45 days to FSU football: Which No. 45 reigns at Florida State?

Compared to most other Florida State football jersey numbers, relatively few have worn the garnet and gold 45. Yet a host of those who have earned postseason accolades, including the Seminoles’ lone consensus All-American punter.

And that would be Shawn Powell. He was a consensus All-American and first-team All-ACC pick in 2011, when he averaged 47 yards per punt, the highest single-season mark in ‘Nole history. Powell also finished with the best career YPP average at FSU: 44.2.

But the Florida State 45 has a rich history at numerous positions, going back to near the dawn of Seminole football, when end Curt Campbell was a 1951 Williamson Middle Group Little All-American and an AP Little All-American Honorable Mention. In ‘52, Campbell shed the HM tag, achieving full AP Little All-American honors.

The versatile Isaac Williams, who played both offensive and defensive line at FSU, bookended his career with national honors. On the defensive side, he was a Freshman All-American for both The Sporting News and Football News in 1982. In 1985, playing offensive tackle, Williams was named an Honorable Mention All-American by both the AP and Football News, the same year that he was an All-South Independent choice. A year later, he was a 12th-round draft pick of the Colts.

Linebacker Kirk Carruthers was a remarkably steady player at Florida State. An Honorable Mention All-American for The Sporting News in 1989 and the UPI in 1991, Carruthers was a first-team All-South Independent LB in ‘89, a second-teamer in ‘90, and back on the first squad in ‘91. And for good reason: Carruthers is fifth in career tackles at FSU, with 435.

Two more ‘Nole LBs put the No. 45 in the spotlight later in the 1990s. Henri Crockett was an All-ACC Honorable Mention in 1996, a year ahead of being drafted by the Atlanta Falcons. Lamont Green was a first-team All-ACC pick in ‘98.

And then there’s defensive lineman Darnell Dockett. Dockett’s stellar Seminole career saw him earn a second-team All-ACC nod in 2000, followed by first-team selections in ‘01 and ‘03. Over that span, Dockett became the only ‘Nole ever to register three separate top-20 tackles for loss seasons at FSU: 19 in 2000 (tied for sixth), 22 in 2001 (second), and 17 in 2003 (tied for 14th). Dockett still reigns as Florida State’s all-time leader, with 65 TFL. And it’s not even close. Only one other player is within 20. Dockett was a third-round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2004, where he was a consensus All-Rookie choice and a three-time Pro Bowler.

The remaining 45s at Florida State:

• Charles Farrior (1948)
• Bob Morris (1954)
• Roger Brownlee (1980-1981)
• Reggie Johnson (1986-1987)
• Charlie Graham (2006-2007)
• Will Burnham (2012-2013)
• Nathan Slater (2012-2013)
• Delvin Purifoy (2014-present)

Who gets your vote?