We continue our Seminole Madness tournament in the Defensive Playmakers bracket. You get one vote in the poll above that will stay open for 24 hours. You can also vote on Warchant's Twitter account (subscribers get two votes).
* Note: Whoever makes the best argument for a player will win a $25 eCard to Garnet & Gold (one winner per day). First 10 winners - Noleway85, BoNoles, JayColle, PlanoNole2, fsubuck, dougadee68, snapper-zapper, Noleway85, warchant99, seminoleken
Here are the bios for this matchup:
No. 7 seed Paul McGowan vs. No. 10 seed Lamarcus Joyner
Paul McGowan enjoyed one of the most dominant three-year stretches at linebacker that Florida State football has ever witnessed. After playing primarily as a freshman backup in 1984, McGowan leaped into the spotlight as a sophomore and led the Seminoles in tackles during each of his final three seasons. He grabbed national attention by racking up 14 stops against Nebraska as a sophomore, and he would go on to be widely recognized as the best linebacker in college football. When he won the Butkus Award in 1987, he became the first FSU football player to claim a national individual award. McGowan racked up 150 tackles that season, which ranks seventh in the Seminole record book. He ranks third in school history with 446 career tackles.
Lamarcus Joyner was one of the first marquee signees for head coach Jimbo Fisher in 2010, and he played a major role in turning around the Seminoles' struggling program. Joyner started at safety and later cornerback during his final three seasons at FSU, and he also was a standout kick returner. It was during FSU's national championship season in 2013 that Joyner really was exposed to the national spotlight. He led all DBs in the country that season with 5.5 sacks and delivered a breathtaking performance in the Seminoles' blowout victory at Clemson. In front of a national prime-time audience, Joyner recorded eight tackles, a sack and an interception; he also forced two fumbles. Joyner went on to be a Unanimous All-American that season.
* Note: Whoever makes the best argument for a player will win a $25 eCard to Garnet & Gold (one winner per day). First 10 winners - Noleway85, BoNoles, JayColle, PlanoNole2, fsubuck, dougadee68, snapper-zapper, Noleway85, warchant99, seminoleken
Here are the bios for this matchup:
No. 7 seed Paul McGowan vs. No. 10 seed Lamarcus Joyner
Paul McGowan enjoyed one of the most dominant three-year stretches at linebacker that Florida State football has ever witnessed. After playing primarily as a freshman backup in 1984, McGowan leaped into the spotlight as a sophomore and led the Seminoles in tackles during each of his final three seasons. He grabbed national attention by racking up 14 stops against Nebraska as a sophomore, and he would go on to be widely recognized as the best linebacker in college football. When he won the Butkus Award in 1987, he became the first FSU football player to claim a national individual award. McGowan racked up 150 tackles that season, which ranks seventh in the Seminole record book. He ranks third in school history with 446 career tackles.
Lamarcus Joyner was one of the first marquee signees for head coach Jimbo Fisher in 2010, and he played a major role in turning around the Seminoles' struggling program. Joyner started at safety and later cornerback during his final three seasons at FSU, and he also was a standout kick returner. It was during FSU's national championship season in 2013 that Joyner really was exposed to the national spotlight. He led all DBs in the country that season with 5.5 sacks and delivered a breathtaking performance in the Seminoles' blowout victory at Clemson. In front of a national prime-time audience, Joyner recorded eight tackles, a sack and an interception; he also forced two fumbles. Joyner went on to be a Unanimous All-American that season.
