FSU football having one of its best NFL draft classes ever
Florida State has followed up on its ACC championship season with one of its most impressive NFL draft classes in program history.
Wide receiver Keon Coleman was the first pick of the second round, and four of his Seminoles teammates followed Friday night during the event’s second day. Add in first-round pick Jared Verse on Thursday, and FSU had six players chosen in the first three rounds. That’s tied for second-most in program history, behind only 2001 (seven).
Coleman, unsurprisingly, had a short wait Friday night, going to the Bills with the No. 33 overall pick. In his lone season at FSU after transferring from Michigan State, he earned first-team all-ACC honors in three different spots: receiver, all-purpose player and return specialist.
In addition to his receiving numbers (50 catches, 658 yards, 11 touchdowns), he amassed 300 yards on 25 punt returns as a pivotal part of an FSU team that started 13-0 and won the ACC title. He also caught the overtime touchdown at Clemson to give the Seminoles their first win over the Tigers since 2014.
Buffalo traded four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs this offseason, so Coleman — a 6-foot-3, 213-pound Louisiana native — will have the chance to become an immediate target for Josh Allen on a Super Bowl contender.
Six picks later, the Rams took their second Seminole of the draft, plucking defensive tackle Braden Fiske. He’ll continue playing alongside Verse, whom Los Angeles took Thursday with the No. 19 overall pick.
“I can’t tell you how juiced I am to come to LA and team up with my guy, Verse, and wreak havoc out there on the defensive line,” Fiske said in a social media post.
Fiske, like Verse and Coleman, joined FSU as a transfer. He came from Western Michigan and rose from a second-team all-MAC performer to a third-team All-American.
The 6-foot-3, 292-pound Indiana native dominated the ACC championship triumph over Louisville with a career-high nine tackles (4 ½ for a loss) plus three sacks and two quarterback hurries. That victory secured the Seminoles’ first ACC title in nine seasons.
Fiske and Verse join a Rams roster that includes another recent transfer who clicked at FSU, outside linebacker Keir Thomas.
With the last pick of the second round (No. 64 overall), the 49ers grabbed FSU defensive back Renardo Green. Unlike FSU’s first three draftees, he was a homegrown talent who signed with then-FSU coach Willie Taggart as a three-star recruit in 2019. Green was a two-year starter at FSU and led the conference with 13 pass breakups last season.
Two picks later, the Cardinals made FSU’s Trey Benson the draft’s second running back selected (No. 66 overall).
Benson earned second-team all-ACC honors in both of his seasons with the Seminoles after rushing for more than 900 yards in back-to-back seasons. The Oregon transfer is the only player in FSU history to have a touchdown run of 80-plus yards and touchdown reception of 80-plus yards. His 18.2 yards per carry in a win over Virginia Tech broke the FSU single-game record held by Warrick Dunn.
Cornerback Jarrian Jones rounded out FSU’s haul, going to the Jaguars at No. 96 overall. Jones transferred to FSU from Mississippi State before Mike Norvell’s first season. Last year, the Seminoles named him their defense’s most improved player. Against North Alabama, he became the first player in program history with a sack, tackle for loss, interception, forced fumble and fumble recovery in the same game.
Miami safety Kamren Kinchens was the only other player drafted from a state school on Day 2. He went to the Rams with the penultimate pick of the third round (No. 99 overall). Linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper (No. 91, Green Bay) started his college career at Florida but finished it at Missouri.
• • •
Sign up for the Sports Today newsletter to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.
Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on Instagram, X and Facebook.
