Quantifying Dalvin Cook's or DeMarcus Walker's worth to the Florida State football program goes beyond victories, defeats or even personal statistics.
Cook and Walker were elder statesmen who drew respect from coaches and teammates. Because of it, they were the conduits between the coaching staff and players. If Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher needed to get a message across in a particular kind of way, he could rely on Cook and Walker to amplify what he was saying.
Or if a player needed advice on how to approach a coach or another teammate, they could come to Cook or Walker.
Those roles will still exist in 2017, but they will be filled by other players. Cook and Walker will be in the NFL. Established figures such as Sean Maguire, Freddie Stevenson, Marquez White, Kermit Whitfield and Jesus "Bobo" Wilson are all graduating as well.
Given those departures, one of the keys to Florida State's 2017 season will be identifying the leaders of the future.
"They've gotta be able to accept that role," Walker said. "For me, accepting that role as a team leader, as the face of the program, you have to be on your 'ps' and 'qs.' You can't slack off. Every fault you have, every tendency you have, they might ride you about it.
"You have to be able to take that criticism when you're wrong and be able to stay humble and keep the team's head low when success is coming."
There should be several candidates when it comes to choosing successors. The Seminoles have seven redshirt juniors and another seven true juniors on the roster. The team is also expected to return senior defensive back Nate Andrews, who will likely be granted a medical redshirt and play for a fifth season.
As for the redshirt juniors, who will be redshirt seniors in 2017, the two choices a few players have mentioned in passing are linebackers Ro'Derrick Hoskins and Matthew Thomas.
"If you watch football, but a lot of guys don't really hear about him," junior receiver Travis Rudolph said of Thomas. "He's one of those quiet leaders, but he's definitely going to be one of those big-time leaders for us."
Rudolph said players will respect Thomas for the adversity he's faced. A former five-star prospect, Thomas has fought through academic and other issues throughout his career. He stayed with the program and finished the 2016 season with a team-high 77 tackles.
"He's flashed a lot this year. He's one of the best athletes on this team," Stevenson said of Thomas. "You got a linebacker who can run like a receiver. When he's locked in on things, personally, I don't think there's anyone with the physical ability he has."
