Noles News: Alex Mastromanno named preseason first-team All-American

Recruiting

Football

With just nine days left until Florida State’s season opener vs. the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, we’re finally in the single-digit stretch of our countdown to football. The Seminoles, nearly ready to ship off to Ireland, are in the final stretch of fall camp:

On Wednesday, Mike Norvell and the FSU coaching staff pressed pause on Georgia Tech and designed a shorter day with special teams being the focus. The Seminoles went through two quick team periods, one at the beginning and one at the end of practice, and did every special team situation imaginable in between.

Led by special teams coordinator John Papuchis, kick and punt return reigned supreme on the indoor and outdoor practice fields. Common phrases such as “speed” and “see the ball off the tee, no penalties” were as easily heard as the construction happening adjacently. While not one of the main position battles, multiple players are jocking for position to open the season as the deep man, including Jaylin Lucas, Malik Benson, and Deuce Spann, who Coach JP highlighted after practice. When the team reconvened, Norvell tested his group about onside kicks and how to attack different kick-off formations. For the neutral, today could be dull and slow, but the special teams’ success resulted in games turning on their head last season (Deuce Spann vs. Duke) and could be the difference in wins or losses in 2024 with finer margins this year. After practice, Coach JP discussed how Norvell’s devotion to special teams helps the unit grow.

“I think the head coach’s investment is probably the most critical part in establishing a culture of special teams. Because, from the top down of any organization, what the leader puts a priority on is usually going to be reflected in the work.”

During the team periods, brothers Jaylin Lucas and Ja’Khi Douglas snared receptions that pushed the ball downfield, including a back-shoulder deep ball caught by Douglas on a slot fade from DJ Uiagalelei over Earl Little Jr. These two will be integral parts of the passing offense this season and should be Uiagelelei’s get-out-of-jail-free card option when plays break down. After practice, Lucas touched on what these eight months have been like being on the same team as his brother.

“I’m just very excited to be a part of this, and I thank Coach Norvell for taking me in and giving me this opportunity each and every day.”

Florida State punter Alex Mastromanno was named a preseason first-team All-American on Wednesday, with the honors coming via Sporting News:

The Melbourne, Australia, native was previously named a preseason All-American by Walter Camp and Athlon, made the preseason All-ACC team and is on the Ray Guy Award Watch List.

Mastromanno was a second-team All-American in 2023, averaging 45.5 yards over 66 punts. The second-team All-ACC selection became Florida State’s first finalist for the Ray Guy Award last season.

Behind Mastromanno, Florida State ranked third nationally in net punting average, with 26 punts inside the 20-yard line and just three touchbacks. Mastromanno’s season-long punt of 59 yards came at Clemson and Pitt, two of his 19 punts to travel at least 50 yards. His four punts of over 50 yards against Clemson and Miami were also career-highs.

Sporting News and Walter Camp are recognized by the NCAA as two of the five outlets used to determine consensus All-American status at the end of the season.

2024 AP Poll: Preseason Top 25

1. Georgia Bulldogs (1532, 46)
2. Ohio State Buckeyes (1490, 15)
3. Oregon Ducks (1403, 1)
4. Texas Longhorns (1386)
5. Alabama Crimson Tide (1260)
6. Ole Miss Rebels (1189)
7. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (1122)
8. Penn State Nittany Lions (1060)
9. Michigan Wolverines (995)
10. Florida State Seminoles (971)
11. Missouri Tigers (927)
12. Utah Utes (887)
13. LSU Tigers (804)
14. Clemson Tigers (689)
15. Tennessee Volunteers (629)
16. Oklahoma Sooners (566)
17. Oklahoma State Cowboys (538)
18. Kansas State Wildcats (526)
19. Miami Hurricanes (492)
20. Texas A&M Aggies (292)
21. Arizona Wildcats (237)
22. Kansas Jayhawks (231)
23. USC Trojans (172)
24. NC State Wolfpack (171)
25. Iowa Hawkeyes (140)

All Sports

Florida State soccer officially kicks off its national title defense tonight, facing off against the USF Bulls at 7 p.m. in Tampa. Want the inside scoop on this year’s squad? Well, good news, because our very own Prince Akeem Joeffer did what he does best, breaking down the 2024 team as only he can:

Florida State soccer has developed into one of the very best brands in the sport. The record speaks for itself. FSU has made the NCAA Tournament 24 straight years. In 21 of those years the Noles have made the Sweet 16. In 18 of those years FSU has appeared in the Elite 8 and in 14 of those years they have made the College Cup (Final Four). The Seminoles were national runners-up in 2007, 2013 and (spring) 2021. The Noles were national champions in 2014, 2018, (fall) 2021 and 2023.

