Signing Day Preview: Defense

Seminoles.com Senior Writer Brandon Mellor breaks down FSU's returning defensive players and looks at the 'Noles' needs on the defensive line, at linebacker and in the secondary heading into National Signing Day 2012.

01/09/2012

Rhodes Traction

Touted cornerback Xavier Rhodes will stay the course, return for 2012 season

01/05/2012

4 Downs: A Look Back At 2011

The Seminoles.com crew reflects on Florida State's football season and answers four questions in this second edition of 4 Downs.

01/03/2012

Column: Time To Take Back ACC

The end-goal is a national championship. But before Florida State can return to college-football glory, it has to reclaim its spot atop the Atlantic Coast Conference first, writes Brandon Mellor.

12/29/2011

Green(e) 'Noles Knock Off ND

Rookie Rashad Greene scores the go-ahead touchdown and the freshmen-heavy FSU football team scores 18 unanswered points to beat Notre Dame, 18-14, in the Champs Sports Bowl.

12/29/2011

Florida State vs. Notre Dame

Champs Sports Bowl

10/29/2011

Florida State vs. NC State

Florida State vs. NC State - AP Photo Gallery

2011 OUTLOOK
Coming off one of the best seasons by a freshman at Florida State. Big, physical corner at 6-2 who possesses speed and the ability to change direction on a dime as well as outstanding hands and ball skills. Has a chance to be one of the most dominant corners in the country. Will be part of one of the top cornerback tandems in the country with Greg Reid. Has garnered preseason All-ACC honors as a corner by several publications. One of four Seminoles to make the Bednarik Award list of 65 preseason candidates for the trophy presented to the nation's most outstanding defensive player by the Maxwell Football Club. Also one of 82 players named to the preseason list of Nagurski candidates, who are also contending for the nation's most outstanding defensive player award presented by the Charlotte Touchdown Club. Also a candidate for the Jim Thorpe Award given to the nation's top defensive back.

2010
Redshirt freshman who started all 14 games at the boundary cornerback position and emerged as a promising young star for FSU's vastly improved defense...a consensus Freshman All-American, Rhodes was voted the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year...also earned National Defensive Freshman of the Year honors from Collegefootballnews.com...tall and rangy, he used those physical attributes to record 12 pass breakups and four interceptions, good for a share of the team lead...his pass breakups and 16 passes defended led all freshmen nationally...credited with three pass breakups in pivotal Atlantic Division wins over Boston College and Clemson...also intercepted a pass in the end zone against the Tigers which proved to swing the momentum in the Seminoles' 16-13 victory...previous interceptions came against BYU and NC State...a sure tackler, the Miami native ranked seventh on the team with 58 stops and his 49 solo tackles ranked fourth...Rhodes' ability to play close to the line of scrimmage in coverage enabled him to collect 3.5 tackles for loss on the season and two sacks...recovered the first two fumbles of his career in FSU's home finale against Florida in a 31-7 rout...named one of the top newcomers on defense at the annual Florida State football banquet.

2009
Appeared in two games - Boston College and Georgia Tech - on special teams before suffering a hand injury that sidelined him for the balance of the season.

PERSONAL
Excelled on both sides of the football in high school...led Miami Norland in both rushing and receiving as a senior, earned Miami Herald All-Dade honors as an all-purpose back...also earned All-Dade honors on the defensive side of the ball...played in the 12th annual Nike South Florida All-Star game...as a junior recorded more than 1,000 all-purpose yards...chose FSU over offers from West Virginia, Auburn and FIU...born June 19, 1990.

Defense

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