Florida State has a rich history of producing elite wide receivers who left their mark on college football. From Hall of Famers to national champions, these legends helped define the Seminoles’ offensive identity and set records that still stand today. Here’s a look at the top 10 greatest wide receivers in Florida State history.
Florida State’s Greatest WRs—These Legends Redefined the Seminoles’ Offense
Throughout their history, the Ohio State Buckeyes have produced some of the top Wide receivers in both NFL and CFB history. With College Football Hall Of Famer Ron Sellers coming out of the program.
The Seminoles have also produced a host of current and former NFL talents who spent multiple seasons in the league, including the likes of Fred Biletnikoff, Keon Coleman, and Barry Smith.
No. 10 – Craphonso Thorpe
The first Florida State native on this list, Thorpe, who came from Tallahassee, spent his first two years with Florida State as mostly a backup and wide receiver 2, having his breakout year in his Junior Season with 51 receptions for 991 yards.
As a first-team All-ACC receiver, Thorpe was part of one of the most successful Florida State sides in recent memory, never losing more than four games, and the Seminoles went to a New Year’s Six bowl game on two different occasions.
No. 9 – Travis Rudolph
A controversial figure, Rudolph was involved in a shooting in 2021 that left a blemish on his career, but recently, the Former New York Giants and Florida State wide receiver was found not guilty on four charges from the 2021 shooting that left a man dead after a confrontation in front of Rudolph’s Florida home.
Rudolph spent all 3 seasons of his College Career with the Seminoles, having his breakout in his sophomore year as he led Florida State in receptions, with 59 receptions for 916 receiving yards, and a 201-yard game in the Seminoles’ bowl game defeat to Houston.
No. 8 – Barry Smith
One of the few Florida State talents that cut it in the NFL, an NFC Rookie of the Year Finalist, and Green Bay Packer Man of the Year, Smith’s career was ultimately cut short due to a bout of polio, however, his dominance with Florida State will always be remembered.
Starting out strong with 17 receptions for 453 yards in his Freshman season, Smith was a force to be reckoned with in his second season, the first receiver on this list to break the 1000-yard mark, Smith was both a An All-American Wide Receiver and also NCAA leader in touchdown receptions, but was also inducted in the Florida State Hall of Fame in 2022.
No. 7 – Mike Shumann
A former record holder at Florida State, Mike Shumann was among the greatest receivers in the history of Florida State’s football program. Shumann spent 5 years with the Seminoles, ranking second in career receptions, third in yardage, and sixth in touchdowns during his time with the Seminoles.
What makes him stand out on this list is that he is arguably the most successful receiver from Florida State in the NFL. Shumann was a member of the 1981 San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl XVI championship team, and lasted five years in the league.
No. 6 – Greg Carr
Out of this list, Greg Carr was one of the few who dominated from the beginning of his career, spending 4 years with Florida State. The receiver from North Marion High School began his career with a dominant freshman season, with 30 receptions for 618 yards and 9 touchdowns, tying the ACC record for receiving touchdowns by a freshman that was held by Heath Miller.
Carr also led the Seminoles in yards per reception in his Freshman season, averaging 20.6 yards per reception, completing the dominance he had in his first season. Carr would only improve the following year, with 12 touchdowns in his sophomore year.
No. 5 – Kez McCorvey
As the premier receiver on Florida State’s historic 1993 team, who brought the Natty to the Seminoles for the first time in the history of the program, McCorvey at the time was a record breaker, with the most catches in the program history during that year. The history-making receiver finished the year with 74 receptions for 966 yards and 6 touchdowns.
McCorvey finished his College Football career with 2,600 yards in four seasons, going on to play for the Detroit Lions. Similar to many on this list, the former Seminole would never hit the same heights in the league. Kez McCorvey will always be remembered for his integral role in making Florida State history.
No. 4 – EG Green
Another record breaker, EG Green, spent four seasons with the Seminoles, breaking the 1000-yard mark on two separate occasions, recording 11 touchdowns and over 1000 yards in both his second and last seasons.
At the time he left the Seminoles, Green was the all-time leader in receiving touchdowns when he left the program, with 29 touchdowns and 2,920 yards.
No. 3 – Peter Warrick
Peter Warrick, coming off a successful High School career where he led Southeast High School in Bradenton to back-to-back state titles, the Southeast receiver would continue the trend by leading the Seminoles to back-to-back BCS National Championship appearances following the 1998 and 1999 seasons, breaking the 1000 yard mark in 1998, and winning the Seminoles second national championship in 1999.
Despite being suspended for two games in the 1999 title-winning side, Warrick was a potential Heisman candidate that year with 71 receptions for 930 yards and 8 touchdowns, ultimately topping off a legendary career without a Heisman, but a national title win instead.
No. 2 – Ron Sellers
While most of the receivers on this list did hold records at some point in their Seminoles career, ultimately, most of them would be broken by one of the most dominant forces in the history of Florida State. Ron Sellers owns several of the records at Florida State at the wide receiver position, including single-season receptions, single-season receiving yards with 1,496 yards.
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Despite only spending three seasons with Florida State, Sellers still holds the second-most receiving yards in the history of the program with 3,598, including back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. The only thing missing from Sellers’ illustrious career was a National Title.
No. 1 – Rashad Greene
While most of the records on this list were beaten by Ron Sellers, another player came along who ultimately smashed all of those records once again. Rashad Greene passed Sellers in career receptions and receiving yards, and would also set the record for receptions in a single season with 99.
Finishing his career with the most receiving yards in Florida State history, with 3,830 yards, narrowly beating out Sellers with an extra season to his name, Greene would also manage to win the one thing Sellers never could, with a National Title win in 2013, taking the Seminoles back to the pinnacle of the NCAA after a 14 year wait.
Despite never reaching the same heights in the NFL, Rashad Greene will forever be remembered for his efforts in 2013, going down as the greatest receiver in Florida State History, at least until the next record breaker comes along.
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