Noles News: FSU favored by 6.5 over Florida

Recruiting

Florida State lost a commitment from its 2024 class on Sunday, with three-star defensive back CJ Heard and the Seminoles parting ways after a commitment that began in July 2022:

Heard is a 6’0”, 200 pound defensive back who plays for Woodward Academy in Atlanta, Georgia. He is currently ranked as the 532nd best player in the country by 247Sports Composite (56th best safety, 63rd best player in GA). He originally committed to FSU on July 30, 2022.

At FSU, Heard was considered a tweener prospect, hovering between safety and linebacker but not quite fitting into either slot. With Heard’s decommitment, the Seminoles free up another scholarship for Tribe24 and Heard will be able to find a school where he can see the field more quickly.

Florida State has among the top defensive back classes in the nation and aren’t done at the position just yet. The defensive back class consists of five-star KJ Bolden and four-stars Charles Lester, Jamari Howard, and Ricky Knight III. Heard’s decommitment is not expected to impact any current commits.

QUARTERBACK: 4 star Luke Kromenhoek (GA)

RUNNING BACK: 4 star Kam Davis (GA)

RUNNING BACK: 4 star Micahi Danzy (FL)

WIDE RECEIVER: 4 star Camdon Frier (FL)

WIDE RECEIVER: 4 star Lawayne McCoy (FL)

WIDE RECEIVER: 4 star BJ Gibson (GA)

WIDE RECEIVER: 4 star Elijah Moore (MD)

TIGHT END: 5 star Landen Thomas (GA)

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN: 4 star Jonathan Daniels (FL)

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN: 3 star Tye Hylton (FL)

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN: 4 star Manasse Itete (CA)

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN: 3 star Jayden Todd (GA)

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN: 5 star Armondo Blount

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN: 4 star DD Holmes (DC)

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN: 3 star Jamorie Flagg (FL)

LINEBACKER: 3 star Jayden Parrish (FL)

LINEBACKER: 3 star Timir Hickman-Collins (SC)

DEFENSIVE BACK: 5 star KJ Bolden (GA)

DEFENSIVE BACK: 5 star Charles Lester III (FL)

DEFENSIVE BACK: 4 star Jamari Howard (FL)

DEFENSIVE BACK: 4 star Ricky Knight III (FL)

KICKER: 3 star Jake Weinberg (FL)

Football

A tough weekend for Florida State football, who despite moving to 11-0 on the season, lost quarterback Jordan Travis to injury, significantly altering the makeup of the season.

From Jordan Silversmith:

No person deserved a more memorable evening yesterday than Jordan Travis. It should have been a beautiful evening on senior night, honoring his legacy.

Instead, a night filled with so much promise ended in heartbreak.

With all this emotion in mind, Florida State found themselves down 13 points to an FCS opponent.

They went on a 58-0 run.

I find it remarkable they found the strength to continue to play. Yes, I know they are a top five team and in theory and on paper walkons could have won this game. However, every player’s mind was thinking of Jordan Travis. The sideline, visibly shaken with players in tears, gathered themselves and, as they all tweeted this morning, finished for 13.

Tim Alumbaugh took the time to reflect on Travis’ legacy — which will far outweigh the injury suffered by the FSU legend:

Jordan Travis picked up a struggling program and carried it on his back to a resurrection. We all saw ourselves in Travis, we experienced each setback and low that FSU had felt over the last five seasons. We heard the ridicule in each failure and elated in each high and finally we were back. Jordan Travis had embodied the Climb and the fans had scaled each step with him.

And suddenly, everything changed Saturday night. Jordan Travis’ devastating injury rippled through the stadium, through the viewers and listeners. There’s pain in the season implications, but more than anything the real grief of the injury is because we knew what Travis had conquered to get to that moment. We saw the growth, we reveled in his improvement, and we applauded his perseverance.

The journey that Jordan Travis experienced saw him ascend personally and launch a once lifeless program back to the spotlight. Whatever happens next in this season will pale in comparison to the healthy recovery we all hope for Travis. We’ll ride the highs and lows but more than anything, we’ll follow intently Travis’ rehabilitation and his next steps in his career and life. Because in the end, we know that Jordan Travis will persevere, he’ll grow and adapt, he’ll climb just as he always has.

