It’s no secret that Florida State has been in the national conversation for championships in football for many years, since their first in 1993. Since we are passing the 25th anniversary of their 1999 title, and since we don’t know how good Thomas Castellanos will end up doing, I figured it would be fun to look back on the last quarter-century of Seminoles football and rank the quarterback play of each.
Now, I think four rules should be examined when trying to figure this out. Obviously, I will only make the best ranking that everybody agrees with.
You have to have at least 1 start in a game. D’Vontrey Richardson had meaningful numbers, but did not log a start. So he’s not ranked here.For shared-starter seasons like 2024, I credited both players.If you’re a third or fourth stringer, you’re probably not on here because my god I don’t want 100 people on this list.National championships, Heisman trophies, ACC titles, passing yards, and touchdowns are primarily what I will use to rank them. Obviously, there is no one “true” way to rank all of them.
22. D.J. Uiagalelei (2024)
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images
In 5 games, D.J.U. had 1,065 yards, four touchdowns, and six interceptions, and could not seem to do anything of note. The California game was the only high point. High expectations put him down at the bottom. Let’s just move on. Not much else needs to be said. Let’s just move on.
21. Chubba Purdy (2020-21)
In four games for the Seminoles, just one of which he started, he had just 317 yards, four touchdowns, and one pick. This is basically just a cameo season for him before he went on to play for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Nevada Wolfpack.
20. Fabian Walker (2002-03, 2005)
His 2002 Sugar Bowl start wasn’t great. With Chris Rix’s suspension prior to the game versus Georgia, Walker had very little practice time, per head coach Bobby Bowden. He said that he wishes “[he] would’ve had an extra two weeks of practice.”
19. Luke Kromenhoek (2024)
Melina Myers-Imagn Images
2024 was a down year, but he did earn a late start against FCS Charleston Southern. Bad situation, but what can you do? His freshman experience puts him higher on my list than DJU simply because he had lower expectations.
18. Tate Rodemaker (2020-23)
A 2023 emergency starter win at Florida is big. He looked competent when he needed to be. Limited experience in the game holds his rank back, though. I hope he has an excellent 2025 season at FCS Western Carolina.
17. McKenzie Milton (2021)
Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat / USA TODAY NETWORK
McKenzie has perhaps one of the most interesting career arcs in Florida State history. Coming from UCF’s national championship season (yes, it is legitimate), playing at UCF from 2016-18, then suffering a brutal knee injury in 2018, to make an incredible comeback return in 2021 at Florida State is amazing.
16. Alex Hornibrook (2019)
Playing at Wisconsin from 2016-18, then transferring to Florida State for his senior season, wasn’t the change he was likely going for. His 7 TD-2 INT ratio is tidy, which, to be fair, I can appreciate.
15. Brock Glenn (2023-24)
Photo by Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Led us to an ACC title, so I’m okay with putting him above the rest of the backups from the Travis-DJU era. His numbers aren’t the best, but I think the win versus Louisville cements his legacy.
14. Wyatt Sexton (2003-04)
He actually started more games in 2004 than Chris Rix. An 8 TD-8 interception ratio puts him ahead of Glenn simply on the fact that the numbers are just a smidge more impressive. Just a smidge. He was also a part of the 2003 ACC title roster. Yipee!
I think his numbers put him above the folks we’ve talked about so far. 2,323 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in his career is pretty alright. A 2005 ACC championship bolsters his resume further.
12. Everett Golson (2015)
Prior to being with the Seminoles, Golson put up two seasons above 2,400 yards at Notre Dame in 2012 and 2014. A 29 touchdown to 14 interception season in the latter year likely had the Seminoles thinking big in the wake of Jameis Winston’s departure. If Florida State had a Hall of Pretty Good, he would be a member. His stats are: 147/219, 1,778 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions.
11. Adrian McPherson (2001-02)
Finally, we get to someone who had a decent season starting in more than a few games. While he was still sitting behind Chris Rix, he had good numbers. 98/192, 1,215 yards, 14 touchdowns to just one career interception. Is he better than Lee and Golson? Perchance. You could make an argument for either being better than the other. He was also a part of that 2002 ACC title team. Adrian, you are in the Hall of Pretty Good.
