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Football
Florida State tight end Ryan Izzo announced Wednesday that he will be forgoing his senior season to declare for the NFL Draft. With Izzo’s departure and Mavin Saunders transferring to Kansas, the Seminoles will enter 2018 with a dearth of experience at tight end.
Wednesday also brought a new name to FSU’s defensive coordinator search as Michigan State defensive coordinator Harlon Barnett has talked with Willie Taggart about the position.
Source: Florida State has had ongoing conversations with Michigan State assistant HC/co-DC Harlon Barnett about its defensive coordinator position.
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) January 3, 2018
Two coaches that had been reported to have joined Taggart’s staff in Tallahassee were confirmed Wednesday.
.@coach_pimp and @CoachWoodie are officially members of @CoachTaggart's staff!
— FSU Football (@FSUFootball) January 3, 2018
» https://t.co/fT4q09ucba pic.twitter.com/GsqWNjZJVP
Recruiting
A number of Florida State commits, signees and targets will be playing in the Under Armour All-America Game on Thursday in Orlando. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2 at 6 p.m.
A pair of blue-chip 2019 prospects in five-star running back Noah Cain and four-star offensive lineman Dontae Lucas have taken notice of Taggart and his staff being assembled at FSU.
Noah Cain says @coachtaggart is "bringing that swag back" to FSU.
— Tomahawk Nation (@Tomahawknation) January 3, 2018
Star guard Dontae Lucas says he trusts FSU TE coach @TellyLockette because Lockette coached his brother Marquis back at Miami Central.
— Tomahawk Nation (@Tomahawknation) January 3, 2018
Alumni
Former FSU players populate this year’s Pro Football Focus’ All-Pro Team more than any other university’s alumni. Perhaps it’s worth noting in the DBU debate that each of the FSU alumni included plays in the secondary.
Which school was most represented on @PFF's 2017 NFL All-Pro team?
— PFF College Football (@PFF_College) January 3, 2018
That would be Florida State with 3 of the 52 players.https://t.co/sCIQ6iZYme pic.twitter.com/OIX7rlyM69
Cornerback – Jalen Ramsey, Jacksonville Jaguars
PFF Grade: 92.2
Elite Stat: Ramsey ranked 10th in passer rating allowed (63.9) among cornerbacks with at least 325 coverage snaps in 2017.
Jacksonville’s Jalen Ramsey has developed into one of the game’s most fearsome cornerbacks already in just his second year in the league. Ramsey has as much athletic talent as any player in football, and this season we saw him put it all together, with the terrifying prospect that he may not be done developing still hanging over the rest of the league. Ramsey’s overall PFF grade of 92.2 was second only to Hayward over the season for a cornerback, and he saved some of his best performances for the toughest opposition he faced.
Other Sports
The Florida State basketball team won its 28th straight home game over an impressive opponent Wednesday, sneaking out with a one-point win over No. 12 North Carolina.
Hours before the win, head coach Leonard Hamilton was undergoing kidney stone surgery, as reported by Wayne McGahee III of the Tallahassee Democrat. He still coached in the game.