Four-star DE DD Holmes signs with FSU

Story and video highlights as FSU lands a QB the coaches were in on very early:

Four-star wide receiver BJ Gibson, who will also play baseball at FSU, has signed with the Seminoles.

If you have to pick one to finish this class out with, who do you choose?

Florida State has practiced the last two weeks as it turns the page from the regular season to its Orange Bowl matchup vs. No. 6 Georgia. However, Tuesday morning's practice marked the first time that media members have been allowed to observe a bowl practice this year. Here are some updates from the day's work:

• Tate Rodemaker and Brock Glenn were both practicing Tuesday and appear poised to be available for the Orange Bowl. Neither had a consistently great day but both had some really nice throws mixed in.
• Someone who did have a great day was Kentron Poitier. He made a really nice touchdown catch while falling down in the back of the end zone during goal-line work, had another touchdown later in the day and then ended the day with a deep-ball touchdown in 7-on-7. He may not have had the season expected of him after a breakout spring, but he looked like that same consistentently great version of himself we saw in the spring once again on Tuesday morning. Hykeem Williams also flashed quite a few times, catching a touchdown while falling down. Joshua Burrell also made an exceptional leaping catch over a defender on a pass down the sideline.
• Another player who stood out Tuesday was Caziah Holmes. He's expected to take on a larger workload with Trey Benson opting out of the Orange Bowl and I thought he made the most of it with a number of chunk runs.
• Patrick Payton, who announced a few weeks ago he was entering the transfer portal but never officially did, was at Tuesday's practice and recorded a sack of Rodemaker during the first team period of the day.
• Freshman linebacker Blake Nichelson showed impressive effort and concentration with an interception during 11-on-11 on a bobbled catch by Darion Williamson which bounced up and into his arms while he was running towards the ball. A bit of right place at the right time, but also shows how his instincts have improved some and he keeps making plays on the practice field.
• A number of FSU players who have announced they are entering/have entered the transfer portal were practicing Tuesday morning. Mike Norvell let a few such players participate in the bowl game before leaving the program last year and it seems that will again be the case this year. That list included tight end Preston Daniel, defensive tackle Malcolm Ray and offensive lineman Thomas Shrader.

The final practice availability before the team heads to South Florida will be Thursday morning.

FSU fans who fear the ACC Champion will never get into the playoff may find solace in this article which describes how this coming year's 12-team playoff work, including automatic bids to the top six conference champions, of which the ACC was one. The new format isn't perfect but it would have guaranteed FSU a chance to win it or lose it on the field.
While the new format is far from perfect, I tried to lay out the facts and then to point out what I think is better and what will still be controversial in the coming year.


12 team playoff automatic bid for conference champs

Three-star offensive tackle Jayden Todd becomes the first member of Tribe24 to send in his NLI and make it official with FSU.

Is there a posted schedule of signings for our commitments and key targets today? If so I missed it, would be helpful for us working stiffs trying to balance our passion versus our duty.

FSU 91 UNF 75 The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly


The Good

FSU improves to 5-5 ending a four game losing streak. Coming into the game, FSU held a 7-0 record vs North Florida with six of those wins by double digits. Make that 8-0 and 7 of 8 by double digits.

The Seminoles came out right at the start of the game playing with more effort and energy constantly pushing the ball up the floor quickly. Darin Green let it be known in a post game interview that Leonard Hamilton in his pre game speech to his team said "If I need to make a motivational speech (after losing 4 straight) I don't know what to tell you". Apparently that was all Hamilton had to say. Coach mentioned that while his team did not always execute, they maintained the intensity he wants from his team the entire game. Key in that Hamilton said were players logging fewer minutes. No starter played more than 26 minutes and five reserves saw double digit minutes on the floor. It resulted in a lead as large as 27 points.

An entirely different team shooting the ball out there tonight compared to Saturday night. The 'Noles shot 51% from the floor and 46% (10-22) from the arc. Add 17 assists to go along with those 34 made baskets. Against SMU, the Seminoles had only four.

Rebounding. FSU dominated, something they don't always do, 44-27. OK, a team like UNF who shoots a ton of threes (avg 34 per game and tonight launched 46 connecting on 18) is probably not going to win the rebounding battle. But still, a much better team effort in that category led by Jamir Watkins with 8 boards. Nine players grabbed at least two boards. Because of that, FSU grabbed 15 offensive boards and converted that into 25 second chance points by my count.

Hamilton felt his team did a fine job containing the dribble crediting Justin Gainey and Taylor Bol Bowen for their interior defense.

Timely use of the full court press that threw off UNF inbounding the ball. That caused confusion and two turnovers one of which a five second call.

UNF led once, 3-2. That was it. An 11-1 FSU run later on put the Seminoles up 30-17. A 14-0 run finished off by Spears' lay up gave FSU that 27 point lead, 76-49.

POTG: Darin Green. Coming into the game, Darin was nine points short of 1,500. He scored 24 on 9-12 shooting including 6-8 from the arc. It was a season high in points and three pointers made for Green. His back to back threes in a span of forty seconds with a couple of minutes to play put FSU up 89-66 making sure there would be no miracle comeback win for the Ospreys. Joining him in double figures was Jalen Warley and Primo Spears each with 12 points. Baba Miller added 10.

Plays of the game: Right out of the gate, Watkins with a steal going coast to coast for the lay up and Warley's steal and assist to Darin for the wide open three and a 7-3 lead. Chandler Jackson barreling down from above the key, receiving the pass, and smartly pulling up for the jumper from the FT line, 17-9. Darin behind the screen on the right wing with the super quick release for the three and a 33-22 lead. The handoff from Baba to Darin and returning the ball to Miller circling around the defense for the lay up, 35-24. Warley with the rebound passing to Watkins who passed to Darin and the three in transition, 42-30. The UNF inbound lob from the sideline to under the basket that looked like a sure layup only to be swatted away by Watkins.


The Bad

Guarding Chaz Lanier (22 pts) was a challenge. Usually a strength in defending the arc, FSU had difficulties with Lanier's use of screens and more so with his creating wide open shots with jab and step back jumpers. On occasion, the 'Nole defenders got caught watching the ball more than Lanier.

Hamilton mentioning in pre-game that Cameron Corhen will likely be out two more weeks with that broken toe.


The Ugly

Attendance. Announced as 4,066. OK, if you say so. But that was a ghost town there tonight. OK, school is out and with Christmas just days away, not a lot of people probably were not interested in going to a basketball game. Sure was tough to look at though. I am not sure there was anyone in the upper level.

If you are short term investor who took FSU and gave the 17 points, the last thing you wanted to see was with :19 left UNF take a three only to miss ... but wait .... the Ospreys get the rebound kicking it to Jasal Miles who nailed a three from the left corner to make the final margin 16 points. