Asante Samuel, Jr.

Started all eight games in which he appeared and recorded 31 tackles, including 1.0 for loss, three interceptions, six pass breakups, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries…first-team All-ACC selection…third Seminole since 2000 with at least three interceptions and two fumble recoveries in a season…ranked third in ACC and 12th nationally in fumble recoveries and ranked fourth in ACC in interceptions…was second FBS player since 2000, and first since 2003, to have three interceptions and two fumble recoveries in team’s first four games…grabbed career-high two interceptions and also had six tackles and two pass breakups in season opener vs. Georgia Tech…earned ACC Defensive Back of the Week honors for his performance…recorded career-high nine tackles and one interception in 41-24 win vs. Jacksonville State…made two solo tackles and recovered one fumble at No. 12 Miami…recorded four solo tackles, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup at No. 5 Notre Dame…registered five tackles and two pass breakups in 31-28 victory vs. No. 5 North Carolina…made one solo stop at Louisville…recorded three solo tackles, 1.0 for loss, one forced fumble and one pass breakup vs. Pitt…made one tackle at North Carolina State.

Started all 12 games in which he has appeared and recorded 48 tackles, including 1.0 for loss, one interception and 14 pass breakups…third-team All-ACC…pass breakups total led ACC and tied for eighth in NCAA…only Power 5 defender with 14 pass breakups and more than 45 tackles…recorded career-high eight tackles and first career interception at No. 25 Virginia…tied career-best tackles total and added one pass breakup at No. 2 Clemson…opened season with three tackles and one pass breakup vs. Boise State…had solo stop and two pass breakups in 45-44 win vs. ULM…made two solo tackles in 35-24 victory vs. Louisville…recorded six tackles and two pass breakups in 31-13 win vs. North Carolina State…registered four solo tackles and two pass breakups at Wake Forest…made three tackles and one pass breakup in 35-17 win vs. Syracuse…recorded five tackles, including 1.0 for loss, and one pass breakup vs. Miami…made five tackles in 38-31 victory at Boston College…registered two solo tackles and two pass breakups at No. 8 Florida…recorded one solo tackle and two pass breakups in Sun Bowl vs. Arizona State.

Appeared in all 12 games and started three of final four games…recorded 17 tackles, including 1.0 for loss, and nine pass breakups…pass breakups total led Seminoles and tied for third among ACC freshmen…five pass breakups against ranked opponents were most among ACC freshmen and tied for fourth overall in conference…made season-high four tackles at North Carolina State in first career start…registered season-best three pass breakups and had one solo tackle vs. No. 2 Clemson…made one solo tackle in 36-26 win vs. Samford…had two tackles at Syracuse…credited with one pass breakup in 37-19 win vs. Northern Illinois…had solo tackle in 28-24 victory at Louisville…recorded two solo tackles and one pass breakup at No. 17 Miami…registered two pass breakups and one solo tackle in 38-17 win vs. Wake Forest…had one pass breakup at No. 3 Notre Dame…made three tackles, 1.0 for loss, in 22-21 victory vs. No. 22 Boston College…ended season with two solo tackles and one pass breakup vs. No. 13 Florida.

Outstanding cornerback ranked No. 25 overall by ESPN and a consensus four-star recruit … named an Under Armour All-American … helped led St. Thomas Aquinas to 7A state titles as a sophomore and junior and the state semifinals in 2017 … earned first-team all-state honors as senior … blocked a field goal in his final high school game against Venice … finished 2017 with 32 tackles, one interception, two blocked field goals and two blocked PATs … named the fourth-best prospect in recruit-heavy Brevard County prior to his senior season … participated in The Opening finals … attended same high school as recent Florida State standouts Lamarcus Joyner and Rashad Greene … father is Asante Samuel, who played at UCF and spent 11 years in the NFL with the Patriots, Eagles, and Falcons … chose Florida State over numerous offers, including Miami, Alabama, LSU and Ohio State.