10. Sean Maguire (2013-16)
Four years at Florida State, the first person on the list to accomplish this incredible feat. He helped bridge the post-Jameis years as well. He peaked in 2015, going for 112/189, 11 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. The 2013 national championship puts him ahead of the folks we’ve talked about so far. Welcome to the Hall of Pretty Good.
9. Deondre Francois (2016-18)
Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images
Despite his 2017 injury, his comeback in 2018 was impressive for an era when Florida State football fell off. 36 touchdowns in his career compared to 21 interceptions might seem like a lot, but since he did win the Orange Bowl, I gotta give him a top 10 ranking above Maguire and McPherson. Officially in my Hall of Pretty Good.
8. Drew Weatherford (2004-08)
A 2005 ACC championship coincided with his starts, and Weatherford, while I don’t think he’s brought up often in Florida State circles, was a genuinely decent quarterback. He did throw a ton of interceptions (32, compared to his 39 touchdowns), but still was on the team back when frequent bowls and titles were prevalent.
7. James Blackman (2017-20)
Strong seasons in his freshman and junior years are muddied by his sophomore and senior seasons. But he does have the best numbers so far, going for 433/716, 43 touchdowns, and 26 interceptions, by far the most in any category out of anyone we’ve talked about so far. An Independence Bowl victory, while not a New Year’s Six bowl, is still notable. Hall of Pretty Good inductee.
A 2002 and 2003 ACC Champion, I imagine Rix was a fun quarterback to watch. 575/1042, 63 touchdowns, and 40 interceptions in his career with 8,390 yards firmly puts him in the Hall of Pretty Good.
5. Christian Ponder (2007-10)
Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images
3-1 in bowl games, a 49-to-30 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and getting drafted to the NFL in the 1st round is incredible despite the lack of ACC title success. He did win the Atlantic division, and did get them to the title game though! Welcome to the Hall of Pretty Good.
Manuel was a great quarterback. Finishing his career with an ACC title as well as the ACC passing completion percentage title in 2012, Manuel was good enough to go in the first round to the Buffalo Bills. With a career statline of 600/897, 7,741 yards, 47 touchdowns, and 28 interceptions, the fourth-best QB in the last 25 years of Florida State football feels right. Hall of Pretty Good inductee.
3. Jordan Travis (2019-23)
Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Revolutionized Florida State after a half-decade of mediocrity, an ACC title, 8,715 yards, 66 touchdowns to 20 interceptions, being perhaps the best dual-threat quarterback the Seminoles have ever had, firmly puts him in my top three. And if anyone has him outside their top three, they’re just incorrect. He is the biggest what-if of the top three, because if [THE PLAYOFF INCIDENT THAT SHALL NOT BE NAMED] didn’t happen, who knows what could’ve happened. I think he should be in the Florida State Hall of Fame.
Enjoy retirement, legend. Hope to see you coaching sometime.
2. Jameis Winston (2013-14)
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
A starter in the 2013 national championship, going 14-0 as a redshirt freshman, being the youngest player to ever win the Heisman trophy at the time, an ACC Champion in both 2013 and 2014, and leading Florida State to 29 straight wins is a lot. Ask any fan, and their number one is probably between Winston and Weinke. 65 touchdowns to 28 interceptions, and 7,964 career yards in an era of Florida State dominance. Well-deserved to put him at number 2. I love Jameis, man. Of course, it goes without saying that he’s in the Hall of Pretty Good by default.
1. Chris Weinke (1997-2000)
Weinke is right at the 25-year cutoff for this piece, but I firmly believe he is the best quarterback in Florida State history, let alone the last 25 years. A starter and winner of the 1999 national championship, of which Florida State was in the midst of a three-peat appearance in the BCS National Championship, the 2000 Heisman trophy winner, a two-time ACC Champion, the only player with 9,000+ passing yards, 79 touchdowns, 32 interceptions, and much more. Make no mistake, both Winston and Weinke were generational players. It helps that he was surrounded by some of the greatest wide receiver groups in Seminoles’ history.
Yes, he is in the Hall of Pretty Good.
Do you agree with my list? Let’s discuss below.