TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The reigning Atlantic Coast Conference and Discover Orange Bowl champions set another school record as 11 Florida State players were selected in the 2013 NFL Draft. The Seminoles closed out the draft Saturday with six selections between the fifth and seventh rounds.
“It’s a great indication of how the program is truly developing,” FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher said regarding leading the nation with 11 draftees. “I think it shows we’re getting back to national prominence. Our players are doing a great job of representing themselves on and off the field leading to chances at the next level. I think we’re going to have more guys sign free agent contracts and get a chance to play professionally. I’m proud of those guys as well. I’m happy for all of these guys and want to thank them for helping return this program back to the national spotlight.”
The Seminoles also led the nation with the most players selected. LSU and Alabama each had nine players taken while Georgia and Florida finished with eight players drafted. The 11 Seminoles chosen eclipse the previous record of 10 set in the 1995 NFL Draft. FSU also matched the ACC record, which Miami carried from the 2002 draft with 11 selections.
Running back Chris Thompson and defensive end Brandon Jenkins, who both suffered season-ending injuries in 2012, were taken in the fifth round by the Washington Redskins. Thompson was the 154th pick while Jenkins was taken with the 162nd pick. The seven Seminoles to go in the first five rounds were the most since the 2006 season.
Three more FSU players were taken in the sixth round as NCAA record setting kicker Dustin Hopkins joined quarterback EJ Manuel in the Buffalo Bills’ draft class. Hopkins was taken with the 177th pick. Linebacker Nick Moody was taken with the 180th pick by the San Francisco 49ers joining second round pick Cornellius “Tank” Carradine in San Francisco. The Pittsburgh Steelers selected linebacker Vince Williams with the final pick in the sixth round.
Defensive tackle Everett Dawkins was the final FSU player taken as he went in the seventh round to the Minnesota Vikings with the 229th pick.
Noting the Noles’ 2013 NFL Draft
Rd Name Pos Pick Team
1 EJ Manuel QB 16 Buffalo Bills
1 Bjoern Werner DE 24 Indianapolis Colts
1 Xavier Rhodes CB 25 Minnesota Vikings
2 Cornellius “Tank” Carradine DE 40 San Francisco 49ers
2 Menelik Watson OT 42 Oakland Raiders
5 Chris Thompson RB 154 Washington Redskins
5 Brandon Jenkins DE 162 Washington Redskins
6 Dustin Hopkins K 177 Buffalo Bills
6 Nick Moody LB 180 San Francisco 49ers
6 Vince Williams LB 206 Pittsburgh Steelers
7 Everett Dawkins DT 229 Minnesota Vikings
