The Florida State Seminoles have always been a top producer of NFL talent, and that holds true this season. Not only do Seminoles regularly get to the league, but they perform once they are there. This is a list of the 36 'Noles in the NFL, and how each is performing as the league reaches the halfway point of the season.
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At the beginning of the year, Florida State ranked sixth in the country for number of players on NFL rosters behind Alabama, LSU, Florida, Miami and Ohio State.
Position-by-position here are updates on all 36 players through week eight of the NFL season. There are 12 offensive players, compared to 20 on defense, and four on special teams. The highest number at any position is seven linebackers, followed by five cornerbacks playing professionally.
Quarterback
Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This throw by Jameis Winston may be the worst of the season at any level. https://t.co/q79tDyjAJj
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) October 28, 2018
Winston is the only quarterback the Seminoles currently have in the NFL. He has had an up-and-down career, and this season has been full of downs so far. He was just benched last week in favor of Ryan Fitzpatrick after throwing four interceptions in the first three quarters. He also began the season suspended, missing the first three games and then entering in the second half of the fourth game.
In a little over three games worth of action, Winston has thrown for 1,181 yards and six touchdowns with 10 interceptions, tied for the most in the NFL. He is completing 64.9 percent of his passes and is averaging 295 yards per game, good for 10th in the league.
Running Backs
Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings
https://twitter.com/MySportsUpdate/status/914564870498111489
One of the best running backs in Florida State history, and owner of several school rushing records, Cook has struggled to stay on the field so far in his two seasons since turning pro. In those two seasons, he has played in only seven games. Through eight games this season, he has only played in three and has rushed for 98 yards on 38 carries with no touchdowns. He has also picked up 107 yards on nine receptions.
Devonta Freeman, Atlanta Falcons
The ninth all-time leading rusher in Florida State history, Freeman has been a game-changer since being drafted by the Atlanta Falcons. He had a rough start to the 2018 season though, nursing groin and foot injuries, and is currently on injured reserve, though he could make a return later in the season. In the two games he has played in, he has 68 yards on 14 carries and 23 yards on five receptions with no touchdowns.
Chris Thompson, Washington Redskins
The third and final running back has also missed time this season with injuries. Thompson missed two games because of rib and knee injuries, but suffered a setback with his ribs this past week against the Giants. In his five games played, he has 26 carries for 113 yards and 209 yards and a touchdown on 28 catches.
Wide Receivers
Kelvin Benjamin, Buffalo Bills
https://twitter.com/SportsReUp/status/1057091122026213378
One of just two receivers currently on NFL rosters, Benjamin is tied for the most touchdowns caught in a single season in Seminole history. After starting his career with the Panthers, he was traded to the Bills where he has spent the last season and a half. Since his rookie year when he had over a thousand yards and nine touchdowns, his production has slowly declined. In eight games this season, he has caught just 16 of the 44 passes thrown his way. On those 16 catches, he has 262 yards and one touchdown.
Rashad Greene, Jacksonville Jaguars
Greene is the record holder for many FSU stats including catches and yards, but that hasn't translated to a productive career in the pros. This season, he has caught two of his three targets and gained 17 yards.
Tight Ends
Nick O'Leary, Miami Dolphins
Brock finds Nick O'Leary for the 5-yard TD!
📺 » @NFLonFOX#CHIvsMIA #FinsUp https://t.co/SRBlF2qOll
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) October 14, 2018
In his first season with the Dolphins, the former John Mackey award winner has played in four games and caught six passes for 72 yards and a touchdown. His best game came against the Bears when he caught four passes for 49 yards and a score.
Ryan Izzo, New England Patriots
Izzo is currently on the injured reserve after being signed to the Patriots practice squad after the preseason.
Offensive Lineman
Cameron Erving, Kansas City Chiefs
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn_4jy1lOpx/?hl=en&taken-by=camerving74
Erving has started every game at left guard for the Chief this season after signing a two-year deal with the team and playing in 13 games last season, starting four.
Bobby Hart, Cincinnati Bengals
Hart has started all eight games of the season at right tackle for the Bengals after starting 21 games for the Giants over the first three years of his career.
Menelik Watson, Denver Broncos
Watson has played in 34 games, starting 24 of them, but has yet to play this season for the Denver Broncos.
Rodney Hudson, Oakland Raiders
Rodney Hudson just out here ruining Jonathan Cyprien's Sunday. h/t @PFF_Ben pic.twitter.com/l5U4uAE82S
— Sam Monson (@SamMonsonNFL) September 10, 2017
Hudson has started 83 games over the past six seasons for the Raiders and has started all seven of their games at center so far this season.
Defensive Lineman
Mario Edwards Jr., New York Giants
https://www.instagram.com/p/BajgPeOgp4l/?hl=en&taken-by=97_rio
In eight games this season, Edwards has six tackles and a sack. This is his first season with the Giants after spending his first three with the Oakland Raiders.
Eddie Goldman, Chicago Bears
In his fourth season with the Bears, the defensive tackle has 16 tackles, a sack, and fumble recovery.
Derrick Nnadi, Kansas City Chiefs
The rookie defensive tackle was drafted in the third round and has contributed immediately with 10 tackles so far starting at nose tackle.
