2017 Florida State Seminoles football team

The 2017 Florida State Seminoles football team represented Florida State University in the sport of American football during the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Seminoles competed in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference and were led by eighth-year head coach Jimbo Fisher until he left to coach at Texas A&M before the final game of the regular season. They were then coached by interim head coach Odell Haggins. Home games were played at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.

In 2016, the Seminoles won 10 games for the fifth straight season and appeared in the Orange Bowl, a fifth consecutive appearance in a major bowl game. Running back Dalvin Cook, defensive end DeMarcus Walker, offensive tackle Roderick Johnson and cornerback Marquez White went on to be selected in the NFL draft.

Prior to the start of the season, Deondre Francois, Jacques Patrick, Cam Akers, Nyqwan Murray, Landon Dickerson, and Cole Minshew were named preseason All-ACC offensive selections while Derwin James, Tarvarus McFadden, Derrick Nnadi, Josh Sweat, Brian Burns, and Matthew Thomas were named preseason All-ACC defensive selections. In the pre-season media poll, Florida State was picked to finish first in the ACC Atlantic and win the conference title and Francois was picked as runner-up for ACC Player of the Year while Alec Eberle, McFadden, and James were named to the pre-season All-ACC team.

In the opening game against Alabama, quarterback Deondre Francois suffered a season ending knee injury which resulted in true freshman James Blackman being named the starter for the remainder of the season, leading to the program's worst start since 1976 although the Seminoles went on to become bowl eligible for the 36th consecutive year. Following the game against Florida, Jimbo Fisher resigned as coach; associate coach Odell Haggins was named interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

Jimbo Fisher (thru 12/1/17) Odell Haggins (interim; 2 games) Assistant coaches

Rick Trickett – Assistant head coach and offensive line coach Charles Kelly – Defensive coordinator and secondary coach Randy Sanders – Co-Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Lawrence Dawsey – Co-Offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach Brad lawing – Defensive head coach/defensive ends coach Odell Haggins – Associate coach/defensive line coach Jay Graham – Running backs coach/special teams coordinator Tim Brewster – Tight ends coach/recruiting coordinator Bill Miller – Linebackers coach Vic viloria – Head strength and conditioning coach Support staff

Addison Lynch Kurt Kennedy Jeremiah Wilson Brian Williams Jamie Mujeni Bert Biffani David Spurlock Tino Sunseri Matt McCutchan Andrew Priest Mike Warren Mario Edwards Sr. Myles Notkin |

10 Bailey Hockman – Freshman (6′2, 187) 12 Deondre Francois – Sophomore (6′2, 205) 14 Jake Rizzo – Freshman (6′0, 193) 16 J.J. Costentino – Junior (6′5, 230) 1 James Blackman – Freshman (6′5, 163) Tailback

 3 Cam Akers – Freshman (5′11, 213) *  7 Ryan Green – Senior (5′11, 204)  9 Jacques Patrick – Junior (6′2, 231) 22 Amir Rasul – Sophomore (5′10, 196) 26 Johnathan Vickers – Junior (6′1, 228) 37 Blaik Middleton – Sophomore (5′10, 194) 43 Jake Duff – Sophomore (6′0, 184) 14 Deonte Sheffield – Freshman (5′10, 198) 27 Zaquandre White – Freshman (6′0, 210) Fullback

33 Colton Plante – Junior (6′2, 236) 35 Gabe Nabers – Sophomore (6′3, 244) Wide receiver

 5 Da'Vante Phillips – Junior (6′1, 206)  8 Nyqwan Murray – Junior (5′11, 176) 11 George Campbell – Sophomore (6′4, 207) 18 Auden Tate – Junior (6′5, 225) 27 Tyriq Withers – Freshman (6′4, 197) 28 Gilbert Henric – Sophomore (6′0, 194) 83 Bryan LaCivita – Senior (6′1, 178) 86 Justin Motlow – Junior (5′11, 183) 87 Jared Jackson – Senior (6′2, 199) 89 Keith Gavin – Sophomore (6′3, 225) 4 Khalan Laborn – Freshman (5′10, 199) (+RB) 29 D.J. Matthews – Freshman (5′11, 160) 15 Tamorrion Terry – Freshman (6′4, 208) Tight end

