FSU WR Travis Rudolph will enter NFL draft

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State junior Travis Rudolph will forego his remaining eligibility and declare for the 2017 National Football League Draft, the wide receiver announced Friday. Rudolph leaves Florida State ranked in the school’s Top 10 in career receptions (7th, 153) and receiving yards (8th, 2,311) while also ranking in the Top 5 for single game receptions (5th, 13) and yards (4th, 238).

“After carefully considering my options with my family, I have decided that it would be in my best interest to enter the 2017 NFL Draft,” Rudolph said. “This was a very difficult decision and one that I didn’t take lightly. It has truly been an honor to wear the Garnet and Gold.”

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In 2016, the West Palm Beach native led the Seminoles for a second-straight season in receiving, finishing with 840 yards on 56 catches and seven touchdowns. Rudolph became the third Nole receiver under head coach Jimbo Fisher to record a touchdown in four straight games to end the regular season and averaged 31.1 yards on his 18 career touchdown catches.

Rudolph leaves Florida State as one of only three receivers in school history (Ron Sellers and Craphonso Thorpe) to record multiple 200-yard receiving games. Against Houston in the 2015 Peach Bowl, Rudolph set an FSU bowl record with 201 receiving yards on seven catches, including a 65-yard touchdown. Against Wake Forest in 2016, Rudolph had 13 catches (fifth in school history) for 238 yards (fourth), the most yards for an FSU receiver since Peter Warrick had 249 against Clemson in 1997.

Also in 2016, Rudolph was honored with the Musial Award for Extraordinary Sportsmanship for his friendship with Tallahassee middle schooler Bo Paske. Rudolph met Paske during a community outreach visit with teammates before the season, and a photo of the two eating lunch in the school cafeteria led to a season-long bond between Paske, his mother Leah and the Florida State football program.

Rudolph finishes his FSU career ranked seventh in receptions with 153, including at least one in each of his final 31 games. His 2,311 receiving yards rank eighth in FSU history. Rudolph was a second team All-ACC selection by both the media and coaches in 2015 and 2016

“After carefully considering my options with my family, I have decided that it would be in my best interest to enter the 2017 NFL Draft. This was a very difficult decision and one that I didn’t take lightly. It has truly been an honor to wear the Garnet and Gold.  I would like to thank my teammates for always supporting me, encouraging me and holding me accountable. I would like to thank Coach Fisher and Coach Dawsey for the way they developed me as a player, but most importantly, as a person. I also want to thank the football support staff, academic staff, and student-development for all the hard work they put in to make me an all-around better person in the classroom as well as in the community.

 

“To the fans, I can’t thank you enough for the support throughout my three-year tenure here at FSU - I am forever grateful for you all. I am and will always be proud to be a Seminole!”