ONE, MAYBE DONE
Timmons could be lone first-rounder from FSU
By BOB THOMAS, The Times-Union
TALLAHASSEE - Since 1994, the NFL Draft has been a time of celebration for Florida State.
Eighty-six former Seminoles players have been picked since the NFL adopted its current seven-round format, more than powerhouses Ohio State (83), Tennessee (81), Miami (78), Nebraska (70) and Florida (67).
But as encore performances go, FSU's current draft-eligible crop won't be able to match the results of their former teammates in next weekend's draft. Four Seminoles were selected among the first 19 players in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft, with four others later picked.
Outside linebacker Lawrence Timmons, who passed on his senior season of eligibility to enter the draft, likely will be the only Seminole selected in the first round this year. A rare physical talent, Timmons has been pegged as a top prospect since he announced he was signing with agent Drew Rosenhaus after FSU's Emerald Bowl victory over UCLA last December.
It proved to be a fitting college sendoff for Timmons, who scored his third touchdown of the season by returning a blocked field-goal attempt. Timmons also returned an interception and a fumble for a score during his junior season, when he compiled 79 tackles, with five sacks among his 18 tackles for loss.
Timmons' stock has dipped slightly since the NFL Combine in February, when he came up two inches shorter than his listed height of 6-foot-3 and managed only a 4.66 40-yard-dash time. Still, most mock drafts have Timmons slotted as a mid- to late-first-round pick, no doubt based on a brief but productive career.
In 38 games, Timmons made 126 tackles (70 solos) and logged eight sacks among 221/2 tackles for loss. Aside from his defensive scores, Timmons also blocked four kicks in his FSU career.
Beyond Timmons, the Seminoles' draft picture becomes a bit cloudy.
Tailback Lorenzo Booker, whose speed, elusiveness and ability to catch the ball out of the backfield are premium commodities, could suffer a similar fate to his former teammate, Leon Washington.
"I feel like I'm the most versatile back in the draft," Booker said. "You can put me in the backfield, I can line up in the slot, I can return kicks. That was something I wanted to show because I know in the league, it's all about versatility. Leon proved that last year."
Washington, the one-time Jackson High School star, wasn't selected until the fourth round by the New York Jets in 2006, despite skills than enabled him to be a productive NFL rookie.
Like Washington, Booker was the victim of an offense that ranked among the nation's worst when it came to running the football. Although he gained 616 rushing yards as a senior, he piled up 2,389 on the ground over the course of his career at an average of 4.8 yards per carry and never lost a fumble. Booker also amassed 114 receptions for 995 yards.
Combine and FSU pro day workouts aside, Booker made his strongest case for early inclusion in the draft when he rushed for 91 yards, caught five passes for 117 and scored two touchdowns in his Emerald Bowl MVP performance.
Diminutive inside linebacker Buster Davis, last season's team leader in tackles (109) and a first-team All-ACC performer, likely will go late Saturday or early Sunday.
Offensive tackle Mario Henderson, whose physical measurables compare favorably to former FSU All-American Alex Barron, could be the wild card among potential draftees. Henderson has tested well, and the potential of his 6-61/2, 302-pound frame could be tempting for second-day draft shoppers.
Wide receiver Chris Davis is the only other former Seminole likely to have his name called, although he could end up going the invited free-agent route. Davis, a St. Petersburg native, worked out for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier this week.
bob.thomas@jacksonville.com, (850) 224-7515
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