Rudolph surprises, leaves FSU early for NFL
TALLAHASSEE — Florida State wide receiver is heading to the NFL.
Rudolph, who finished his junior season leading the Seminoles in receiving, will forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft.
Rudolph’s decision is a relative surprise for the Florida State offense, as he was expected to continue leading a young receiving group for the Seminoles in 2017.
Instead, Rudolph will hope his performances in FSU’s pro day and other workouts can boost his stock for April’s NFL draft. Rudolph is projected to be a mid-round pick.
“He’s been blessed with good health, and that played into the decision a little bit,” Rudolph’s former high school coach said.
“At some point he’ll get an injury, and he thought he didn’t want it to happen in his senior season.
“I don’t think he envisions he’ll be the No.1player picked or No. 1 receiver picked, but he’ll be in the discussion in the top part of the draft.”
Rudolph made national headlines this season for his actions off the football field, sitting down to have lunch with an autistic Tallahassee middle school student whom Rudolph noticed was sitting by himself in an otherwise crowded cafeteria. Paske’s mother posted about the encounter on social media, thanking Rudolph for her helping her son avoid eating lunch alone. The post went viral and the Paskes joined Rudolph for national TV interviews.
With 56 receptions for 840 yards and seven touchdowns, Rudolph was a prime target in the FSU passing game for first-year back
Rudolph finished his career as a top 10 receiver in school history, with 153 receptions (seventh) and 2,311 yards receiving (eighth). His 18 touchdowns are tied for 13th on FSU’s all-time list.
Walsh said Rudolph felt like he did enough at Florida State and could make an impact in the NFL.
“What I know about him: he’s going to get with a team, he’s going to grind, and be dependable, reliable and trustworthy,” Walsh said.
Rudolph’s departure, along with seniors
(34 catches season) and (30) leaving the team, gives the Seminoles five scholarship receivers on the roster.
FSU will depend on Orlando native
who finished with 27 catches for 441yards with five starting quarter- this touchdowns, sophomore who had 25 catches for 409 yards with six touchdowns. Sophomore sophomore and freshman
are also expected to make major contributions next season.
FSU has one receiver, fourstar prospect and longtime commit expected to enroll this summer. and fellow USF quarterback Quinton
named the College Football Performance Awards National Performer of the Year.
The official award website states “recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams.”
Previous national performer of the year winners include and
Flowers set school season records for total offense (4,342 yards), rushing yards (1,530), rushing touchdowns (18), total touchdowns (42) and 300-total-yard games (nine).