Rashad Greene was one of the greatest receivers to ever put on the garnet and gold. He led the Seminoles in receiving each of his four seasons in Tallahassee and set the school records for career receiving yards, receptions, and consecutive games with a reception. He finished his career with 43 career starts, 270 catches for 3,830 yards and 29 touchdowns, including his first three career catches going for touchdowns of over 50 yards each. He was selected All-ACC First Team twice ('13,'14) and First Team All-American once in 2014. Now that he has moved on to the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars, let's take a moment to recognize how much of a beast RG80 was by re-living the 10 best plays of his career:
10) vs NIU, 2012 Orange Bowl
In coach Fisher's first BCS Bowl game, the 'Noles offense struggled in the first half but with under 20 seconds left before halftime they are in the redzone. EJ Manuel scrambles before finding Greene in the back right corner of the end zone. Greene skies for the catch and somehow gets his foot down for six. FSU would go on to win 31-10 but needed the touchdown to keep momentum going into halftime. Greene finished with 5 catches for 45 yards and a touchdown.
9) vs Notre Dame, 2014
On third and two in a packed Doak Campbell Stadium, the second-ranked 'Noles were trailing by three early in the 4th quarter. They needed a score to keep up with Golson and the 5th-ranked Irish - Winston and Greene delivered for a 15 yard fade down to the ND 18. Greene went down to the ground to get it over the shoulder. Karlos Williams would later punch it in for six and Greene would account for 8 catches for 108 yards and a touchdown.
8) vs Oklahoma State, 2014
Opening day in Jerry World late in the fourth quarter, Winston splits four defenders across the middle for Greene who spins around and out-sprints the entire Cowboy defense 50 yards for a score that would put the game out of reach. It was the first of many come-from-behind wins for the comeback kids of 2014 and Rashad finished with 11 catches for 203 yards and a touchdown.
7) at Clemson 2014
With just over 6 minutes left facing a second and 24 from their own 26-yard line, Rashad Greene answered backup Sean Maguire's prayer for a 74-yard score. Greene ran under Maguire's bomb and trotted it the rest of the way for the game-tying touchdown. #1 Florida State would hold on in overtime to beat #22 in a sold out Doak. Greene aided Maguire in his first start with 9 receptions for 135 yards and the hail mary touchdown.
vs Notre Dame, 2011 Champs Sports Bowl
Rashad made three plays in this game that are worthy of being on this list. Despite the numbers this was arguably the best game of his career thanks to the three crucial catches he made in FSU's comeback victory.
6) 3rd and 5 towards the end of the third quarter. EJ Manuel throws it over Rashad Greene's shoulder and Greene outstretches for the football and corals it for 33 yard and a first.
5) 2nd and 7 after a Nigel Bradham interception in the beginning of the 4th quarter, Manuel throws it high across the middle where Greene goes up on two defenders and snatches it all while one of the Irish defensive backs pulls of his glove. The score put the 'Noles up four and the Irish wouldn't lead again.
4) Third: 3rd and 6 from their own 39 with just over nine minutes left, Manuel throws it deep down the right sideline for Greene. Falling on his back, juggling it on his chest, Greene corrals it before sliding out of bounds. The catch sets up a game clinching field goal and caps off one of the greatest individual performances in school history for Greene.
Greene finished the game with 5 catches for 99 yards and a touchdown.
3) at Virginia Tech, 2012
The #10 Seminoles trailed by 2 to unranked Virginia Tech on a Thursday night in Blacksburg with under a minute left. Greene catches a short slant and cuts it across the middle. He then out-sprints the entire secondary to the corner of the endzone for the go-ahead score with :40 seconds remaining in the game. Greene finished with 6 catches for 125 yards and 2 touchdowns.
2) vs Oklahoma 2011
In his first career start in front of the biggest crowd Doak Campbell Stadium has ever seen, Clint Trickett throws it to Greene on 3rd and 27. #80 skies for the ball in-between three defenders before hauling it in and out-sprinting the Sooner defense for a touchdown, tying the game vs. top-ranked Oklahoma. Greene finished with 3 catches for 70 yards and a touchdown.
1) Auburn, 2013 National Championship
On second and two, after the Seminoles had already erased a 21-3 first half deficit, the 'Noles are down just one score. Jameis Winston throws it out to Greene who turns to meet the ball before splitting two defenders and starting a foot race for the end zone. Greene makes it down to the Auburn 23-yard line before being tackled from behind. The play sets the Seminoles up in perfect position to score and they do so a few plays later, leading to Florida State's first national championship in over a decade.
Rashad Greene was, in my opinion, the best receiver to ever play at Florida State. I am biased as I was not old enough to see Peter Warrick play, but what he did for this football team over the course of his four year career not only as a consistent target but also as someone who can change the game on every touch, puts him at the top. Greene was a great leader for the Seminoles and we are certainly going to miss him in Tallahassee.
~It should also be noted that Sean and I took a selfie with Rashad and Kelvin Benjamin after a game in 2013 and here it is:
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