The Seminoles slipped to No. 5 in the latest edition of the AP Poll, maintaining their No. 4 ranking just slightly in the USA Today Coaches Poll. FSU’s odds to win the national championship tumbled to +3000.

Also — Jordan is taking mailbag questions for this week:

Soccer

A huge win for No. 1 Florida State soccer, who crushed the Texas Longhorns 5-0 to advance to the Elite Eight:

It shouldn’t get lost that Texas is a really good team. The Longhorns won the Big 12 and Massey rates them as the #11 team in the nation. Lexi Missimo leads the nation in assists, and is tied for the lead in goals scored. Missimo also leads the nation in points per game. Forward Trinity Byers is third nationally in points per game, fourth in total goals and tied for third in assists. Florida State completely shut down a team with very dangerous weapons. It wasn’t just the offensive explosion that lead to the dominant victory.

This game was not really about UT. This game was about how good the Seminoles are when they have their “A Game”. If this team plays like they did tonight (or even close) three more times they will have a fourth star on their jerseys next year. It is just that simple.

Basketball

The No. 12 Florida State women’s basketball team moved to 4-0 on the season with an emphatic 80-45 win over South Alabama on Sunday:

Junior forward Makayla Timpson earned her 15th career double-double with 17 points, which led all scorers, and 11 rebounds to go along with four blocks. It marked Timpson’s second straight double-double after producing one in FSU’s last game against Florida.

Florida State had five players reach double-figure scoring, including 17 by Timpson, 14 by Amaya Bonner, 12 by O’Mariah Gordon and 10 by both Sara Bejedi and Sakyia White.

Ta’Niya Latson grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds to lead a defensive effort that held Southern Alabama to 22 percent shooting and forced 14 turnovers.

FSU raced off to a 20-9 lead in the first quarter with Gordon scoring seven points. She was 3-of-5 from the line in addition to hitting one from the floor in the opening frame.

FSU will spend their Thanksgiving week in Las Vegas as they play in the Ball Dawgs Classic held at the Dollar Loan Center. The Seminoles will face Northwestern in its first game at 2 p.m. ET/11 p.m. PT on Wednesday, Nov 22, in a game that can be streamed via FloHoops.

Meanwhile the men, coming off a blowout loss to Florida, will face off against UNLV today in the Seminoles’ first game of the Sunshine Slam in Daytona Beach.

Meet the Runnin’ Rebels in the latest edition of Five Things with Michael Rogner:

All Sports

Florida State volleyball secured another ACC win on Sunday, taking down the North Carolina Tar Heels in five sets — the seventh match win in a row for the Seminoles:

North Carolina came prepared to play as they immediately put the pressure on the Seminoles. The first set swayed back and forth. FSU tied it up at 18-18, but the Tar Heels closed out the set on a 4-0 scoring run (19-25). Maddie Snider led the way in the first set with four kills.

In the second set, the Noles would find themselves down quickly (1-7). FSU chipped away and a Snider kill would bring the score within two (9-11). It would not be enough as Florida State had their backs against the wall, dropping the second set 19-25.

Florida State flipped the script in the third set as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Audrey Rothman’s ace grew the lead to 16-8. The Seminoles kept their foot on the gas and closed out the set 25-14.

The fourth set was once again a close fight. FSU and UNC had six ties throughout the set. The Noles had a 4-0 scoring run towards the end of the set, and would win the fourth set 25-21, forcing a fifth set.

In the fifth set, FSU took control early going up 6-4. The Tar Heels would not give up as they tied the score at 8-8. Like much of the match, the final point ended in dramatic fashion as a block by Audrey Rothman and Khori Louis sealed the win.

Snider had a career high of 15 kills today. Rothman was clutch, finishing the day with 17 digs and 11 kills. Kiari Robey was a defensive specialist recording 10 blocks. Khori Louis had another solid match registering a .467 hitting percentage.

The Seminoles will host Notre Dame next Saturday at 2 p.m. with an opportunity to win the ACC Conference.