Rashad Greene is statistically the greatest wide receiver in Florida State football history. Greene left FSU after 2014 holding the school record in receiving yards (3,830), as well as receptions (270). Greene is also second all-time in touchdowns to Peter Warrick (31 to 29). From 2011 to 2014, Greene was Mr. Reliable; when EJ Manuel or Jameis Winston needed to make a play, they found No. 80.
In 2014, a freshman out of West Palm Beach by the name of Travis Rudolph arrived and, from the beginning, the comparisons flowed. Excellent route runners, able to get on the field and contribute as freshmen, reliable. Rudolph was FSU’s second-leading receiver in 2014 as he learned from Greene, and in 2015 he stepped up and had a tremendous breakout season, recording 59 receptions for 916 yards and 7 touchdowns.
But the similarities between Greene and Rudolph do not just end with their crisp routes and ability to get on the field early at FSU. Greene’s freshman season featured a stat line of 38 receptions for 596 yards and 7 TDs, Rudolph’s first season was nearly a mirror image at 38 receptions for 555 yards and 4 TDs. Their sophomore seasons saw similar numbers, as Greene caught 57 passes for 741 yards and 6 TDs and Rudolph was a little more explosive with 59 receptions for 916 yards and 7 TDs. Through 3 games of Greene’s junior campaign, he had tallied 15 receptions for 209 yards and 3 TDs. And Rudolph thus far? 15 receptions, 219 yards, 3 TDs.
In an effort to see where one might have been more effective than the other, statistically, I broke the numbers down even further, checking them by opponent, conference games vs. out-of-conference teams, and home vs. away vs. neutral site games. How close to the record pace Greene established is Rudolph after 27 career games played?
In ACC play, Greene was more productive in terms of receptions (70 vs. 59), but Rudolph was more explosive (15.64 YPC vs 13.51). Rudolph has put up the bigger numbers through 2 career bowl games (13 receptions, 297 yards vs. 10 receptions, 144 yards). Greene was the road warrior, putting up 57 receptions, 832 yards, and 8 TDs, while Rudolph thrives at Doak with 54 receptions, 769 yards, and 9 TDs.
Greene is one of the three greatest wide receivers to ever wear the garnet and gold. He was reliable, he was clutch, he was consistent, and he was a terrific ambassador for the program. His four years of production will be talked about for decades to come. But it is fascinating to see the pace Rudolph has put up through two plus seasons. Should he keep it up, maybe FSU will get to celebrate another national championship, just as they did during the Greene years.
Other Stats & Facts for Week 4:
-Under Jimbo Fisher, FSU is 49-4 in games played in the state of Florida; 10-0 at games in Florida not in Doak
-Fisher is 56-6 vs unranked teams (South Florida is not ranked), winning 35 of the last 36 by an average score of 41.6-16.0
-Fisher is 23-3 in non-conference regular-season games, with the average score being 41.6-14.5
-Fisher is 11-3 coming off a loss. He lost two straight in 2010 (NCSU and UNC) and three straight in 2011 (OU, Clemson, Wake Forest)
-Fisher is 8-1 vs. teams from the Group of 5 conferences. The average score is 43.1-14.0. His lone loss was in 2015 vs. Houston