The top 100 FSU football players: No. 19— guard Jamie Dukes

Given Florida State’s rich football tradition, making this list of its top 100 players is quite an achievement. Breaking the top 20 is astounding. But earning All-America honors in four straight years as a Seminole? That’s just ridiculous. Jamie Dukes did all three.

And that’s why he’s the top ’Nole offensive lineman in our countdown. A product of Orlando, Dukes took very little time to acclimate to Tallahassee, starting immediately as a true freshman— one of just four Seminole offensive linemen to start every game as a true frosh. He’d remain a starter throughout his four-year career at Florida State.

That career began in 1982, when FSU was working toward its dynasty by earning respect on the road. Behind Dukes, the Seminoles won at Southern Miss, Ohio State, Miami, and South Carolina. Dukes was named a first-team freshman All-American by Football News.

The following year, Florida State won at LSU and Arizona State, and Football News again acknowledged Dukes, conferring upon him an All-America honorable mention. He was also recognized as a second-team All-South Independent honoree.

Dukes’ junior year of 1984 saw the ’Noles collect Ws at Miami, Arizona State, and South Carolina (again), as the Seminoles continued to build their reputation as kings of the road. And Dukes further solidified himself as a true road-grader, improving to a second-team All-American for Football News and garnering an honorable mention from the AP. He was also a first-team All-South Independent choice.

But Dukes cemented his Florida State legacy in 1985, when, as a senior, he was a consensus All-American after being named a first-teamer by Walter Camp and the Football Writers Association of America, a second-team selection by the AP and UPI, and a third-teamer per Football News. Oh yeah, he was a first-team All-South Independent choice, too.

Inexplicably, Dukes wasn’t drafted, but he proved doubters wrong by enjoying an 11-year NFL career, mostly with the Atlanta Falcons. He was inducted into the Florida State Hall of Fame in 1991.

In 2013, Dukes was named an ACC Legend, and he spoke about his time as a Seminole prior to that year’s conference title game and national championship for the ’Noles on the ACC Network, which you can watch below, because this isn’t Comcast.