2015 Florida State Seminoles football team

The 2015 Florida State Seminoles football team, variously Florida State or FSU, represented Florida State University in the sport of American football during the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS college football season. Florida State competed in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Seminoles were led by sixth-year head coach Jimbo Fisher and played their home games at Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. They were members of the Atlantic Coast Conference, playing in the Atlantic Division. It was the Seminoles' 24th season as a member of the ACC and its 11th in the ACC Atlantic Division.

Florida State came into the season after a two-year run (2013 and 2014) in which the Seminoles won 27 games with a pair of ACC Championships, a BCS National Title, an appearance in the College Football Playoff, a Heisman Trophy winner, and eighteen NFL Draft selections.

They finished the season 10–3, 6–2 in ACC play, to finish in second place in the Atlantic Division. They were invited to the Peach Bowl where they lost to Houston.

Florida State seniors – Giorgio Newberry, Derrick Mitchell, Nile Lawrence-Stample, Reggie Northrup, Terrance Smith, Tyler Hunter, Javien Elliott, Keelin Smith, Lamarcus Brutus and Cason Beatty – ended their college careers with 49 wins over the course of four seasons, becoming the winningest class in school history.

Offense
The Seminoles returned three starters on offense:
 * Sean Maguire
 * Dalvin Cook
 * Mario Pender
 * Travis Rudolph
 * Ermon Lane
 * Roderick Johnson
 * Ryan Hoefield
 * Freddie Stevenson
 * Kermit Whitfield
 * Jesus Wilson

Defense
The Seminoles returned seven starters on defense:
 * Nile Lawrence-Stample
 * Jalen Ramsey
 * Lorenzo Featherston
 * DeMarcus Walker
 * Matthew Thomas
 * Jacob Pugh
 * Nate Andrews
 * Trey Marshall
 * Derrick Mitchell
 * Reggie Northrup
 * Terrance Smith
 * Tyler Hunter
 * Chris Casher
 * Derrick Nnadi
 * Marquez White
 * Lamarcus Brutus

Special teams
The Seminoles returned two starters on special teams:
 * Roberto Aguayo
 * Cason Beatty

Offense

 * Jameis Winston
 * Rashad Greene
 * Nick O'Leary
 * Karlos Williams
 * Christian Green
 * Josue Matias
 * Cameron Erving
 * Tre' Jackson
 * Bobby Hart
 * Austin Barron

Defense

 * Desmond Hollin
 * P. J. Williams
 * Mario Edwards Jr.
 * Ronald Darby
 * Eddie Goldman

Transfers

 * Everett Golson (from Notre Dame)

Offense

 * Ruben Carter (to Toledo)
 * John Franklin III (to East Mississippi CC/Auburn)
 * Isaiah Jones (to East Mississippi CC)

Defense

 * E.J. Levenberry (to Connecticut)

Recruiting class
Calvin Brewton, George Campbell, Derwin James, De'Andre Johnson, Jacques Patrick, Da'Vante Phillips and Josh Sweat were early enrollees.

Coaching changes
After the 2014 season, defensive ends coach Sal Sunseri took a job with the Oakland Raiders. He was replaced by University of Florida assistant Brad Lawing.

Roster
Freshman quarterback De'Andre Johnson was dismissed from the team after being charged with a misdemeanor.

Depth chart
(Depth Chart Notations: Name, Year at FSU/total years of eligibility, Games started in 2014)

Media
Florida State football is broadcast on the Florida State University Seminoles Radio Network and the games are called by Gene Deckerhoff.

Season
Florida State was picked to finish second in the ACC Atlantic. Roberto Aguayo, Roderick Johnson, Jalen Ramsey, and Terrance Smith were named to the preseason All-ACC team.

Awards

 * Jacobs Blocking Trophy
 * Roderick Johnson


 * Jim Brown Award
 * Dalvin Cook

Watchlists
Players
 * Johnny Unitas Award
 * Everett Golson


 * Lott Trophy
 * Jalen Ramsey


 * Maxwell Award
 * Dalvin Cook
 * Everett Golson


 * Bednarik Award
 * Jalen Ramsey
 * Terrance Smith


 * Lou Groza Award
 * Roberto Aguayo


 * Outland Trophy
 * Roderick Johnson


 * Nagurski Award
 * Jalen Ramsey
 * Terrance Smith


 * Jim Thorpe Award
 * Jalen Ramsey


 * Lombardi Award
 * Reggie Northrup
 * Terrance Smith
 * Roderick Johnson


 * Butkus Award
 * Reggie Northrup
 * Terrance Smith


 * Walter Camp Award
 * Everett Golson


 * Wuerffel Trophy
 * Roberto Aguayo


 * Doak Walker Award
 * Dalvin Cook


 * Ray Guy Award
 * Cason Beatty

Coaches
 * Dodd Trophy
 * Jimbo Fisher


 * Bear Bryant Award
 * Jimbo Fisher


 * Pre-season All-Americans
 * Roberto Aguayo (Lindy's, Athlon, Phil Steele, Sporting News, CBS Sports, ESPN, Sports Illustrated)
 * Jalen Ramsey (Lindy's, Athlon, Phil Steele, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated)
 * Dalvin Cook (Athlon)
 * Terrance Smith (Phil Steele)

Finalists
Players
 * Burlsworth Trophy
 * Javien Elliott

Coaches
 * Broyles Award
 * Charles Kelly


 * Quarterfinalists
 * Wuerffel Trophy
 * Cason Beatty


 * Lott Trophy
 * Jalen Ramsey


 * Semifinalists
 * Jim Thorpe Award
 * Jalen Ramsey


 * Maxwell Award
 * Dalvin Cook


 * Bednarik Award
 * Jalen Ramsey


 * Lou Groza Award
 * Roberto Aguayo


 * Lott Trophy
 * Jalen Ramsey


 * Doak Walker Award
 * Dalvin Cook


 * Walter Camp Award
 * Dalvin Cook

Honors
In addition to conference honors, Dalvin Cook has been recognized by the Walter Camp Foundation and the Football Writers Association.
 * ACC Player of the Week
 * Everett Golson (offensive back)
 * Dalvin Cook (offensive back)
 * Roderick Johnson (offensive lineman)
 * Jalen Ramsey (defensive back)
 * Roberto Aguayo (Specialist)
 * Terrance Smith (Linebacker)
 * Trey Marshall (defensive back)
 * DeMarcus Walker (defensive lineman)
 * Kermit Whitfield (Receiver)
 * Jacob Pugh (Linebacker)
 * Travis Rudolph (Receiver)
 * Jacques Patrick (rookie)
 * Derwin James (defensive back)
 * DeMarcus Walker (defensive lineman)

All-Americans
Jalen Ramsey was named a consensus All-American.

NFL draft
The following players were selected in the 2016 NFL Draft: The following players signed as undrafted free agents: Everett Golson joined the practice squad of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League.