clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Florida State Football All-Jimbo Fisher Team: Offensive Tackle

Three offensive tackles who played for Jimbo Fisher have ended up in the NFL, and two more are fully expected to join them.

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Tomahawk Nation readers are voting on the All-Jimbo Fisher Team (Florida State edition). To be eligible, a player must have played for head coach Jimbo Fisher (2010-2013). The qualifications are completely up to you. Do you value overall numbers, or fleeting greatness? One thing that should not be considered is NFL career.

Tuesday, we are picking the offensive tackles for the team.

Previously: QuarterbackRunning BackFullbackTight EndReceiver

Andrew Datko (2008-11)

Four-year starting left tackle with 40 career starts to his credit...instrumental in one of FSU's best rushing attacks in a four-year stretch (158.5 yards per game)...one of the leaders of the offensive line who played alongside FSU consensus All-American Rodney Hudson for three seasons in producing one of the top left sides in college football.

Unfortunately, Datko's career did not end as he wanted...

2011...Starting left tackle who was a preseason candidate for a number of national awards and was headed towards all-conference honors before a shoulder injury forced him to sit out the remainder of the season...started the first four games of the season and played 252 snaps while posting a season average grade of 75.8...allowed just one sack...posted a season-high grade of 84 percent in the opener against Louisiana Monroe...had 40 career starts to his credit...given an Unselfish Leadership Award at the annual football team banquet for his mentorship he provided to a young offensive line after he missed the remaining nine games of the regular season...earned the Matt Schmauch Academic Award at the end of spring practice, which is given to the player who is dedicated to getting a degree, is accountable and responsible in the classroom and works everyday to be a better student...earned one of six community service awards given out at the end of spring practice.

Zebrie Sanders (2008-11)

Like Datko, Sanders also started for four years, including two in the Jimbo Fisher era.

Four-year starter at offensive tackle for the Seminoles...made a team and ACC-leading 50 career starts, including 36 consecutive game and his 50 career starts are tied for the second-most in Florida State history...capped off his career by earning first team All-ACC honors and was a two-time All-ACC Academic football team member.

More of his accomplishments here...

Fourth-year senior starting offensive tackle for the Seminoles...earned first team All-ACC honors for the first time in his career...also named to the All-ACC Academic football team for the second straight season...was runner-up for Jacobs Blocking Award, presented to the ACC's most dominant offensive lineman...opened the season as the starter on the right side, but was moved to left tackle for the final seven regular season games following a season-ending injury to fellow senior Andrew Datko...made a team and ACC-leading 50 career starts, including 36 consecutive games...his 50 career starts are tied for the second-most in Florida State history...has consistently ranked among the top-graded offensive linemen at FSU, posting a season average grade of 76 for demanding position coach Rick Trickett...leads the team with 819 snaps...posted a team-leading 28 knockdown blocks, pushing his career total to 139, tops among all FSU linemen...has been penalized just eight times all season and allowed only two sacks since moving to left tackle as quarterback EJ Manuel's blind-side protector over the final eight games...saved his best performance for his final game, logging a career-high grade of 94 percent in FSU's 18-14 Champs Sports Bowl win over Notre Dame, when he started alongside four true freshmen up front...registered three knockdowns and did not have a missed assignment against the Fighting Irish...put together the best six-game stretch of his career in terms of grades - Clemson, Wake Forest, Duke, Maryland, NC State and Boston College - posting five grades of 80 percent or better...earned a grade of 89 percent at Boston College, which followed an 85 against NC State...matched a career high with five knockdown blocks against the Wolfpack...also registered four knockdowns against Wake Forest and Charleston Southern...graduated in December with a degree in retail merchandising and product development.

Menelik Watson (2012)

Due to an unforeseen issue with NCAA eligibility, Watson was only eligible for a single year before heading off to the NFL.

