Johnson and Robinson lead group of eight Florida State All-ACC football selections
Florida State hit the transfer portal hard a year ago in order to fortify some of its deficiencies.
Two of those transfers who made major impacts this past season, defensive end Jermaine Johnson and defensive back Jammie Robinson, each earned first team All-ACC honors as the teams were released by the conference on Tuesday morning.
Johnson and Robinson highlighted a group of eight Seminoles overall who earned spots throughout the team, giving FSU its highest number of selections since 2016.
Defensive end Keir Thomas and running back Jashaun Corbin earned third team honors while offensive linemen Dillan Gibbons and Devontay Love-Taylor, and defensive tackles Fabien Lovett and Robert Cooper earned honorable mention.
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With the exception of Cooper, all the other selections were players who transferred to FSU from other colleges.
Johnson, an All-American candidate after finishing with 18 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in his lone season at FSU after transferring from Georgia, had the most votes of any player on the team with 189 points.
In addition to earning first team All-ACC honors, Johnson was named Pro Football Focus’ ACC Defensive Player of the Year and is a semifinalist for the Lombardi and Bednarik Awards as well as a midseason All-American by CBS Sports.
Johnson’s sack and tackles for loss totals were the most by an FSU defender since DeMarcus Walker had 16 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss when he earned ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2016.
Entering conference championship weekend, Johnson leads all Power 5 defensive linemen in tackles (70) and ranks in the top 6 nationally in sacks and tackles for loss. Johnson was a four-time ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week, the most such honors in 2021 for any defensive player. He was also the only Power 5 player this season to record multiple games with three sacks and four tackles for loss.
Among his most meaningful highlights were a strip-sack fumble that he recovered and returned for a go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter at Clemson. Johnson also had three sacks and five tackles for loss in FSU’s 31-28 win over Miami. No player in the 66-game history of the FSU-Miami rivalry had more tackles for loss and that total was the most in a game for a Seminole since 2012.
“I feel like I was just at JUCO and now I’ve played my last college game,” Johnson said after last Saturday’s loss to Florida. “There were tons of times I could have been done with football. By the grace of God he kept me strong and got me to Florida State and I love it. I’ll love Florida State for the rest of my life.”
Robinson, who led FSU with 84 tackles and four interceptions, earned the most votes for any safety in the league. Robinson earned ACC Defensive Back of the Week honors last week after totaling 18 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and an interception against the Gators.
Thomas, who transferred from South Carolina as did Robinson, lined up opposite Johnson and finished with 42 tackles including 12 for loss, 6.5 sacks and a team-high 15 quarterback hurries. Thomas earned ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors twice as well.
Corbin led FSU’s rushing attack with 887 yards and seven rushing touchdowns and joined Dalvin Cook, Chris Thompson and Sammie Smith as the only FSU backs with multiple 75-yard touchdown runs in a season.
Gibbons, a Notre Dame transfer, started 11 of 12 games at left guard and was the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week after FSU’s win at North Carolina. Love-Taylor made 10 starts at right guard. Lovett combined for 67 tackles including nine for loss and two sacks.
FSU volleyball
Florida State Volleyball capped its regular season with five All-ACC award winners on Monday afternoon, announced by the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Junior middle blocker Emma Clothier earned All-ACC First Team honors for the second consecutive season. Redshirt junior outside hitter Morgan Chacon was selected to the All-ACC Second Team for the second straight year as well.
Three Seminole freshmen in libero Emery Dupes, outside hitter Audrey Koenig and middle blocker Khori Louis, a former Florida High player, were named to the nine-member ACC All-Freshman Team.
FSU soccer
The Florida State soccer team placed four players on the United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region Frist Team.
Jaelin Howell, Beata Olsson, Emily Madril and Yujie Zhao were all named to the first team. The Seminoles lead the Atlantic Region with four selections to the first team.
Howell and Zhao were named to the All-Region Team for the fourth consecutive season, Madril earned the honor for the second straight year and Olsson was named to the All-Region team for the first time.
Reach Andre Fernandez at afernandez@tallahassee.com or follow him on Twitter @FernandezAndreC.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Eight Florida State Seminoles earn All-ACC football selections
