Peter Warrick
4. Marvin Jones
3. Deion Sanders
2. Derrick Brooks
1. Charlie Ward
It is hard to argue with the people on Athlon's list. They all played professionally with the exception of Ward who is one of the most decorated athletes in history. Ward decided to play in the NBA rather than the NFL. The only thing that is up for debate is the order in which the athletes appear. Like I said earlier, I could not possibly pick someone who I didn't see play that much. I left on the other 8 though and added 2.
I added Corey Simon who was the anchor of the 1999 championship defense at #10. Simon was an animal inside. It was hard to not pick Andre Wadsworth, Samari Rolle, or Leroy Butler, but I think Simon was the slightly better choice. Also hard not to put Tra Thomas or Walter Jones two legends on the offensive line on this list either. During the dynasty years, FSU sure was loaded. Simon is an FSU Hall of Famer and was a consensus All-American during the wire-to-wire season. Since that may be the best team in NCAA history, I think 3 members of it can be in the top 10.
The other player I added to my list who wasn't on Athlon's was Reinard Wilson. Wilson has the school record for sacks in a career with 35.5. He won a national title as a freshman in 1993 and is another FSU Hall of Famer. The guy had 100+ tackles in the 1996 season where he was an All-American while also recording 13.5 sacks. How many guys get 100 tackles and that many sacks?
Terrell Buckley was #10 on Athlon's list and #8 on mine. Buckley was an animal at defensive back. This guy has the interception record at FSU (not Deion) and the Int return yards record (not Deion). He was named an All-American in the season he got 12 INTs and won the Jim Thorpe award that season.
Warrick Dunn was one spot ahead of Buckley on each list. Dunn is one of my all time favorites. If this list was about that, he would come in at #2 behind only Derrick Brooks. Despite being incredibly small Dunn was the best runningback in FSU history. He played with the heart of a champion and lead FSU to several victories. Dunn was 3 time All-ACC. He's the only Seminole to top 1,000 yards in 3 straight seasons. Dunn holds the career and single season rushing records for the Noles. This guy could have easily been higher on either list, but check out the other guys on the list.
Chris Weinke was the 1st 3 year starter under Bowden at QB. He is one of two Seminoles to win the Heisman. He led the Seminoles to the 1999 title. 32-3 was Weinke's record as a starter. The guy set 26 school records. This guy could be much higher, but a lot of his success was attributed to his age and Peter Warrick. I wanted to put the guy higher because I think those are bogus excuses, but who do you move down?
Peter Warrick was right after Weinke on my list with Marvin Jones and Derrick Brooks in between on the Athlon List. Warrick should have won the Heisman in 1999. He was the best player in football that year, but the Dillard's incident cost him all of the hardware that year. #9 didn't even get the Biletnokoff for that season. He has the most touchdowns in FSU history and is only behind Ron Sellers for catches and yards. Warrick was MVP of the Sugar Bowl Championship over Virginia Tech that season though as he went off.
Jones was not at FSU that long, but he sure did make an impact. Some would call him the face of those FSU defenses and even say he is the best Seminole of all time. I didn't go that far, but I moved him up to #5 when Athlon had him at #7. Jones was a two-time consensus All-American. He also finished 4th in Heisman voting. That should really tell you how good Marvin Jones was, he almost won the Heisman as a linebacker. In 1992, Jones won the Lombardi and Butkus Awards during that amazing season he almost won the Heisman.
Derrick Brooks was another two-time All-American. He is my favorite football player of all-time. Athlon had him at #5, but I think that doesn't do him justice. I have him at #2 and nearly had him #1. When I think of Seminole Legends, Derrick Brooks is one of the first players that pops into my head. He is perhaps the biggest reason that I fell in love with FSU football. Well him and that #1 guy. Brooks was the big play guy on the 1993 National Championship team. That season, Brooks was ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Obviously, Brooks also went on to great success in the pros, but the guy was a class act at FSU and their best defensive player of my generation, perhaps ever.
In 1988 Deion Sanders won the Jim Thorpe Award. He was also a two-time All-American. Sanders holds 7 FSU records for punt returns and INTS. Sanders is the best cover corner to ever play the game, but that doesn't make him better at FSU than Derrick Brooks. I think the fact that he played multiple sports and was such an excellent cover corner factored into Athlon's vote. Derrick Brooks was the better player at FSU. Deion was so good though that you can easily see where he finishes anywhere in the top 5. I obviously think highly of him as I have posted a few times about him. The only guys I have higher are the two greatest to ever do it.
The #1 guy has to be Charlie Ward. Ward is #1 on every Seminole fans list. This man just made it happen. He is the most decorated athlete in Seminole history. Perhaps, he is the most decorated player in NCAA history. Ward was the Heisman winner in 1993 while leading the Noles to the National Championship. Ward set 19 school records and 7 ACC records. Charlie Ward claimed 30 individual awards in his time with FSU. Everyone thought the guy was great, especially in 1993. Not only that, but Ward is the most accurate passer in FSU history to go with his run-pass ability. It would have been interesting to see what Ward could do in the NFL, but he of course chose the NBA and we will never know.
-Noland
