Bjoern Werner couldn’t help but make a joke about it.
“I’m a German All-American,” Werner said with a smile. “How awesome is that?”
Despite constant double-teams, Werner had one of the finest seasons ever by a Florida State pass rusher. The junior defensive end was named a first-team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America, giving him unanimous status as a selection by the five major groups of voters (including the American Football Coaches Association, Associated Press, Walter Camp and Sporting News).
Werner led the ACC with 13 sacks and was second in the conference with 18 tackles for loss. His 13 sacks put him in a tie for second nationally with South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney (Anthony Barr of UCLA had 13.5). Werner also had 40 tackles and broke up seven passes.
It is the third straight year that FSU has had at least a consensus All-American. Punter Shawn Powell was a consensus pick in 2011, and guard Rodney Hudson was a unanimous pick in 2010. Werner is the first unanimous All-American on the Seminoles’ defense since end Jamal Reynolds in 2000.
“Getting these honors is just amazing, especially where I come from,” said the Berlin-born Werner, who played three years of club football with Berlin Adler in Germany and two years of high school football in Salisbury, Conn.
Werner said he has decided whether he will return to FSU for his senior season or enter the NFL Draft early. But he’s not telling now, at least not until the Seminoles finish the season Jan. 1 against Northern Illinois in the Orange Bowl.
Fisher's hint: FSU coach Jimbo Fisher smiled when asked if he was close to hiring a defensive coordinator. He said he would announce the hire at the appropriate time. "I'm exactly where I want to be right now," Fisher said. "We're in good shape. We're in real good shape."
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