TALLAHASSEE – Ten Florida State football players earned a spot on the All-ACC Academic Team Tuesday, led by two-time honorees Dillan Gibbons and Ryan Fitzgerald. Joining that pair are tight ends Brian Courtney and Preston Daniel; wide receiver Ja’Khi Douglas; offensive lineman D’Mitri Emmanuel; defensive lineman Joshua Farmer; defensive backs Kevin Knowles II and Azareye’h Thomas; and long snapper James Rosenberry Jr.
Minimum academic requirements for selection to the All-ACC Academic Team are a 3.0 grade point average for the previous semester and a 3.0 cumulative average during one’s academic career. Athletic achievements – including playing in at least 50 percent of a teams games – during the most recent season are also considered in selecting the All-ACC Academic Team.
Gibbons, the ACC’s Jim Tatum Award winner as the top senior scholar-athlete and a first-team All-ACC selection, was also named the 2022 Wuerffel Trophy winner and the captain of the Allstate Good Works Team for his community service over his two seasons in Tallahassee. Gibbons is studying for his Masters in Business Administration.
Fitzgerald, an accounting and risk management insurance dual major, led FSU with 93 points scored and ranks 19th in school history with 184 career points. His 32-yard field goal with 55 seconds remaining provided the final margin of victory in FSU’s 35-32 win in the Cheez-It Bowl against Oklahoma, securing the 25th 10-win season in program history.
Courtney, a marketing major, and Daniel, a finance major, combined for 25 appearances and four catches on the year. Daniel scored the opening touchdown in FSU’s win at Louisville, while Courtney caught his first collegiate pass at Miami and snagged a two-point conversion pass in the Cheez-It Bowl for his first career points.
Douglas, a sport management major, caught 10 passes in seven games, for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Douglas caught a touchdown in his first game of the season against No. 4 Clemson and scored again the following week against Georgia Tech. Douglas also had a team-high 43 receiving yards in FSU’s 38-3 win at Syracuse.
Emmanuel, a social science major, started all 13 games at right guard on an offense that led the ACC in yards per play, total offense, yards per rush, rush yards per game, pass yards per completion and scoring offense. Emmanuel was a third-team All-ACC selection and was the league’s Offensive Lineman of the Week after FSU’s 41-16 win vs. Georgia Tech.
Farmer, a social science major, was an honorable mention freshman All-American after leading all ACC freshmen with 6.0 tackles for loss (tied with teammate and ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year Patrick Payton). Farmer recorded his first career sack against Wake Forest and had 1.0 TFL in six different games. Farmer played all 13 games and finished with 15 tackles and 2.0 sacks.
Knowles, a social science major, started 11 games and has appeared in all 25 games over his two years at FSU. Knowles had 24 tackles, two pass breakups and the game-winning interception at Louisville with less than a minute remaining in the game.
Thomas, a communication major, tallied 14 tackles over 11 games. He added 2.0 tackles for loss – all against Boston College – and secured his first career interception in FSU’s 45-3 win at Miami, the largest win by a road team in series history. Thomas also had a pivotal pass breakup in the Cheez-It Bowl victory against Oklahoma.
Rosenberry is working towards his Masters in Business Administration while serving as the Seminoles’ long snapper. Rosenberry played in all 13 games in 2022 and had a tackle in the victory over Florida.
Florida State’s 10 representatives on the All-ACC Academic Team are the most in program history. Gibbons and Fitzgerald are the 19th and 20th Noles to earn the honor multiple times.
