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The Florida State Seminoles were well represented in the NFL this year, with 41 players spread across 24 rosters.
Of those 41, just two former Seminoles headed into Super Bowl LIII with a chance at securing a ring: Lamarcus Joyner of the Los Angeles Rams and Ryan Izzo of the New England Patriots. However, Joyner was the lone ’Nole represented in the game, as Izzo had his season shut down in training camp due to injury.
With the Patriots win over the Rams in Super Bowl LIII, Izzo joins an impressive list of Seminoles with Super Bowl rings:
Ron Sellers: ’73 Miami Dolphins
J.T. Thomas: ’75, ’76, ’79 Pittsburgh Steelers
Fred Biletnikoff: ’77 Oakland Raiders
Willie Jones: ’81 Oakland Raiders
Mike Shumann: ’82 San Francisco 49ers
Dennis McKinnon: ’85 Chicago Bears
Zeke Mowatt: ’87 New York Giants
Martin Mayhew: ’92 Washington Redskins
Dexter Carter: ’95 San Francisco 49ers
Dedrick Dodge: ’95 San Francisco 49ers and ‘98 Denver Broncos
William Floyd: ’95 San Francisco 49ers
Deion Sanders: ’95 San Francisco 49ers and (1996) Dallas Cowboys
Edgar Bennett: ’97 Green Bay Packers
LeRoy Butler: ’97 Green Bay Packers
Andre Cooper: ‘98 Denver Broncos
Rick Tuten: ’00 St. Louis Rams
Devin Bush: ’00 St. Louis Rams
Peter Boulware: ’01 Baltimore Ravens
Terrell Buckley: ’02 New England Patriots
Derrick Brooks: ’03 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dexter Jackson: ’03 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (MVP)
Brad Johnson: ’03 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Greg Spires: ’03 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
P.K. Sam: ’05 New England Patriots
Chris Hope: ’06 Pittsburgh Steelers
McFadden: ’06, ’08 Pittsburgh Steelers
Orpheus Roye: ’08 Pittsburgh Steelers
Lawrence Timmons: ’08 Pittsburgh Steelers
Anquan Boldin: ’13 Baltimore Ravens
Bryan Stork: ’15 New England Patriots
Tre’ Jackson ’17 New England Patriots
Timmy Jernigan: ’18 Philadelphia Eagles
Nigel Bradham: ’18 Philadelphia Eagles
Ronald Darby: ’18 Philadelphia Eagles
Patrick Robinson: ’18 Philadelphia Eagles
Ryan Izzo: ’19 New England Patriots
Izzo, a seventh round draft pick for the Patriots, will receive a ring despite not seeing any game action this year. Early on in training camp Izzo impressed before injury ended his season. Despite a deep tight end group, Izzo had a reasonable shot at making the team and would’ve been, at the very least, a practice squad player.
With the uncertainty surrounding an oft-injured Rob Gronkowski’s future, Izzo could see substantial playing time next year if he stays in Foxborough.
He’ll certainly wish he would have had the opportunity to take the field this season, but it seems like he enjoyed his week anyway:
Former Lions star and current @Patriots tight end Ryan Izzo @IzzoRyan hanging out with his parents, Mark and Lorri, and teammate @RobGronkowski before the @SuperBowl! #GoLions #ProudPride #NextLevelLion #Faith_Family_Football pic.twitter.com/dVJ2Xm8pvr
— Lions Football (@PopeJohnLionsFB) February 2, 2019
Any lingering disappointment he may have from not playing this year will surely dissipate when he is being fitted for his ring.