Since Jimbo Fisher took over as Florida State's head coach in 2010, 27 players from his recruiting classes have been selected in the NFL Draft.
Every player from his first three recruiting classes have moved on, and only five remain from the 2013 class. With a large enough sample size, some definite trends have formed that connect recruiting, success on the field and the draft.
Here are five takes from our extensive study of Jimbo Fisher’s first few recruiting classes and the NFL Draft.
1. Direct correlation between success in the draft and success on the field
It should come as no surprise that a large number of FSU players recently selected in the NFL Draft have come from teams that had great success on the field. The Seminoles set the modern record with 29 players drafted over a three-year period between 2013-15. In addition, six players from that group were taken in the first round. The seasons that preceded those drafts (2012-14) were remarkably successful for FSU on the field. In those three years, the 'Noles compiled a 39-3 record, won three straight ACC championships, had two undefeated regular seasons, won a national championship and an Orange Bowl.
The story is quite different during Jimbo Fisher’s other four seasons.
From 2010-11, FSU had a combined record of 19-8 and only seven total players were taken in the next two drafts -- with just one (Christian Ponder) going in the first round. The story is similar for the 2015-16 seasons. During those two campaigns, FSU’s combined record was 20-6, with just six players selected during the 2016-17 drafts (one first-rounder).
Here’s a rundown of the seven drafts and FSU’s seven seasons under Jimbo Fisher:
