Leonel Marines is the executive director of Epilepsy Services of Southwest Florida, where he oversees strategic initiatives, staff development, financial management, fundraising, regulatory compliance, and organizational reporting. Based in Florida, he has built a career centered on public service through leadership roles in the nonprofit sector, law enforcement, education, and community volunteerism. Leonel Marines earned a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and a juris doctor from Western Michigan University’s Thomas M. Cooley Law School. As a Florida State alumnus and longtime supporter of Seminoles athletics, he maintains a personal interest in the university’s football tradition and its impact on the professional ranks. The history of Florida State players who have advanced to the NFL reflects a significant part of the Seminoles’ athletic legacy and remains a topic of interest for many alumni and fans.
A Look at Florida State Seminoles Who Reached the NFL
The Florida State Seminoles collegiate football program has won three national championships and 16 conference championships in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The school has also won 12 bowl games since 2001. In addition to considerable team success, the Seminoles program has produced numerous successful players in the National Football League (NFL).
Cornerback and wide receiver Deion Sanders is arguably the most accomplished and well-known Florida State University (FSU) alum. A member of the NFL Hall of Fame, he was an eight-time Pro Bowl and six-time All-Pro player. He won two Super Bowl rings during his 16-year career and earned Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1994.
Part of the 1993 Seminoles team that won a national championship, linebacker Derrick Brooks is another FSU alum in the NFL Hall of Fame. He received 11 Pro Bowl and five All-Pro selections during his career, along with a Super Bowl ring. Like Sanders, he won the Defensive Player of the Year Award while captaining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ dominant defense.
Running back Warrick Dunn also played for the 1993 Seminoles championship team. He was a Pro Bowl player in 1997 (his rookie season), as well as in 2000 and 2005. His 1997 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year season consisted of four touchdowns and 978 rushing yards.
Jalen Ramsey is another all-time NFL cornerback to come out of Florida. He spent three years at FSU, winning a national championship in 2013, before joining the Jacksonville Jaguars as the fifth overall pick. He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025, his eighth Pro Bowl season. His career achievements include a Super Bowl ring and three All-Pro selections.
Derwin James was a versatile defensive playmaker and perennial Pro Bowler who made the Pro Bowl in five of the seven seasons he played for the Los Angeles Chargers, most recently in 2025. He was named to the All-Pro team in his rookie season and finished runner-up in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.
Anquan Boldin played as a wide receiver for the FSU team that won the 1999 national championship. He completed his collegiate career in 2002, then won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2003. He is yet another FSU alum to win a Super Bowl ring, to go along with three Pro Bowl selections.
Several FSU quarterbacks have made it to the NFL. Jameis Winston led college football in yards in 2013, guiding the Seminoles to the program’s most recent national championship. He then joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the first overall selection in the 2015 NFL Draft. He was a Pro Bowl selection that season. Brad Johnson also played quarterback for the Buccaneers after playing at FSU, leading Tampa Bay to victory in Super Bowl XXXVII. He was a two-time Pro Bowl player.
Finally, Charlie Ward won the Heisman Trophy during the Seminole’s 1993 championship season. However, an accomplished two-sport athlete, Ward did not go to the NFL, but instead joined the National Basketball Association. He spent nine years with the New York Knicks and started for the team during the 1999 NBA Finals.
More recent Seminoles to make it to the NFL include running back Cam Akers, wide receiver Keon Coleman, and running back Trey Benson.
About Leonel Marines
Leonel Marines is the executive director of Epilepsy Services of Southwest Florida and a Florida State University graduate. His professional background includes nonprofit leadership, law enforcement, education, and community service. He holds a juris doctor from Western Michigan University’s Thomas M. Cooley Law School and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Florida State University. Outside of work, he volunteers as an ESL teacher, participates in scholarship review efforts, and follows Florida State Seminoles and San Francisco 49ers football.
