FSU sports information:

During a week in which he led Florida State to two victories and averaged 23.5 points scored per game, Seminole senior guard Jamir Watkins has been named as the ACC Co-Player of the Week, sharing the award with Nigel Pack of the University of Miami.

It marked the second time he’s earned the ACC Player of the Week award. He also won the award on November 27, 2023.

Watkins scored 30 points – including 17 in the second half – to lead the Seminoles to a 73-65 win over Rice in the first game of the Mattress Firm Battleground 2K24 Tournament at the Toyota Center. He was chosen as the MVP of the Seminoles’ victory over the Owls as he contributed 30-points along with six rebounds, three steals and one blocked shot.

Watkins made seven of 14 field goals and a tied his career-high with 14 free throws as he surpassed the 30-point mark for the second time in his career. He scored his career-high of 34 points against Virginia Tech in the second round of the 2024 ACC Tournament on March 13, 2024.

Watkins was selected as the MVP of Florida State’s game against Rice at the Mattress Firm Battle Ground 2K24 Tournament. It marked the second time in his career, second time as a Seminole, and second time in the last two seasons that Watkins has earned MVP in a regular season tournament or game. Watkins was selected as the MVP as he led the Seminoles to the championship of the 2023 Sunshine Slam in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Watkins has scored in double figures in 21 consecutive games (every game since January 9, 2024), in 28 of 33 games as a Seminole and in 28 of his last 32 games in a Florida State uniform. He averages 18.3 points per game (384 points) in his last 21 games, 16.0 points per game (561 points) as a Seminole in his last 35 games, and 17.5 points per game (559 points) in his last 32 games in the Garnet and Gold. Watkins’ double-figure scoring streak is the longest by a Seminole since Dwayne Bacon scored in double figures in the first 26 games of the 2016-17 season.

Watkins opened the season with a 17-point, four-rebound, and four-steals performance in the Seminoles’ victory over Northern Kentucky.

Florida State returns home for the first game of a three-game homestand against Tarleton State on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Seminoles enter their game against the Texans with a 2-0 record.

The Seminoles’ game against the Texans is Military Appreciation Day – fans can share photos of veterans or those currently serving in the military using #FSUSalutes to be featured on the videoboard throughout the game. The game is also an FSU Kids Club Game Kids Club as members receive free admission. The Kids Zone will be set up in the south concourse area (near section 106) for all kids in attendance to enjoy. Additionally, general admission tickets start at only $5.

Season tickets for Florida State's home games are now on sale for as low as $150. Seminole fans interested in purchasing tickets for all regular season home games at the Donald L. Tucker Center can learn more here, or are encouraged to call the Florida State Ticket Office at 1-888-FSU-NOLE. Non-conference single game tickets are now available for purchase. ACC single game tickets will go on sale to Seminole Booster members on Dec. 2.

Jordan Scott was recently offered by FSU and committed to ASU. I spoke to my Juco source last night and he felt the kid was the number one rated WR in the junior college ranks. While he committed to ASU, Scott is still going to take his visit to FSU. He compares himself to Johnny Wilson. Scott feels he can come in and take a starting job next year. Scott is from Virginia. He wants to play football in the south. He committed to ASU to hold a spot. I feel that if FSU wants him, Scott will be a Seminole.

Juco OL FSU has offered

Matthew Lefeau - (Shasta College) Login to view embedded media - Been told Matthew is one of the top offensive lineman in juco. Plays tackle but can also play guard. Shows good feet on film. Like that he comes off the ball well. I am not into juco lineman but this kid can play. He would be a starter at FSU.

Monharo Senegal (Feather River College) Login to view embedded media FSU is going to hit the portal and juco for OL. Senegal is a big kid. Not super athletic. You would like to see him bend a little better. Probably will struggle with elite pass rushers. He does seem to have the ability to get on a defender and lock them up.

The HAMMER - I had heard the hammer was coming down a couple of weeks ago. Now, I don't think the hammer is finished. I expect Tony Tokarz to be moved to TE coach. I could see Odell Haggins moving off the field or retiring. He may just want to go fishing and hunting at this point. I expect John Papuchis to end up being moved to special teams full time. I also expect Chris Thomsen to move off the field. Look for Pat Surtain to potentially take the Southern Miss job. Bill Clark who coached at UAB may also be an option at Southern Miss.