 6 Tre' McKitty – Freshman (6′4, 235) 36 Eric Johnson – Freshman (6′5, 225) 48 Benjamin Hoyle – Sophomore (6′5, 220) 49 N'Namdi Green – Freshman (6′3, 238) 81 Ryan Izzo – Junior (6′5, 245) 82 Naseir Upshur – Sophomore (6′2, 249) 88 Mavin Saunders – Junior (6′5, 257) 80 Alexander Marshall – Freshman (6′7, 240) * Kicker

21 Logan Tyler – Sophomore (6′0, 201) 23 Ricky Aguayo – Sophomore (6′2, 196) | | Offensive lineman

51 Baveon Johnson – Freshman (6′3, 326) 52 David Robbins – Sophomore (6′4, 324) 53 Joshua Peters – Junior (6′3, 274) 54 Alec Eberle – Junior (6′4, 294) 57 Corey Martinez – Junior (6′4, 298) 60 Andrew Boselli – Freshman (6′4, 303) 62 Ethan Frith – Junior (6′7, 316) 68 Greg Turnage – Sophomore (6′3, 283) 69 Landon Dickerson – Sophomore (6′5, 310) 71 Brock Ruble – Junior (6′8, 319) 70 Cole Minshew – Freshman (6′5, 338) 72 Mike Arnold – Freshman (6′4, 339) 73 Jauan Williams – Freshman (6′6, 300) 74 Derrick Kelly II – Junior (6′5, 323) 75 Abdul Bello – Sophomore (6′6, 312) 76 Rick Leonard – Senior (6′7, 306) 79 Josh Ball – Freshman (6′8, 287) 59 Brady Scott – Freshman (6′5, 285) Defensive tackle

12 Arthur Williams – Junior (6′4, 327) 49 Cedric Wood – Freshman (6′3, 321) 55 Fredrick Jones – Junior (6′3, 298) 86 Darvin Taylor II – Sophomore (6′3, 304) 90 Demarcus Christmas – Junior (6′4, 308) 91 Derrick Nnadi – Senior (6′1, 312) 94 Walvenski Aime – Junior (6′5, 300) 96 Justin Smith – Freshman (6′3, 265) 98 JT Mertz – Junior (6′2, 265) 21 Marvin Wilson – Freshman (6′4, 329) 53 Ja'len Parks – Freshman (6′3, 288) 92 Cory Durden – Freshman (6′4, 316) Defensive end

 9 Josh Sweat – Junior (6′5, 250) 11 Janarius Robinson – Freshman (6′5, 249) 13 Joshua Kaindoh – Freshman (6′6, 250) 31 Kris Dixon – Sophomore (6′1, 217) 39 Claudio Williams – Sophomore (6′0, 260) 67 Adam Torres – Junior (6′4, 281) 84 Jalen Wilkerson – Sophomore (6′4, 273) 97 Isaiah Smallwood – Junior (6′3, 216) 99 Brian Burns – Sophomore (6′5, 218) 98 Tre Lawson – Freshman (6′6, 240) | | Linebacker

 5 Dontavius Jackson – Sophomore (6′2, 249)  6 Matthew Thomas – Senior (6′3, 227) 16 Jacob Pugh – Senior (6′4, 229) 18 Ro'Derrick Hoskins – Senior (6′2, 240) 22 Adonis Thomas – Sophomore (6′3, 228) 36 Brandon Barrett – Sophomore (6′1, 230) 40 Nick Patti – Junior (6′1, 225) 45 Delvin Purifoy – Junior (6′2, 246) 47 Joseph Garcia – Freshman (6′2, 210) 48 Vernon Norwood – Junior (6′0, 214) 51 Josh Brown – Sophomore (6′3, 216) 56 Emmett Rice – Sophomore (6′2, 203) 35 Leonard Warner – Freshman (6′4, 226) 26 DeCalon Brooks – Freshman (5′11, 197) Defensive backs

