79 days to FSU football: Who are the greatest ‘Noles to sport No. 79?

With 79 days remaining until Florida State kicks off its 2016 season against Ole Miss in Orlando’s Camping World Stadium, here’s a look at the best Seminoles to ever wear No. 79.

With regard to Florida State alums who wore No. 79, there are a multitude of contenders for the title of best to ever play in the 79. After all, two different players have earned All-American and all-conference honors while donning No. 79 and three different ‘Noles who wore No. 79 have been drafted into the NFL.

The first former Seminole worth mentioning in this conversation is defensive tackle Gerald Nichols. Nichols, who wore No. 79 for his entire five-year career at FSU (1982-1986), broke onto the national scene in 1985, his redshirt junior season, earning an honorable mention from the Associated Press’ All-America team as well as a second-team All-South Independent nod. In his final year at Florida State, Nichols was unable to break through onto a first-team All-America squad, notching a second-team All-American appearance from the AP for the second straight year but he was able to make the first-team All-South Independents team. Nichols also remains the highest drafted No. 79 in Florida State history as he was taken by the New York Jets with the 187th overall pick in the 1987 NFL Draft.

The other No. 79 who warranted recognition during his time at Florida State is Garry Futch. Futch, a defensive tackle who wore the Garnet and Gold 79 from 1979-1981, was an honorable mention for the AP’s All-America team in 1981, his senior campaign. Additionally, Futch was a two-time All-South Independent team member, earning second-team honors in 1980 and 1981.

There are a pair of additional 79s in Florida State history worth noting. Defensive end Louie Richardson donned the 79 for his final two seasons as a ‘Nole (1976-1977) before he was the 254th overall pick in the 1978 draft and offensive lineman Todd Williams sported No. 79 for all five of his years at FSU (1998-2002) before being drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the seventh round of the 2003 draft.

The other players who have worn No. 79 for Florida State are:

• Jerry Graham (1956, 1958-1959)
• Steve Holton (1957)
• Mike Blazovich (1960-1962)
• Frank Pennie (1963-1965)
• Frank Vohun (1966-1969)
• Howard Jacobi (1970-1971)
• Bobby Elam (1972)
• Tony Falvo (1973-1975)
• Gene Houpe (1987-1988, 1990)
• Eric Gibbs (1989)
• Forrest Conoly (1991-1995)
• Larry Smith (1997)
• Dave Overmeyer (2005-2007)
• David Spurlock (2008-2011)
• Michael Scheerhorn (2013)

At the time of this publication, no members of the current Florida State football roster wear No. 79. With many incoming offensive linemen this fall, however, one of FSU’s newest members of the offensive front could very well be seen in No. 79.