Seminoles’ Izzo leaves, enters NFL draft pool
Florida State tight end Ryan Izzo is declaring for the 2018 NFL draft, the school announced on Wednesday.
Izzo, a redshirt junior who was ranked as a Top 5 tight end prospect by ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay, finishes his FSU career with 54 catches for 1,012 yards with six touchdowns. He had 20 receptions for 317 yards with 3 touchdowns this season for the Seminoles.
“After lots of thought and careful consideration, I have decided to forgo my senior season and chase my dream of playing in the NFL,” Izzo said in a statement released by the school.
“I would like to thank Coach Jimbo [Fisher] and Coach [Tim] Brewster for giving me the opportunity to be a Seminole. I would also like to thank God for all his blessings, and my family and friends for all their love and support. Lastly, thank you to Nole Nation for all of your non-stop support. We have the best fans in the country, period! Florida State gave me an amazing four years and I will forever be Nole-Blooded!!!”
Izzo brought considerable leadership to the offenses during his four seasons as part of the team.
Now the Seminoles will turn to several inexperienced options at the tight end position under new coach Willie Taggart. True freshman Tre’ McKitty (6-5, 237) played in 12 games this season with just one reception while sophomore Naseir “Pop” Upshur (6-2, 243) played in 13 games this season. Both players saw action exclusively on special teams this season.
True freshman Alexander Marshall (6-8, 233) will likely redshirt after suffering a hand injury earlier this season.
“Couldn’t [have] asked for a better leader to follow after for the past 2 years. Good luck big bro @IzzoRyan,” Upshur posted on his Twitter account.
“@IzzoRyan Gained a brother this past year, you taught me so much,” McKitty posted. “Love you bro always, go get that bag. Time to pass the torch, we gon hold it down from here believe that.”
Mullen adds to staff
Dan Mullen continued to fill out his staff by hiring Greg Knox and Sal Sunseri — two veteran coaches with extensive SEC experience.
Knox coached the past nine seasons under Mullen at Mississippi State and stepped in as interim coach to lead the Bulldogs to a win against Louisville during last Saturday’s TaxSlayer Bowl.
Knox, 54, coached running backs at Mississippi State and also handled duties the past four seasons as special-teams coordinator. A native of Rosebud, Texas, Knox has more than 20 years of combined SEC coaching experience at Ole Miss, Auburn, and Mississippi State.
A consensus All-America linebacker as a senior at Pittsburgh in 1981, Sunseri spent five seasons coaching in the SEC, including four under Nick Saban at LSU (2000) and Alabama (2009-11).
Sunseri, 58, also coached 10 seasons in the NFL, including the past three with the defensive line for the Oakland Raiders. Prior to that, he spent two years at Florida State (2013-14) after a oneyear stint as Tennessee’s defensive coordinator in 2012.