 1 Levonta Taylor – Sophomore (5′10, 169)  3 Derwin James – Sophomore (6′3, 211)  4 Tarvarus McFadden – Junior (6′2, 198)  7 Ermon Lane – Senior (6′3, 209)  8 Stanford Samuels III – Freshman (6′2, 170) 10 Calvin Brewton – Junior (6′0, 186) 13 Lawrence Dawsey Jr. – Freshman (5′11, 165) 15 Carlos Becker III – Sophomore (6′2, 183) 19 A.J. Westbrook – Junior (6′0, 186) 20 Trey Marshall – Senior (6′0, 210) 23 Herbans Paul – Senior (6′2, 191) 24 Cyrus Fagan – Freshman (6′2, 180) 26 Joseph Schergen – Freshman (5′9, 170) 28 Malique Jackson – Senior (6′0, 170) 29 Nate Andrews – Senior (6′0, 214) 32 Array Culmer – Junior (5′7, 158) 33 Kameron House – Freshman (5′10, 185) 35 Michael Barulich – Sophomore (5′11, 195) 37 Kyle Meyers – Sophomore (6′0, 168) * 38 Izaiah Prouse-Lackey – Junior (5′9, 177) 41 Zachary Weber – Freshman (6′0, 190) 46 John Moschella III – Freshman (5′9, 190) 23 Hamsah Nasirildeen – Freshman (6′3, 210) * 27 Ontaria Wilson – Freshman (6′0, 160) * Long snappers

40 Ken Burnham – Junior (6′0, 203) 47 Stephen Gabbard – Senior (6′3, 248) 63 Tanner Adkison – Freshman (5′10, 190) Grant glennon – Freshman (6′3, 220) | | 2017 Florida State Spring Football Roster | | | | |

• Rimington Trophy

Alec Eberle

• Maxwell Award

Deondre Francois Derwin James

• Bednarik Award

Derwin James Matthew Thomas Derrick Nnadi Tarvarus McFadden

• John Mackey Award

Ryan Izzo

• Lou Groza Award

Ricky Aguayo

• Outland Trophy

Alex Eberle Derrick Nnadi

• Nagurski Trophy

Derrick Nnadi Josh Sweat Tarvarus McFadden Derwin James

• Jim Thorpe Award

Derwin James Tarvarus McFadden

• Paul Hornung Award

Derwin James

• Butkus Award

Jacob Pugh Matthew Thomas

• Wuerffel Trophy

Alec Eberle

• Davey O'Brien Award

Deondre Francois

• Doak Walker Award

Jacques Patrick

• Manning Award

Deondre Francois

• Ted Hendricks Award

Josh Sweat Brian Burns

• Senior Bowl

Nate Andrews Ermon Lane Trey Marshall Ro'Derrick Hoskins Jacob Pugh Matthew Thomas Derrick Nnadi

On December 21, 2017, a user on Reddit made a viral post questioning the bowl eligibility of Florida State in relation to their matchup against Delaware State. The user claimed to have received data on Delaware State's roster and scholarship allocation and determined that Delaware State had only 87% of their roster currently on athletic scholarship; the NCAA requires that an FCS team have at least 90% of its roster on scholarship in order for an FBS opponent to count a victory against an FCS team towards their bowl eligibility. The post was later echoed by college football analyst Brett McMurphy in a Facebook post.

However, Florida State refuted the post one day later, pointing out that while Delaware State had only offered athletic scholarships to 87% of its roster, it offered academic scholarships to other players, which was not mentioned in the original reports. Academic scholarships also counted towards the 90% scholarship threshold, and Delaware State offered enough in conjunction to their athletic scholarship allocation to allow the Seminoles' win versus the Hornets to count towards bowl eligibility. Florida State would defeat Southern Mississippi in the Independence Bowl six days later.

Five Seminoles were chosen in the 2018 NFL draft: