TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State All-American defensive end Bjoern Werner will forego his senior season and enter the 2013 NFL Draft.
“I’m grateful to Coach Fisher and Florida State for giving me the opportunity to be a Seminole and play for one of the top college football programs in the country,” Werner said. “I’ve learned so much from the coaches especially Coach [D.J.] Eliot and have been able to play with some of the best players in the country. After sitting down with my wife Denise and gathering as much information, I’ve decided to move on and enter the NFL draft. I’ve enjoyed my time at FSU and will cherish the time I spent as a Seminole.”
Werner was one of the most versatile and disruptive defensive ends in the nation who ranks seventh in the NCAA in sacks per game and second in total sacks (13). In 2012, he finished with 42 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 13 sacks and eight pass breakups. He entered the Orange Bowl leading the nation in yards accumulated on tackles behind the line of scrimmage (134). Only one player in FSU history has recorded more sacks in their first three seasons than Werner and that is Peter Boulware. After just two years of high school football in the US, Werner amassed 35 TFL, 23.5 sacks, 18 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in three seasons in Tallahassee. He moved into the top 10 all-time at FSU for TFL in just his third season and just 27 career starts. Over his last two seasons, Werner recorded a sack or TFL in 17 of FSU’s 27 games and he recorded a tackle in 34 consecutive games. He was one of just four defensive linemen in the NCAA to have eight or more pass break-ups and none of the other three players had more than five sacks compared to 13 for the FSU defensive end and none had more tackles for loss. He had arguably the best game of his stellar FSU career recording 3.5 sacks, a career-high tying six tackles and a fumble recovery for nine yards versus No. 4 Florida in the regular season finale.
His list of accolades in 2012 included Bronko Nagurski Award finalist, Walter Camp All-American first team, Sporting News All-American first team, AFCA FBS Coaches’ All-American first team, AP All-American first team, CBSSports.com All-American first team, Pro Football Weekly All-American first team, SI.com All-American second team, ACC Defensive Player of the Year, All-ACC first team and Coaches All-ACC first team.
“I’d like to congratulate Bjoern on his decision to enter the NFL draft,” FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher said. “It’s the best decision for him and his family. Not only is he a great football player but he’s an unbelievable person. His leadership on and off the field will impact this program for years to come. I wish him nothing but the best and he will always be remembered as one of the great players in FSU history.”
