Early County football player inducted into FSU Seminole Hall of Fame

tay_cody_fsu_HOF — Tay Cody, center, of Blakely, Ga., was inducted in the Florida State Seminoles' Hall of Fame as part of its 2015 class during halftime of the game between Florida State and Texas State at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee on September 5.

Tay Cody, center, of Blakely, Ga., was inducted in the Florida State Seminoles' Hall of Fame as part of its 2015 class during halftime of the game between Florida State and Texas State at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee on September 5. — Tay Cody, center, of Blakely, Ga., was inducted in the Florida State Seminoles’ Hall of Fame as part of its 2015 class during halftime of the game between Florida State and Texas State at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee on September 5.

Tay Cody of Blakely, Ga., was honored on-field at Florida State University’s football game with Texas State this past Saturday in Tallahassee, Fla.

Tay Cody was born in Colquitt, Ga., and graduated from Early County High School. He played defensive back for Florida State from 1997-2000 and had a stellar college football career, including being named an All-American player after his senior year. He played three years in the NFL for the San Diego Chargers and played three more years with the Canadian Football League.

After his playing career ended, Cody coached football at Bay High School in Panama City, Florida until 2012. He was the defensive coordinator and defensive-backs coach.

Tay Cody

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Football (1997-00)

Coronta “Tay” Cody came to FSU in 1997 from Blakely, Georgia and etched his name as one of the all-time greats at one of FSU football’s most glamorous positions – cornerback.

Cody was a four-year lettermen from 1997-2000 and a three-year starter as one of Coach Mickey Andrew’s top defensive backs. He saw enough playing time as a rookie to earn First Team Freshman All-America honors from The Sporting News in 1997. He started as a sophomore on the 1988 FSU defense that led the nation in passing defense and earned second team All-ACC.

Cody anchored the secondary for the Seminoles as a junior over the legendary 1999 season in which FSU went wire-to-wire as the nation’s No. 1 team and won the school’s second national championship. And he followed that with a breakout senior season in 2000 that included six interceptions, 12 passes broken up, two caused fumbles and 82 tackles. He was named an NCAA Consensus All-American following the season.

Widely regarded as one of the finest tacklers in FSU history, Cody was selected in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft by San Diego and spent three seasons with the Chargers and another three in the CFL.