Best Florida State football players: Modern-era Mount Rushmore – From Primetime to Famous Jameis

Peter Warrick, wide receiver/returner

FSU football is known for producing playmakers with the ball in their hands. Perhaps no other college football player was more electrifying than FSU wide receiver Peter Warrick. What’s more surprising is Warrick was in Tallahassee for four years and didn’t declare early for the NFL Draft. Ultimately, he was selected in the 2000 NFL Draft with the No. 4 overall pick by the Cincinnati Bengals.

Warrick was a three-time All-ACC First Team selection, Paul Warfield Award winner, and two-time consensus All-American. He fittingly capped an end to his FSU football career with an MVP performance against Virginia Tech to help the Noles capture their second national title in 1999. Warrick finished the game with six receptions for 163 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a dazzling 59-yard punt return that proved vital as Virginia Tech mounted a strong second-half comeback.

Warrick is No. 3 on the FSU career receptions list with 207, and No. 3 on FSU career receiving yards list with 3,517 yards. He’s the FSU all-time leader in receiving touchdowns with 31. The great thing about Warrick was he could do tons of damage on special teams, as noted by the punt return for a touchdown against Virginia Tech. He finished his FSU football career with 72 punt returns for 937 yards and two touchdowns.

Warrick’s NFL career was derailed by injuries. He missed almost all of 2004 after coming off his career-best season in 2003, and he was never able to capture that form afterward. That is one reason why he’s largely unknown to the current generations of college football fans. FSU fans haven’t had much to cheer about in recent years. If they want to experience greatness, just go to YouTube and type in Warrick’s name. You can thank me later.