Since the departure of head coach Jimbo Fisher, the Florida State football program has become a shell of its former self. Willie Taggart was named as the successor to Fisher, but two years later, he has been fired, and the keys to the castle have been turned over to Mike Norvell.
The Seminoles, who have not had a winning season since 2017 in a depleted ACC, hope that Norvell can get the program heading back in the right direction to their tradition of winning. Luckily for Norvell, the Florida State Seminoles have a talented roster, led by a group of top 2021 NFL Draft prospects. The Seminoles should be well represented in next year’s draft.
The group of top Florida State 2021 NFL Draft prospects includes defensive tackle Marvin Wilson, safety Hamsah Nasirildeen, cornerback Asante Samuel Jr., and wide receiver Tamorrion Terry. Also, a pair of talented defensive ends, Joshua Kaindoh and Janarius Robinson, will likely hear their names called in the middle rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft.
In the 2020 Draft, running back Cam Akers was the sole Seminole selected, and the year before, only pass-rusher Brian Burns and defensive lineman Demarcus Christmas were chosen. The Florida State football program is just too good to be producing such little NFL talent.
Hopefully, a change in leadership will get the program back to the 2013-2015 time period, where Florida State produced 28 draft picks in three years. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if three Seminoles were selected in Round 1 of the 2021 NFL Draft, headlined by a likely top-15 selection in Marvin Wilson.
Marvin Wilson, Defensive Tackle, Senior (6’5″, 310 pounds)
Marvin Wilson is the best defensive tackle prospect in the 2021 draft class. Prior to suffering a hand injury that cut his 2019 season short, Wilson, a team captain, was the best defensive player in the ACC. In the nine games he played in during the 2019 season, Wilson accumulated 44 tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss, 4 passes defended, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and 5.0 sacks.
Marvin Wilson was a heavily desired 5-star recruit coming out of Texas. When you watch tape on Wilson, the first thing you notice is the staggering disruption he causes at the line of scrimmage. He has tremendous size, plays with jaw-dropping power, and possesses excellent mobility given his size. His hands are violent and his motor doesn’t stop.
He is elite when it comes to providing an interior pass rush, as his 24 pressures in the nine games of the 2019 season would imply. Against the run, he is a beast, as he can seamlessly rag-doll blockers and fill his gap on a consistent basis.
Overall, my favorite trait of Wilson’s is his hand usage. Take a glimpse at the clip below to watch how Wilson uses his hands to split the double team, and the closing speed he possesses to secure a sack.
Is Marvin Wilson for FSU your #1 DT going into 2020? Haven’t seen many boards where he’s not. pic.twitter.com/Cq4PNNIklF
— CFB Home (@CFBHome) May 18, 2020
For my money, Wilson is a top-15 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft all day long. ESPN’s Todd McShay doesn’t think so, as he states, “FSU DT Marvin Wilson is a tough evaluation. Love his toughness and competitiveness. He’s great vs. the run (strong, aware and sheds quickly). But his lack of initial quickness as a pass rusher is concerning. I think his ceiling is late-Day 2.”
It didn’t take long for Wilson, a true alpha, to address McShay’s comments. And rather than getting hot and bothered over the comments, Wilson is using them for bulletin-board material. A motivated Marvin Wilson should strike terror in the offensive linemen of the ACC.
Related | Marvin Wilson is FSU’s top prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft
Hamsah Nasirildeen, Safety, Senior (6’4″, 212 pounds)
Outside of the talented Oregon Ducks’ safety Jevon Holland, Florida State’s Hamsah Nasirildeen projects to be the best safety in the 2021 NFL Draft class. Like the aforementioned Marvin Wilson, Nasirildeen’s junior season was cut short due to injury. In the 11 games prior to a significant knee-injury, Nasirildeen was sensational, totaling 101 tackles, 3 forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, a sack, 2 interceptions, 3 passes defended, and a defensive touchdown.
