Bradenton native and Southeast High School football standout Peter Warrick was honored at Florida State University on October 31 as part of his selection to the 2026 National Football Foundation (NFF) College Football Hall of Fame.
Warrick, one of the most accomplished athletes to emerge from Manatee County, was recognized during Florida State’s home football game against Clemson. The on-campus salute celebrated his contributions to the Seminoles and his place among college football’s most distinguished players.
Before becoming a national champion at Florida State, Warrick established himself as a multi-sport standout at Southeast High School in Bradenton. He helped lead the Southeast Seminoles to back-to-back state football championships and earned state titles in track and field, building a reputation as one of the area’s most talented athletes.
At Florida State, Warrick became a two-time First Team All-American, earning consensus honors in 1998 and unanimous recognition in 1999. During his collegiate career, the Seminoles compiled a 45-4 record and finished among the nation’s top three teams in four consecutive seasons under legendary coach Bobby Bowden.
Warrick played a pivotal role in Florida State’s 1999 national championship season, which culminated in a victory over Virginia Tech in the 2000 Sugar Bowl. He earned Most Valuable Player honors after scoring a bowl-record 20 points, helping the Seminoles complete the first wire-to-wire No. 1 season in Associated Press poll history.
His selection makes him the 10th Florida State player inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He joins a distinguished group that includes Fred Biletnikoff, Deion Sanders, Charlie Ward, Derrick Brooks and Warrick Dunn.
The NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute program, established in 1951, recognizes newly elected Hall of Fame members at their former universities. Each honoree receives a commemorative plaque that remains on permanent display at the institution.
Warrick is among 18 former players and four coaches selected for the 2026 Hall of Fame class. The group includes Aaron Donald, Marvin Harrison, Mark Ingram, Ndamukong Suh and Eric Weddle.
Selection to the College Football Hall of Fame is among the sport’s highest honors. Including the 2026 class, just 1,129 players have been selected from approximately 5.7 million individuals who have participated in college football over the past 158 years.
Warrick and the other members of the 2026 class will be formally inducted during the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on December 8 at the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
For Manatee County, Warrick’s recognition highlights the lasting legacy of a hometown athlete whose accomplishments began on the fields of Southeast High School and continued through a national championship career at Florida State.
