Noles News: FSU adds another transfer portal talent, hires new defensive backs coach

Recruiting

Florida State added another major piece to its 2023 roster on Tuesday, with defensive line transfer Gilber Edmund announcing his commitment to the Seminoles.

With star defensive end Jared Verse announcing his return to Florida State for a second season, Edmond will provide excellent depth at worst and be expected to impact the DE rotation immediately.

Stay updated with everything recruiting and transfer portal related with Tomahawk Nation’s FSU recruiting and transfer portal thread.

Class of 2023 signees

QUARTERBACK: 3 star Brock Glenn (TN)

RUNNING BACK: 4 star Samuel Singleton Jr. (FL)

WIDE RECEIVER: 5 star Hykeem Williams (FL)

WIDE RECEIVER: 3 star Darren “Goldie” Lawrence (FL)

WIDE RECEIVER: 4 star Vandrevius Jacobs (FL)

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN: 4 star Lucas Simmons (FL)

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN: 3 star Andre Otto (FL)

DEFENSIVE END: 4 star Lamont “Boots” Green, Jr. (FL)

DEFENSIVE END: 3 star JUCO Jaden Jones (AL)

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN: 4 star Keith Sampson, Jr. (NC)

LINEBACKER: 4 star Blake Nichelson (CA)

LINEBACKER: 3 star DeMarco Ward (GA)

DEFENSIVE BACK: 4 star Conrad Hussey (FL)

DEFENSIVE BACK: 3 star Quindarrius Jones (MS)

DEFENSIVE BACK: 3 star Edwin Joseph (FL)

DEFENSIVE BACK: 3 star Ja’Bril Rawls (FL)

DEFENSIVE BACK: 3 star Kenton “KJ” Kirkland (FL)

Transfer portal commitments

TIGHT END: Jaheim Bell (South Carolina)

TIGHT END: Kyle Morlock (Shorter University)

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN: Casey Roddick (Colorado)

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN: Jeremiah Byers (UTEP)

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN: Keiondre Jones (Auburn)

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN: Darrell Jackson (Miami, FL)

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN: Braden Fiske (Western Michigan)

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN: Gilber Edmond (South Carolina Gamecocks)

DEFENSIVE BACK: Fentrell Cypress (Virginia)

KICKER: Tyler Keltner (ETSU) - Preferred walk-on

Football

Florida State learned its final ranking in both the AP Top 25 and USA Today Coaches Poll on Tuesday, getting slotted at No. 11 and No. 10 respectively.

That’s just above the average area that FSU is getting projected at in way-too-early 2023 rankings, with the Seminoles being slotted as high as No. 4 and as low as No. 14 in national projections.

In another indication that we’re full speed ahead towards 2023, Florida State officially launched a Heisman campaign for quarterback Jordan Travis, debuting a website dedicated to listing his achievements and accolades.

Travis hopped on with David Hale and Andrea Adelson to talk about his preparations and expectations for 2023:

Meanwhile, the mothership at SB Nation has the Seminoles listed as a possible national title contender in 2023:

There is reason for optimism down in Tallahassee. The Seminoles won ten games for the first time in six years this season, and with the talent they have on the roster for next year, there is a legitimate chance Florida State makes a deep run.

We can start with quarterback Jordan Travis, who started all 12 games for the Seminoles this past season. Travis completed 64% of his throws for 3,214 yards and 24 touchdowns, all of which were career-high numbers. He’ll have some help on the offensive side of the ball from running back Trey Benson, wide receiver Johnny Wilson, and Jaheim Bell, the transfer tight end from South Carolina.

Then on defense, the Seminoles got a huge boost when pass rusher Jared Verse announced that he was returning for another season. Verse was receiving first-round buzz throughout the fall, but is coming back for his redshirt junior season.

FSU reportedly moved quick on finding its replacement for defensive backs coach Marcus Woodson (who left for the Arkansas Razorbacks), hiring Miami Dolphins assistant Patrick Surtain. His resume has helped him establish deep ties in South Florida, strengthening the Seminoles’ staff off the field on top of on it.

We’ll know Florida State’s official 2023 football schedule in a couple of weeks:

Keep tabs on all the latest Florida State NIL signings here, courtesy of Tomahawk Nation reader bugzbunny.

Former Florida State running back Treshaun Ward has found a new home — the Kansas State Wildcats:

You can see all of the player movement for the Seminoles, both departing and returning, through our Florida State player tracker.

Basketball

Florida State men’s basketball is set to take on Wake Forest today — and it’s a special game, as (unduly) suspended hooper Baba Miller is set to make his debut in a Florida State uniform. Miller has sat out the season after the NCAA ruled him ineligible for receiving and paying back monetary assistance to travel to the United States.

Baseball

Softball

All Sports

Florida State divers Tazman Abramowicz and Samantha Vear were named the ACC Divers of the Week on Tuesday following their performances at LSU last week.

From FSU Sports Info:

Abramowicz wins his first ACC Men’s Diver of the Week honor after finishing first on 3-meter with a score of 367.43, which was his highest of the season after sitting out most of the Fall due to injury. He won the event by just over four points in a high-scoring, competitive field where five divers scored above 340 points. He was also sixth on 1-meter at 307.73 and both scores were NCAA Zone B standards.

Abramowicz contributed one of FSU’s 11 event victories against the Tigers, as the 16th-ranked Noles won, 180-120.

Vear wins her second ACC Women’s Diver of the Week honor of the season and fourth of her career, after placing first on 1-meter with a score of 304.73 against LSU. She was dominant, winning the event by over 16 points and her score was her highest since her freshman season.

The Conroe, Texas, native was also fourth on 3-meter (299.33).

FSU Panama City has been admitted to the NCAA Division II Peach Belt Conference (PBC) as an associate member for esports beginning spring 2023.

Via a Florida State press release:

“This is very exciting for our campus,” said Randy Hanna, dean of FSU Panama City and the College of Applied Studies. “It is the first time our students will have the opportunity to participate in collegiate-level competitions and the Peach Belt Conference is a leader in esports.”

The PBC was the first NCAA conference to hold an esports championship starting with the 2017-2018 academic year. The league was also the first to partner with Riot Games, publisher of League of Legends, the most-played online game in the world, and the first to hold an in-person live conference championship. Esports has become a very large and popular competitive sports category with dozens of multiplayer games eligible for championship leagues.

FSU Panama City students have formed a League of Legends competitive team that will be coached by Nicholas Sellers, professional communication teaching professor at FSU PC. The campus has a long-standing history of student-driven gaming and gaming events. There are two active student organizations — The Gaming Club, advised by Sellers, and the newly formed esports Club — that include undergraduate and graduate student members who meet and compete weekly.