As a college football powerhouse for roughly three decades, rarely does Florida State have a shortage of talent. With that talent over the years has been no shortage of flash as Deion Sanders, Warrick Dunn, Peter Warrick and Jameis Winston among others have all had the “wow factor” for the Seminoles.
Currently on the roster however, is a player who is quickly and quietly becoming a legend in his own right. Senior-to-be Rashad Greene has shown very few weaknesses in his three years at Florida State, but the 6’0″ senior from Georgia has rarely garnered much of the national spotlight. With a chance to set a new school-record for career receiving yards, that could very well change in 2014.
With 1,128 yards receiving in 2013, Greene became the first Florida State receiver to go over 1,000 yards in a season since Anquan Boldin in 2002. With his big year, Greene became just the third Seminole to lead the team in receiving in three consecutive seasons joining Ron Sellers and Mike Shumann.
This season, Greene could and should become the first Florida State player to lead the team in receiving in four straight years. With the prospect of playing 15 games, Greene also has an above average chance of becoming the school’s all-time leading receiver.
Greene is just 1,134 yards shy of surpassing Sellers for the school-record which is just six yards more than Greene accumulated this past season. While Greene will need to up his production from a season ago to become the all-time leading receiver at FSU, there is reason to believe he will get there.
Greene will need to have a career-year to get the record, but he has upped his production from the previous season in each of the last two years. Greene will also be one of the only experienced receivers on the roster as neither Kenny Shaw nor BCS hero, Kelvin Benjamin will return.
Although Greene could stand alone in the Florida State record book following his senior season, the lack of recognition doesn’t seem to bother Greene. “That’s not really my concern whether people want to overlook me or not,” said Greene after a 49-17 home victory over N.C. State last season. “What’s most important is my team and going out there and winning. The individual stuff will take care of itself.”
Greene was named first team All-ACC in 2013, but Greene is much more than numbers alone. Over the past three years, Greene has made some of the biggest plays for the Seminoles. While often overlooked, the argument could be made that Greene has saved Florida State’s season in each of the last three years.
His 49-yard catch and run in the BCS National Championship, set up Florida State’s winning score back on January 6th. As a sophomore in 2012, Greene’s 39-yard touchdown catch on a Thursday night in Blacksburg kept Florida State’s ACC title hopes alive — a title it would eventually win.
In the 2011 Champs Sports Bowl, Greene’s touchdown grab in traffic in the fourth quarter turned out to be the winning score in Florida State’s 18-14 comeback victory over Notre Dame. Greene also went for 146 yards and two scores in last year’s triumphant 51-14 win at Clemson.
“Rashad is steady Eddie man”, said head coach Jimbo Fisher of his quiet star. “He’s so smooth, you don’t realize how fast he is. He’s so consistent, you don’t realize how good he is.”
Fisher could not be more correct. At 6’0” and only 180 pounds, it’s not a surprise that Greene has an ability to get behind defenders. Greene however, is far from afraid to make the tough catch over the middle. Greene also excels when it comes to running after the catch and is a threat to score from anywhere on the field. Just ask Virginia Tech, Clemson and Auburn.
While Heisman winner Jameis Winston will get most of the media attention in 2014, he has one the nation’s best weapons at his disposal in Rashad Greene. Greene’s quiet, team-first demeanor however, doesn’t always garner the soon-to-be senior all of the recognition he deserves. As Greene embarks on a record-breaking season in 2014, he’s already one of the big reasons as to why the Seminoles have been able to climb back to the top of not only the ACC, but college football in general.
