Florida State Seminoles' highest NFL draft picks since 1970

While most colleges and universities field a football team as part of its general athletics program, there are some for which football is more than merely a sport—it's akin almost to a religion. Devotion to the team and its colors is as important to that school's culture as a religious icon is to a believer. These programs actively scout and recruit notable high school players, and are in turn rigorously applied to by matriculating seniors eager to make a name for themselves at the collegiate level.

Among the most notable college football empires are Notre Dame, the universities of Alabama, Michigan, Texas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, Penn State, Ohio State—the list goes on and on.

But for every touchstone football school, there is an outlier that has produced some of the most successful and cherished players in the game. Think Jackson State, which gave us "Sweetness" himself, Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton. Or Mississippi Valley State, which yielded 3-time Super Bowl champion and #1 Player in NFL History, as voted by the NFL Network, '49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice.

Each year, the college draft serves as a source of renewal to professional football and a testament to the quality of college programs nationwide. With the 2022 NFL draft set to take place April 28-30 in Las Vegas, Stacker compiled a list of the highest NFL draft picks from the Florida State Seminoles using data from Pro Football Reference. Ties were broken by the most recent year drafted.

#20. Brodrick Bunkley (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #14 overall in 2006
- Drafted by: Philadelphia Eagles
- Years as a starter in NFL: 7 (0 Pro Bowls)

#19. Kamerion Wimbley (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #13 overall in 2006
- Drafted by: Cleveland Browns
- Years as a starter in NFL: 8 (0 Pro Bowls)

#18. Warrick Dunn (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #12 overall in 1997
- Drafted by: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 10 (3 Pro Bowls)

#17. Alphonso Carreker (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #12 overall in 1984
- Drafted by: Green Bay Packers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 6 (0 Pro Bowls)

#16. Christian Ponder (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #12 overall in 2011
- Drafted by: Minnesota Vikings
- Years as a starter in NFL: 3 (0 Pro Bowls)

#15. Tra Thomas (T)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #11 overall in 1998
- Drafted by: Philadelphia Eagles
- Years as a starter in NFL: 11 (3 Pro Bowls)

#14. Derrick Alexander (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #11 overall in 1995
- Drafted by: Minnesota Vikings
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (0 Pro Bowls)

#13. Jamal Reynolds (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #10 overall in 2001
- Drafted by: Green Bay Packers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 0

#12. Sammie Smith (RB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #9 overall in 1989
- Drafted by: Miami Dolphins
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#11. Ernie Sims (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #9 overall in 2006
- Drafted by: Detroit Lions
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (0 Pro Bowls)

#10. Walter Jones (T)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #6 overall in 1997
- Drafted by: Seattle Seahawks
- Years as a starter in NFL: 12 (9 Pro Bowls)

#9. Corey Simon (DT)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #6 overall in 2000
- Drafted by: Philadelphia Eagles
- Years as a starter in NFL: 6 (1 Pro Bowls)

#8. Deion Sanders (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #5 overall in 1989
- Drafted by: Atlanta Falcons
- Years as a starter in NFL: 12 (8 Pro Bowls)

#7. Terrell Buckley (DB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #5 overall in 1992
- Drafted by: Green Bay Packers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 8 (0 Pro Bowls)

#6. Jalen Ramsey (CB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #5 overall in 2016
- Drafted by: Jacksonville Jaguars
- Years as a starter in NFL: 6 (5 Pro Bowls)

#5. Marvin Jones (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #4 overall in 1993
- Drafted by: NY Jets
- Years as a starter in NFL: 9 (0 Pro Bowls)

#4. Peter Warrick (WR)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #4 overall in 2000
- Drafted by: Cincinnati Bengals
- Years as a starter in NFL: 4 (0 Pro Bowls)

#3. Peter Boulware (LB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #4 overall in 1997
- Drafted by: Baltimore Ravens
- Years as a starter in NFL: 7 (4 Pro Bowls)

#2. Andre Wadsworth (DE)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #3 overall in 1998
- Drafted by: Arizona Cardinals
- Years as a starter in NFL: 2 (0 Pro Bowls)

#1. Jameis Winston (QB)
- Draft pick: Round 1, #1 overall in 2015
- Drafted by: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Years as a starter in NFL: 5 (1 Pro Bowls)