Josh Sweat, Philadelphia Eagles
He has one tackle on the season in minimal playing time at a loaded defensive end position in Philly.
DeMarcus Walker, Denver Broncos
In his second season in Denver, Walker has one tackle as a backup.
RELATED: Where Does FSU's Brians Burns Rank Among the Bednarik Award Semifinalists?
Linebacker
Nigel Bradham, Philadelphia Eagles
https://www.instagram.com/p/BpeVTyUg-cR/?hl=en&taken-by=5trey_
In seven games, Bradham has 41 tackles, two sacks, a fumble recovery and two pass deflections. This is his third season in Philly after spending the first four years of his career in Buffalo.
Christian Jones, Detroit Lions
In his fifth season in the league and first in Detroit, Jones has 23 tackles, a and sack as a starter.
Terrance Smith, Kansas City Chiefs
Smith suffered a torn ACL this past week. Before the injury, Smith had 22 tackles and a sack in seven games.
Telvin Smith, Jacksonville Jaguars
SCOOP AND SCORE! @TelvinSmith_22
via @NFL https://t.co/awgw9IWpH9
— FSU Football (@FSUFootball) January 14, 2018
In eight games, Smith has made 65 tackles and a sack as one of the key pieces of Jacksonville's dangerous defense. He is currently ninth in the NFL in total tackles.
Matthew Thomas, Pittsburgh Steelers
Thomas is currently buried on the depth chart, but has made three tackles so far this season as a rookie.
Dekoda Watson, San Francisco 49ers
Watson hopes to return from injured reserve over the next few weeks after not playing since last season.
Vince Williams, Pittsburgh Steelers
Williams is third on the team, but found a home in Pittsburgh with 23 tackles and a sack this season.
Cornerbacks
Jalen Ramsey, Jacksonville Jaguars
Great play from Jalen Ramsey. Showing his elite athleticism. pic.twitter.com/BsleEwHcbe
— Jaguars United (@Jaguars_United) October 29, 2018
One of the best corners in the NFL, and definitely one of the most vocal, Ramsey finally got his first interception of the season this past weekend. It is difficult to intercept passes though when the ball is rarely thrown his way. He also has 25 tackles and four passes defended.
Ronald Darby, Philadelphia Eagles
Darby is in his second season with the Eagles after spending his first two with Buffalo. This season, he has 38 tackles, an interception and 12 passes defended. He is currently their starting corner on the right side.
Xavier Rhodes, Minnesota Vikings
Rhodes, who is a very reliable corner for the Vikings, missed their last game with a foot injury. He has intercepted one pass and defended five others. He also has 24 tackles on the season.
Patrick Robinson, New Orleans Saints
The veteran corner who has spent much of his career in New Orleans was lost to a foot injury over a month ago and is expected to miss the rest of the season. He had six tackles before going suffering the injury.
P.J. Williams, New Orleans Saints
PJ Williams ran a hell of a route here and Cousins hit him in stride. Diggs burned yet again https://t.co/cfBZ2BRjW0
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 29, 2018
Williams has benefited from the injuries on the Saints' defense and has been playing more. He had his first interception of the season this week when he took a Kirk Cousins pass back 45 yards for a touchdown. He has 22 tackles and a forced fumble to go along with that interception.
Safeties
Derwin James, San Diego Chargers
https://www.instagram.com/p/BpNfOQjB4JI/?taken-by=derwinjames
After being selected with the 17th pick by the Chargers, pretty good start to his NFL career. James leads the team with 33 total tackles and also has an interception and six passes defended.
Terrance Brooks, New York Jets
Brooks is the backup to Pro Bowl safety Jamal Adams. In limited action, he has nine tackles.
Lamarcus Joyner, Los Angeles Rams
Lamarcus Joyner was a joy to watch in 2017 pic.twitter.com/mbTF3cAUX7
— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) March 6, 2018
Joyner is currently third on the team with 23 total tackles, but hasn't had any interceptions yet this season. He does have a fumble recovery though.
Special Teams
Graham Gano, Carolina Panthers
GRAHAM GANO JUST HIT A 63 YD GAME WINNING FG 😱 @GrahamGano (via mr_sheltonius/IG) pic.twitter.com/eb1ueDSbeP
— Overtime (@overtime) October 7, 2018
Gano has been one of the best kickers in the league this season, making all 11 of his field goal attempts and 15-of-17 on extra point kicks. His most notable kick was a 63-yard field goal to win the game against the Giants. That game-winner tied the NFL record for longest field goal make.
Dustin Hopkins, Washington Redskins
https://twitter.com/gravleyonair/status/1056622804576202752
Hopkins has had a great season thus far with 14 makes on 16 field-goal attempts and a long of 56 yards. He has also gone 14-of-14 on extra-point tries.
Sebastian Janikowski, Seattle Seahawks
After ending his long run with the Raiders, Janikowski signed with the Seahawks. He has made eight of his 11 attempts with a long of 56 yards and has made all 21 of his extra points.
Garrison Sanborn, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sanborn is currently in his ninth season of long-snapping in the NFL, his second with the Bucs.