Florida State Football: 5 Most Underappreciated Players in School History

Florida State has produced a laundry list of All-Americans and players who went on to achieve success at the next level. 

However, throughout their illustrious history, several players have been consistent performers who owned their responsibilities and allowed for their stars to shine. 

These former Seminoles were the glue of their respective teams, even though they may not have gotten the limelight of their more known teammates.

Here are the five most underappreciated players in FSU history.  

Rodney Hudson

Including Hudson in this list is a bit misleading considering he was a consensus All-American in his senior season. 

However, most fans may not have a healthy appreciation for all that Hudson was able to accomplish in his four years at FSU. 

Among his many honors, his consistency as a four-year starter is best illustrated with one eye-popping stat.

Hudson was named ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week nine times over the course of his career, which is more than any player at any position in conference history. 

If that stat isn’t enough, consider the dropoff that occurred up front for FSU last season after Hudson graduated, and the picture of his value should become clearer.  

Matt Frier

FSU’s 1993 national championship squad featured a plethora of superstars led by Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Charlie Ward. 

Ward had a deep and talented group of receivers to throw to led by Tamarick Vanover, Kevin Knox and Kez McCorvey. 

But it was often Frier he looked to for clutch third down receptions—with none being bigger than his 72-yard scoring catch and run that led to a 28-10 victory over nemesis Miami. 

Frier may not be mentioned in the same breath as former Seminole greats like Fred Biletnikoff, Ron Sellers or Peter Warrick, but his role as being the most dependable target on a star-studded offense that captured a national title will not be forgotten anytime soon.  

Tay Cody

Florida State has a tremendous legacy with cornerbacks—highlighted by Thorpe Award winners Deion Sanders and Terrell Buckley.

Yet Cody was able to accomplish something that those Seminole legends could not: start at corner for four straight seasons. 

During his senior season in 2000, Cody managed to earn something more prestigious than his selection as an All-American that season—praise from legendary former Seminoles defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews. 

In an interview with the Orlando Sentinel, Andrews put Cody’s senior year in perspective, which put his name in rarefied air as far as corners to ever come out of FSU. 

"We've had a lot of good corners here over the years, and some have gone on to establish themselves in professional football," said Andrews.

"But I don't know that any of them have played better than Tay has this year. I'm talking about his all-around game, too."

William Floyd

When thinking of high-powered, no-huddle offenses, fullback is likely the position that gets cut out of the action to make room for another running back or wide receiver. 

However, FSU used Floyd—the last fullback to get drafted in the first round of the NFL draft—as Ward’s security blanket and as a hammer in short yardage or goal line situations during the Seminoles’ march to their first national championship in school history. 

Like Frier, Floyd played a valuable role in helping FSU become the most dominant offense in the nation that year. 

The man known as “Bar None” is still heavily involved with FSU football serving as the color analyst on Seminoles radio broadcasts in the fall.  

Sam Cowart

Linebacker is another position where FSU has fielded some of the most dominant headhunters in the modern college football era.

Names like Derrick Brooks and Marvin Jones are embedded in the memories of many, but Cowart overcame a devastating knee injury that cost him his 1996 season. He went on to have one of the most dominant seasons ever turned in by a Seminole defender one year later.   

Cowart took home the Brian Piccolo Award for Comeback Player of the Year in 1997 and was a finalist for the Butkus and Nagurski Awards after recording 116 tackles and a FSU record three fumble returns for touchdowns. 

The numbers closely mirror his stats for his junior season in 1995—which preceded his injury—and helped to establish his place as one of the most dominant linebackers to ever wear the Garnet and Gold. 

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