48 days to FSU football: Who is Florida State’s top No. 48?

With 48 days separating us from Florida State’s 2016 season-opening game against the Ole Miss Rebels in Orlando’s Camping World Stadium, it’s time to take a glance at the best No, 48s in FSU history.

There’s no clear frontrunner in the history of FSU No. 48s. No Seminole sporting the 48 has ever been named a first-team All-American and only one has ever been named a first-team all-conference player. However, two ‘Noles have compiled impressive statistical careers that warrant consideration for themselves in the conversation of the best No. 48.

The first No. 48 of note is defensive end Alonzo Jackson. Jackson donned the 48 from 2000 to 2002. In his junior year, 2001, Jackson received all-conference consideration, earning an honorable mention on the All-ACC team. The following year, Jackson broke onto the All-ACC first team as well as the College Football News’ All-America second team in a senior campaign which saw him rack up 13 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss, tied for sixth and ninth, respectively, in the FSU record books for single-season marks. Jackson finished his Florida State career with 23 sacks (tied for sixth in school history) and 32.5 TFLs (tied for 11th in program history). After his time at FSU was over, Jackson was taken with the 59th overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Another major player in consideration to be voted Florida State’s greatest No. 48 is Mark Lyles. Lyles, who played running back and wore No. 48 for the Seminoles from 1976 to 1979, ending his Florida State career on a high note when he was named a second-team All-South Independents honoree after the 1979 season. Lyles’ 1979 season was at the time a historic one for Florida State. Over that season, Lyles was the second running back in FSU history to surpass the 1,000 rushing-yard mark, accumulating 1,011 yards on the ground, the ninth-most in a single season in program history. At the end of his career with the Seminoles, Lyles had the second-most rushing yards in school history only trailing Larry Key. Today, Lyles’ 2,218 rushing yards is good for 11th-most in program history. Lyles was taken with the 196th pick of the 1980 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.

A pair of additional ‘Noles earned academic honors while wearing No. 48. Linebacker Todd Rebol was an Academic All-ACC honoree in 1995 and punter Chris Hall earned the same recognition in 2004.

The other Seminoles who have worn No. 48 are:

• Lyman Bond (1948)
• Bob Johnson (1949)
• Len Swantic (1954)
• James Jarrett (1968-1971)
• Rocky Graziano (1972)
• Greg Pittman (1973)
• Prince Matt (1980-1984)
• Felton Hayes (1984)
• David Palmer (1985-1987)
• Frank Romeo (1987-1988)
• Willie Pauldo (1989-1991)
• Bryne Malone (1996-1998)
• Recardo Wright (2006-2009)
• Daniel Gard (2009-2010)
• Jeff Luc (2010-2011)
• Glenn Hall (2012)
• Junior St. Louis (2013)
• Dorsey Moore (2013-2014)