33 days to FSU football: 3-year All-American leads the list of top ‘Nole No. 33s

Seminole running back Dalvin Cook’s name is certainly on the tip of many football fans’ tongues as we near the 2016 season, and for good reason: he’s one of the top RBs in the nation, and need pass just four Florida State players to become the leading rusher in program history.

The last player Cook eclipsed? Sammie Smith, who leads today’s discussion of the elite ‘Noles to wear the 33 jersey. And Smith certainly enjoyed his own standout FSU career, which got off on the right foot when he was named a Football News Freshman All-American in 1986. Smith’s 205-yard rushing game against Indiana that year is still the eighth-highest single-game total in ‘Nole history.

1987 saw Smith amplify his legend at Florida State, highlighted by the second longest scoring run ever at FSU, his 95-yard effort against Furman. Smith authored another top-ten run vs. East Carolina; his scoring rush from 83 yards out is the eighth longest among all Seminoles in a game in which he posted the third highest yardage total in school history (244). His 189 against Miami is tied for 15th as a ‘Nole. Smith’s ‘87 is a season for the ages, as his 1,230 yards register as the third-best rushing year at FSU. He was a first-team All-South Independent selection and earned an AP All-American Honorable Mention.

Smith repeated that AP honor in 1988, when his 212-yard game vs. Tulane led the way and is still tied for the sixth most rushing yards in a game at FSU. That season, he was a second-team All-South Independent choice. Regarding career marks, Smith’s 2,539 rushing yards rank him sixth at Florida State, and his 15 rushing scores are tied for 20th. His 12 100+ yard rushing games are fifth most at FSU. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins with the ninth overall pick in 1989.

But there’s certainly some diversity in those who’ve excelled with 33 on their backs as ‘Noles, and our next entrant played on the other side of the ball. Defensive back James Harris was a second-team All-South Independent honoree in 1981. 15 years later, Dee Feaster secured accolades for his special teams play, which garnered him an Honorable Mention All-ACC nod in 1996. His 79-yard punt return touchdown against Clemson that year remains the eighth longest at FSU. Kicker Grant Guthrie earns his place here by being the only Florida State No. 33 aside from Smith to be drafted. Guthrie was a sixth-round Buffalo Bills choice in 1970.

The other FSU 33s:

• Bo Manuel (1948-1949)
• Butch Riser (1965-1966)
• Clint Parker (1969)
• Steve Hardin (1970-1971)
• Rudolph Thomas (1972-1976)
• Pat Cicalese (1982-1984)
• Brian Davis (1984)
• David Dees (1989)
• Dominique Ross (1989)
• Sam "Tiger" McMillon (1990-1994)
• Lemar Parrish (2000-2001)
• Willie Reid (2001)
• Leon Washington (2002)
• Kasey Anderson (2003)
• Carlton Jones (2008)
• Ty Jones (2009-2011)
• Xavier Pryce (2012)
• Jonathan Hernandez (2013)
• Freddie Stevenson (2013)
• Kevin Haplea (2012-2014)

No hanging chads, people: