Staying four years is no longer incredibly common for major college football players. Too often today, the nation’s top prospects are quick to leave school early and enter the NFL Draft. Florida State’s senior class has been part of one of the more incredible spans for a program with a very storied football history. In a series called “Senior Moments”, we’ll be looking back at the top 5 moments from key members of the winningest senior class in Florida State history.
The starting offensive line that began the 2014 season for Florida State consisted of five seniors. That offensive line has undergone notable changes this season, but all five have been important members of the team over the last four years. It’s difficult to narrow an offensive lineman’s career down to a single play, so instead of doing a top five moments for each, we’ll highlight what each of Florida State’s five seniors along the offensive line have done throughout the courses of their careers:
Austin Barron
Center
Austin Barron was named to the preseason Rimington Award watch list prior to the season. Barron didn’t live up to the hype and the senior struggled to replace last season’s winner, Bryan Stork. Barron eventually went down with an arm injury and has not returned to the lineup since, but Barron has made an impact over his career. As a freshman, Barron replaced an injured Stork midseason and helped a Florida State team that struggled early in the season to win seven of its final eight games.
Cameron Erving
Center/Tackle
Now the starting center for Florida State, Cameron Erving began his Florida State career as a defensive tackle before moving to the left tackle position on the offensive line. After starting all 14 games as an offensive tackle in 2012, Erving was named first team All-ACC in 2013 as well as an All-American by a number of outlets. Erving battled through injury and a position change as a senior, but again, managed to earn All-American status from a number of publications. Erving was named All-ACC both at center and tackle this season. One of the first memories from Florida State’s 2013 national championship victory was Erving lifting head coach Jimbo Fisher onto his shoulders.
Bobby Hart
Tackle
After inconsistency plagued the early parts of his career, Bobby Hart settled in at the right tackle position for Florida State. Hart made his first start against Wake Forest in 2011 as a 17-year-old true freshman. Hart did his best work throughout his career in pass protection and was named All-ACC honorable mention in 2013 and to the conference’s third team in 2014.
Five seniors started the 2014 season-opener along the Florida State offensive line. (Tallahassee Democrat)
Tre’ Jackson
Guard
One of the best guards ever to play at Florida State, Tre’ Jackson excelled as a three-year starter for the Seminoles. At 330 pounds, Jackson bullied the defensive interiors of ACC opponents throughout his career. During Florida State’s run to the 2013 BCS National Championship, Jackson was named All-ACC and an All-American by CBS Sports. In 2014, Jackson has become a consensus All-American with another dominating season as Jackson started all 14 games for the reigning ACC champions.
Josue Matias
Guard
At 6’6″ and 325 pounds, New Jersey native Josue Matias started three years for Florida State and eventually blossomed into an All-American. Matias was named third team All-ACC as a junior and in 2014, Matias found himself on the ACC’s second team. Matias was named a second team All-American by CBS Sports.