The last time FSU was not in the top 15 of the coaches poll was 2011.

FSU has been extremely successful in the competitive ACC as well. Florida State won the ACC regular season crown in 2009, 2012, 2014, 2020, 2022 (tie) and 2023. The Seminoles won the conference tournament in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. This is an astounding accomplishment as the ACC is perennially one of the top conferences in the nation.

Last year FSU finished 22-0-1 (11-0-1 ACC including post-season games). The Seminoles won the ACC Tournament. After earning the number one overall seed in the NCAA Tournament Florida State earned a fourth star by defeating Stanford in the national championship game.

Head coach Brian Pensky successfully guided the Noles to their fourth national championship last season. As always, the expectations in Tallahassee are high. Nevertheless, the Seminoles will have a talented roster even as they undergo a bit of an overhaul with a significant number of new faces joining the roster.

Florida State All-American golfers Luke Clanton and Lottie Woad are the No. 1 ranked men’s and women’s golfers in the World Amateur Golf Rankings — the first time in the history of the program that both top-ranked men’s and women’s golfers have been Florida State Seminoles:

Woad was presented with the Mark H. McCormack Award on August 14 as the leading woman in the 2024 WAGR. The McCormack Medal is presented annually and awarded by the R&A and the USGA. The R&A, based in St. Andrews, Scotland, and the USGA govern the sport of golf worldwide.

For Clanton, who has earned three top-10 finishes in PGA events this summer (T2 at the John Deere Classic, 5th at the Wyndham Championship, and T10 at the PGA Rocket Mortgage Classic), it marks the first time in his career that he has been ranked No. 1 in the WAGR.

Clanton enjoyed one of the greatest single seasons in Florida State history in 2024. He established the single season record for lowest scoring average, shooting 69.33. Clanton became the first Seminole ever to win three consecutive tournaments – at the Seminole Intercollegiate, the Valspar Collegiate Invitational and the Lewis Chitengwa Memorial. He recorded 10 Top 10 finishes in 14 tournaments played in the 2023-24 year and finished at par or less in 30 of his 40 rounds played as a sophomore. Clanton was rated as the nation’s top collegiate golfer according to the Clippd rankings at the conclusion of his sophomore season.

Woad is the world’s No. 1 ranked amateur for the third consecutive week and for the eighth time in the last 10 weeks. She ascended to the No. 1 spot for the first time in her career on June 12, 2024, and spent five consecutive weeks in the top position. She returned to the No. 1 spot on July 31, 2024.

Woad, who helped the England Women’s team to the championship at the 2024 R&A Home Internationals last week, has played in three LPGA Tour events this summer. She finished in a tie for 23rd place at the Chevron Championship in April and played In the U.S. Open for the first time in her career in June.

Woad earned All-American First Team honors as named by the WGCA and Golfweek as a sophomore in 2024. She finished in a program-best second place in the individual standings at the NCAA Division I National Championship at the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.. She was named the 2024 ACC Golfer of the Year, and earned All-ACC honors for the second time in her career as a sophomore.

Woad won the championship of the 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur in April of 2024. She will represent England in the 43rd Curtis Cup Matches at the Sunningdale Golf Club in England, August 30-Sept. 1.

The Seminoles (both the men’s and women’s teams) open the regular season at the Folds of Honor Collegiate at the America Dune Golf Club in Grand Haven, Mich. (Sept. 9-11). It marks the first time the nationally prominent Seminole men’s and women’s teams will play together since the teams combined won the Barbara Nicklaus Cup at the Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, in October of 2020.