All-ACC (Honorable Mention)
Coaches All-ACC (Honorable Mention)

2012:Junior college transfer who jumped into the starting lineup at right tackle after arriving in January and helped solidify the unit...started 12 of 13 games and boasted a season average grade of 76.2 percent...allowed just one sack all season...registered three knockdowns against both Boston College and Maryland... major contributor to an FSU offense in 2012 which will go down in school history as the most productive ever racking up a school record 6,591 yards which surpassed the 2000 team for the most yards...an outstanding blocker who played a key role in FSU's resurgent running game, which averaged 205.9 yards a game and produced a single-season record 40 rushing touchdowns...athletically-gifted big man from Manchester, Great Britain...played Division I basketball at Marist before transferring to Saddleback (Calif.) College, where he played football for the first time and emerged as one of the nation's top junior college tackles...selected as the Top Newcomer on Offense at the team's annual banquet.

Cameron Erving (2010-14)

Erving's career started out at defensive tackle before making the switch to offensive line in 2012.

Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner
All-ACC First Team
Coaches All-ACC First Team
Sporting News All-America First Team
USA TODAY Sports All-America First Team
SI.com All-America First Team
Associated Press All-America Second Team
CBSSports.com All-America Second Team
Walter Camp All-America Second Team
SB Nation All-America Second Team
Lindy's All-America Second Team
2013: Converted defensive tackle has grown into one of the nation's top left tackles...ACC coaches named him the recipient of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy given to the league's top offensive lineman...captured All-ACC honors from the coaches and media...collected several All-America accolades, including First Team honors from the Sporting News, USA Today and Sports Illustrated and Second Team recognition by the Associated Press and Walter Camp...held Clemson All-America defensive end Vic Beasley without a sack and was named ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week following the 51-14 win at then-No. 3 Clemson...helped hold National Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, of Pitt, to just two tackles and one TFL...had a grade of 98 percent at Boston College...graded out to over 80 percent at Boston College, at Clemson and at Wake Forest... the Noles set FSU and ACC records for single-season total offense (7,267 yards), points per game (51.6) and yards per play (7.67) and the national record for points (723)...the Noles led the country with 94 touchdowns...FSU set the ACC and school records for total touchdowns (94), passing touchdowns (42) and the school record for rushing touchdowns (42)...Florida State ranked first in the ACC and sixth in the nation in total offense (519.1)...with the nation's top offensive line providing protection and opening holes, Florida State rushed for 2,844 yards (5.6 ypc), while passing for 4,423 yards...as his blindside protector, Erving was a valuable asset to quarterback Jameis Winston, who became the youngest player ever to win the Heisman Trophy.

Bobby Hart (2011-2014)

Hart's career has been extremely interesting. Badly needing a redshirt as a result of being just 17 years and 14 days old, Hart inserted was thrust into the starting lineup due to Florida State suffering an insane amount of injuries in 2011. Beat out in 2012, he finally got it together in 2013.

All-ACC Honorable Mention
Coaches All-ACC Honorable Mention
2013: Right tackle, who is just 19 years old, started all 14 games this season and has 23 starts in his career...graded out at 86 percent at Florida and also had grades above 80 percent against Miami (81), Bethune-Cookman (83) and Nevada (86)... the Noles set FSU and ACC records for single-season total offense (7,267 yards), points per game (51.6) and yards per play (7.67) and the national record for points (723)...the Noles led the country with 94 touchdowns...FSU set the ACC and school records for total touchdowns (94), passing touchdowns (42) and the school record for rushing touchdowns (42)...Florida State ranked first in the ACC and sixth in the nation in total offense (519.1)...with the nation's top offensive line providing protection and opening holes, Florida State rushed for 2,844 yards (5.6 ypc), while passing for 4,423 yards...his play at right tackle helped Jameis Winston become the youngest Heisman Trophy winner ever...started the final nine games of 2011 as a 17-year-old and earned Second Team CFN Freshman All-American honors.

*Excerpts from official school bio

And the winners are...

Announced Tuesday night!