Nasirildeen possesses marvelous god-given physical traits. The first time you lay eyes on Nasirildeen, he size and length stand out. When you watch film on him, you quickly see unparalleled explosiveness and versatility at the position. In fact, his versatility is a hot topic in the draft community, as there are many who firmly believe that Nasirildeen is built to play either safety or linebacker at the next level, which is reminiscent of the eighth pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Isaiah Simmons.
Nasirildeen is a stalwart against the run, as he explodes to the ball carrier and can deliver vicious blows. His ability to locate the ball carrier and trigger is quite impressive. While ball skills are one area in which Nasirildeen isn’t necessarily known for, he does possesses the ability to make big plays, which is highlighted in the clip below.
Hamsah Nasirildeen shows off the moves for the pick 6! 😂🏈#OneTribe #MustSeeACC | @FSUFootball pic.twitter.com/7tTx9IyKME
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) November 16, 2019
If Hamsah Nasirildeen can return from last season’s injury without issue, he will be a slam-dunk first-round selection in 2021.
Related | 2021 NFL Draft: Is safety Hamsah Nasirildeen the next Simmons?
Asante Samuel Jr., Cornerback, Junior (5’10”, 184 pounds)
It doesn’t seem long ago when Asante Samuel was one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks. In 2020, it is his son, Asante Samuel Jr., who is a budding 2021 NFL Draft prospect. Samuel Jr. made a name for himself during the 2019 season, as his 14 passes defended led the ACC.
Samuel doesn’t possess the best size, but his movement skills and fluidity are impressive. He seems to always be around the football and provides more than adequate ball skills. As Pro Football Network columnist Oliver Hodgkinson pointed out in a recent piece about Samuel, “what he lacks in size and catching ability, Samuel Jr. makes up with sheer tenacity. He has the instincts to know where the ball is going and the speed to get there to make the play. For a man of his size, his tackling ability is extremely impressive.”
Samuel’s tackling ability and fearlessness are on full display below as he makes an impressive open-field tackle on Boston College’s AJ Dillon, who happens to weigh 67 pounds more than Samuel Jr.
Asante Samuel Jr. is listed at 178 pounds.
AJ Dillon is listed at 245 pounds.
That little dude is freaking fearless. pic.twitter.com/OzyU0KjxzV
— Brendan Sonnone (@BSonnone) November 18, 2018
At this point in the process, Samuel Jr. is viewed as a late Day 3 prospect. However, if he continues to improve his playmaking ability, and showcases the high level of defending passes that he did in 2019, his 2021 draft prospectus could skyrocket.
Tamorrion Terry, Wide Receiver, Redshirt Junior (6’4″, 210 pounds)
By now, you are probably asking yourself, “does Florida State have any talent on the offensive side of the ball?” The answer is a resounding YES. His name is Tamorrion Terry, and he stands at a physically imposing 6’4″ tall. Despite being hampered by erratic quarterback play in 2019, Terry was still able to produce at an extremely high level, securing 60 receptions for 1,188 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns, including a staggering 19.3 yards per reception.
As I discussed in my piece on some of the best matchups to watch in the 2020 CFB season, “while there are facets of Terry’s game where he is a bit raw, he brings a highly intriguing skill-set to the table. He is an alpha at the position, highlighted by his nature to fight for the football when it is up for grabs. He provides a remarkable catch radius and can make defenders miss in the open field.” Additionally, one underrated quality that Terry possesses is his willingness and effectiveness as a blocker.
The video below showcases Terry’s elusiveness and electricity when the ball is in his hands. Not many people his size can move like this.
Florida State WR Tamorrion Terry averaged 57.8 yards per catch on his 9 TDs last season.
Highest of all CFB players with 3+ TDspic.twitter.com/EUcW7th64W
— PFF College (@PFF_College) May 15, 2020
In today’s NFL, teams are looking for jump-ball wide receivers who can produce touchdowns in the redzone. Tamorrion Terry certainly fits that bill, and with another impressive season, he could elevate himself to a first-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft.