Kirk says FSU Football Produces ACC-Best 10 Picks but couldn’t draft equal standard players to keep the team going

he Seminoles had 10+ picks in a single draft for the fourth time in program history.

The Florida State football program produced 10 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, which concluded Saturday, and was the only team in the country to have multiple defensive linemen, multiple defensive backs and multiple wide receivers selected.

Florida State had 10 picks in a single draft for the fourth time in program history, matching the mark from 1995 and trailing only the ACC-record 11 picks in the 2013 and 2015 NFL Drafts. The 10 draft picks tied for the third-highest among all programs nationally in 2024 and were four more than the second-place ACC team. FSU was one of six teams nationally with three top-40 selections, and its six top-100 picks tied for the third-highest total among all collegiate programs. The Seminoles extended their streak of having at least one former player taken to 41 straight years, the eighth-longest active streak in the country.

Showcasing the balance of last year’s squad, Florida State had five offensive players and five defensive players selected. It was the fifth time in program history with five offensive players taken in the same year and first time since 2015. The last time Florida State had five defensive players off the board in the same year was 2013, and 2024 marked the ninth time with at least five FSU defenders taken. FSU had multiple defensive linemen drafted for the 14th time in program history. The Seminoles also had their 14th year with multiple defensive backs taken in the same draft and have produced 37 defensive back picks in the last 37 NFL Drafts. Florida State had multiple wide receivers selected in the same draft for the sixth time and first since 2003.

Defensive end Jared Verse started the festivities Thursday night. He became Florida State’s 47th first-round pick in program history when he was selected 19th overall by the Los Angeles Rams. Wide receiver Keon Coleman was the first selection Friday evening when the Buffalo Bills picked him 33rd overall, defensive tackle Braden Fiske was picked by the Rams at No. 39 overall, defensive back Renardo Green went to the San Francisco 49ers at 64th overall, running back Trey Benson was selected 66th overall by the Arizona Cardinals and defensive back Jarrian Jones was taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars with pick number 96. Quarterback Jordan Travis was the New York Jets’ fifth-round selection at No. 171 overall, wide receiver Johnny Wilson was picked by the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 185 overall, tight end Jaheim Bell was selected by the New England Patriots with the 231st overall pick and linebacker Tatum Bethune was picked by the 49ers with the 251st overall selection. Florida State now has 304 NFL Draft picks in its history, including 214 during its current streak of 41 straight drafts with at least one selection.

Verse was a two-time All-American, including first-team honors from the AFCA in 2023 and The Athletic in 2022, after transferring to Florida State prior to the 2022 season. The Dayton, Ohio, native played in 25 games with 22 starts at FSU and collected 89 tackles, including 29.5 for loss with 18.0 sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, three pass breakups and two blocked kicks.

During his redshirt junior season in 2023, Verse had 41 tackles, with 12.5 for loss and a team-high 9.0 sacks. He added three pass breakups, 11 quarterback hurries, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and a blocked extra point. Verse had a career-high 2.5 sacks and a season-high 3.0 tackles for loss in Florida State’s 24-15 win at Florida to earn ACC Player of the Week honors. He followed that up with 2.0 sacks and 3.0 tackles for loss in the Seminoles’ 16-6 win over No. 14 Louisville in the ACC Championship Game.

Verse is the highest-drafted player from Florida State since Brian Burns was selected 16th overall in 2019 and the 33rd top-20 pick in program history.

Coleman is the second FSU player taken in the first 33 picks of the 2024 NFL Draft, joining defensive end Jared Verse. Verse on Thursday night became Florida State’s 47th first-round pick in program history when he was selected 19th overall by the Los Angeles Rams. Florida State now h