NFL Draft Recap: Former FSU and FAMU football players are living out their NFL dreams

Florida State University topped a near record number of draft selections
257 players heard their name called at this year’s NFL draft. Of that number, 10 players were familiar faces who played ball at Florida State University.

Jared Verse (Los Angeles Rams) was the first Nole taken off the board, followed by Keon Coleman (Buffalo Bills), Braden Fiske (Los Angeles Rams), and Renardo Green (San Francisco 49ers). All of whom were selected in the first two rounds.

“You know I come here with a lot of physical strengths and with a chip on my shoulder and that chip is going to continue growing today," said Verse.

Verse and Fiske led the Noles defense last season, helping the team finish 13-1 and as Atlantic Coast Conference champs. But the camaraderie won’t end there. The Los Angeles Rams drafted the two, giving Verse the honor of breaking the news to his former teammate via phone call.

"I mean, it got to the point in the season where you get that head nod, just look at each other, and you knew what was coming," Fiske said. "It just got to the point where we were just playing off each other. He'd see something I get and I'd see something he'd get, and we'd just go out there making plays."

The Noles had its most successful draft class in nearly a decade with 10 draft picks with running back Trey Benson being selected 66th overall by the Arizona Cardinals, defensive back Jarrian Jones taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars, Quarterback Jordan Travis to the New York Jets, wide receiver Johnny Wilson picked by the Philadelphia Eagles, tight end Jaheim Bell by the New England Patriots, and linebacker Tatum Bethune by the 49ers with the 251st overall selection.

Florida A&M is using a different route to get to the league
Across the tracks, the Rattlers of Florida A&M are also making headlines for getting a handful of players to the pros.

FAMU has had its share of NFL talent over the years, including several pro Hall of Famers. Despite this, no one has been drafted from the school in over a decade.

On Sunday, three Rattlers from last year’s team secured spots at pro minicamps.

Florida A&M’s Jeremy Moussa (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Terrell Jennings (New England Patriots), and Isaiah Major (New Orleans Saints) will be working out at different training camps this summer in hopes of securing a roster spot.

FAMU receiver Marcus Riley was the only Rattler to sign to a team as an undrafted free agent. His new 3-year, $2.83 million deal with the New York Jets makes him the fourth Rattler in the past two years, to make an NFL roster.