Three Players Who Began Their College Careers at Florida State Sign Deals With NFL Teams

Three former Seminoles are set to begin their NFL careers.

It wasn't that long ago when quarterback James Blackman, running back Khalan Laborn, and defensive back Jaiden Woody were all on the same team at Florida State. However, injuries, new coaching staffs, roster changes, and other scenarios ended up forcing all three players to finish their respective college careers outside of Tallahassee.

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On Saturday, the years of hard work paid off when all three signed deals with NFL teams as undrafted free agents. Blackman will begin his professional career with the Miami Dolphins, Laborn inked with the San Francisco 49ers, and Woodbey is set to return closer to home with the Los Angeles Rams.

Blackman spent the last two years at Arkansas State where he completed 62.6% of his passes for 3,815 yards with 22 touchdown passes to seven interceptions. He originally signed with Florida State in 2017 under former head coach Jimbo Fisher. Blackman ended up playing for three head coaches and four offensive coordinators while in Tallahassee. He totaled 5,445 passing yards with 43 touchdowns to 26 interceptions with the Seminoles.

Laborn concluded his college career with one of the best seasons in school history at Marshall in 2022. He rushed 302 times for 1,513 yards with 16 touchdowns on the ground while catching 16 passes for 116 yards. It was the most rushing yards in a season by a Thundering Herd running back since 2014. 

The performance was even more impressive when you consider Laborn sat out for two years. He signed with the Seminoles in 2017 as one of the top prospects in his respective class alongside Cam Akers. Laborn redshirted as a true freshman before suffering an injury in the second game of his second year with the program. He rushed 63 times for 297 yards and four touchdowns before being dismissed from the team in the months after head coach Mike Norvell was hired.

Woodbey stuck around in the ACC for two years at Boston College after moving on from the Seminoles. He developed into a back-to-back All-ACC honorable mention with the Eagles, totaling 131 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and five pass deflections. Woodbey famously flipped to Florida State from Ohio State shortly after Willie Taggart was hired. A former five-star prospect, he didn't quite live up to the billing.

The California native recorded 59 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, and seven pass deflections as a true freshman. However, he suffered a knee injury the following year and then saw his role diminish when Norvell arrived in Tallahassee.

There are only a couple of weeks remaining until first-year players report to their NFL teams for Rookie Minicamp. That will be the initial chance for Blackman, Laborn, and Woodbey to begin making an impression.

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