Carter Smith - Bishop Verot - I expect Carter to be recruited. If the UNLV OC comes in I would expect him to want a QB that can move. Carter is a way better athlete. I really would not be surprised if the new OC came in and they tell Jones to look for another school. I would take both guys because you need QBs.

Other recruiting News

Darryll Desir / Mandrell Desir - I would have taken these commitments early in the year. Darryll went to Camps this spring and was impressive. He can play with his hand off the ground. I expect him to start at some point of his career. Like Pat said with Mandrell, he will probably beef up and move inside. I have no problem with either of these two kids in the class. You take DL who want to come. Both have upside. You can never have enough DL.

UCF - I have been hearing UCF is going to fire their coach. If true there are some players in their class I would take a look at.

RB Taevion Swint - RB-5'9-180 (4) - FSU needs playmakers on offense. I think Micahi Danzy will be one of them next year. You add in a player like Swint and you maybe looking at a Chris Thompson-like back.

WR Jayvan Boggs - WR-6'1-200 (4) - Boggs does not get great separation but he gets open and catches the football. Those last two things have been a major issue at FSU. He is a kid that can at least be a solid #2 or #3 option at FSU.

Other options from the state of Florida

CB Graceson Littleton - Wiregrass Ranch - (4) 6'0-180 - Graceson is one of the better prospects in Tampa. Not a bad idea to get your foot in the door this year. Like his size and kid gives you some length at the position. He has some DOG in him.

WR Cortez Mills - Homestead (4) Committed to OU - I thought it was a mistake when FSU passed on him early on. A new WR coach needs to take a hard, long look at Mills. He has great body control. Put the ball up and he always catches it. He runs solid routes. He has good hands. You want to improve the WR room? Add Mills.

OL Max Buchanan - Seminole (4) Committed to Miami - Buchanan should have been committed to FSU last summer. Kid is tough and is willing to mix it up. Something that no OL has had the past couple of seasons seems to have wanted to do. Buchanan liked FSU and looked like a done deal. Make him a priority. I think you can snatch him from Miami.

OLB Kellen Wiley - Armwood (3) - He is 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds. You want to see a kid who goes to Kansas State, ends up 260 pounds and can rush the passer, Wiley is it. Once again, why is FSU not living in Tampa this year?
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WR Koby Howard - Chamiande-(4) Committed to Penn State - Recruiting is not that hard. Howard is a kid that every time I watch him play, he makes plays. He is a playmaker.

On Sunday, Mike Norvell announced the firing of three assistant coaches, including both coordinators. In a column we wrote a month ago we discussed how an athletic director evaluates head coaches on both the external scoreboard which we all see and on an internal scoreboard that he keeps, which tracks organizaion, energy, communication, recruiting and other predictors of future success. We reported that Norvell scores well on Alford's internal board, not to mention is protected by a $64 million buyout, and predicted the attention would turn toward strenghening Norvell's coaching staff. We knew changes to the staff were coming and while we did not name names, we directed our readers to look at non-performing segments to know who was likely to be canned.
This column is a follow up to that column offering some insight on the first step in what will be a journey to re-writing FSU Football, version 2025.

The first days of FSU Football, version 2025, begin earl

There is just over three weeks until the early signing window and with staff changes happening and likely more coming, Mike Norvell had a specific message for his current commit and future Florida State recruits during the time of change.

Story Link: Mike Norvell wants commits and future recruits to be a spark

From hiring an offensive coordinator who would bring their own offense and call plays to hiring coaches he's less familiar with if they are the right fit, Mike Norvell says everything is on the table as he begins the critical process of hiring his next two FSU coordinators.

Of all Mike Norvell's decisions to make this offseason, his next defensive coordinator hire ranks amongst the most important.

Here's the Osceola staff's initial defensive coordinator hot board with some names to keep an eye on, what they bring to the table and potential reasons why they not end up being the choice.