FSU and FAMU Sports Update

FSU

Football

At the end of signing day FSU sits at 15/16/19 in the rivals/247sports/espn recruiting rankings. The Seminoles closed out the signing period with 5 more commitments. Those commitments are OL Ira Henry, K Ryan Fitzgerald, DB Travis Jay, OL Darius Washington and DL Quashon Fuller. Four-star safety Nick Cross has yet to sign in is still deciding between Florida State, Penn State and Maryland.

The Seminoles did very well in the defensive secondary and got what they needed for the rest of the defense. With so many skilled position players on the team already they do not need to get a whole lot on that side of the ball.

Offensive line and quarterback were the main needs for this class. Taggart and the staff did just enough on the offensive line getting 4 high school players, a graduate transfer and a junior college player. The biggest disappointment was at quarterback where FSU failed to bring in a high school quarterback for the 2nd recruiting cycle in a row. Former starter Deondre Francois was also removed from the team due to a domestic dispute.

FSU did get Jordan Travis, a former three-star from Louisville, via a transfer. His status for the season is still up in the air as he waits to see if the NCAA will give him a hardship waiver to make him eligible for the season. If this does not work Nolan McDonald, another former three-star who walked on last season is also on the team. As of now, James Blackman is the only scholarship quarterback that is eligible to play in 2019. There are a few graduates left in the transfer portal that the staff can go after.

Basketball

Over the weekend the Seminoles scratched out a victory in a defensive battle with Georgia Tech. The FSU offense came to a halt after a Phil Cofer basket with 5:40 to go in the game. The defense, however, played just as well as Georgia Tech’s defense the rest of the way to give help the Seminoles the 59-49 win.

On Tuesday night the Garnet and Gold traveled to Syracuse to take on the Orange. The visitors started out red-hot from 3-point land hitting 7 of the first 9 shots from distance. The defense was also able to turn long rebounds and steals into fast-break baskets to extend the lead to 22 in the first half. Things started to even out after that, as Syracuse was able to get the FSU lead down to one midway through the second half. This comeback seemed to wear down the Orange as Hamilton got his team regrouped with a timeout. Terrence Mann (22 points and 9 rebounds) and the Seminoles went on another big run defeating Syracuse 80-62 in the Carrier Dome.

FSU is now 17-5 overall and 5-4 in ACC and sit at no. 22 in the AP poll. The next game is at home versus no. 16 Louisville at 4 PM Saturday on ESPN2.

Women’s Basketball

On Sunday the Seminoles had 5 players have double-digit scoring games as they cruised to a 85-61 win versus Wake Forest. Last night in the Tucker Center FSU faced off against number 8 North Carolina State. The lady Seminoles used a great game from its guards to help give the home team the 75-70 victory. Nikki Ekhomu scored 20 points and had a team-high six assists versus the Wolfpack. Nausia Woolfolk was 5/10 from beyond the arc to fuel her to a 22-point performance.

FSU is now 20-3 on the season with a 8-2 record in the ACC. The 24th-ranked ‘Noles will head to South Bend, IN to take on no. 4 Notre Dame at noon on Sunday.

Softball

The defending national champs open their season against UNC Wilmington on Friday at 3 PM at the softball complex. The Seminoles will play 4 more games this weekend versus Iowa State (twice), UNC Greensboro and UNC Wilmington, again.  Ace pitcher Meghan King will be in the circle for first pitch. The number one-ranked ‘Noles return every hitter with experience from last year except for Jessie Warren and Morgan Klaevemann. Most experts expect FSU to make another run at the WCWS and the national championship.

Tennis

Last Friday the 22nd-ranked men’s tennis team fell to Florida dropping their record to 8-2 on the season. The Seminoles will look to snap a two-game losing streak against Auburn in Tallahassee tonight at 5:30 PM. The ladies will resume action Saturday at home versus Florida Gulf Coast.

FAMU

Football

The Rattlers continued the momentum they built on the field in 2018 and brought it into the 2019 recruiting class. Coach Willie Simmons and staff signed one of the better classes in the MEAC. The Orange and Green brought in local players such as Javan Morgan (Florida High), Jolan Gilley (Florida High), Donovan Mobley (Leon) and Kamari Young (Godby). It looks like FAMU found its quarterback of the future in Cameron Sapp from Jacksonville.

Men’s basketball

The Rattlers pushed their winning streak to five games with two dominating home wins over North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central. Justin Ravenel is still playing great basketball as he scored 36 points in the last two games. Kamron Reaves chipped in 32 points in the two games as well. FAMU is now 10-14 overall and 7-2 in the conference which is good for 2nd place. The next game is in the Lawson Center, Saturday at 4 PM versus Howard.

Women’s basketball

The ladies did not fare as well as the men as they lost both games to North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central falling to 1-8 in the MEAC. The next game is at home versus Howard at 2 PM on Saturday.

Softball

The lady Rattlers open the season against Missouri State in the Sand Dollar Classic in Gulf Shores, AL. During the course of the weekend FAMU will also play Western Kentucky, Louisiana Tech, Auburn and Tennessee State.

Baseball previews coming next week

Next Friday the Seminoles and the Rattlers kickoff the baseball season. The Seminoles start off Mike Martin’s 40th and final season at the helm against Maine at 4 PM at Dick Howser Stadium. The Rattlers will be in New Orleans at the Andre Dawson Classic to play the Southern Jaguars.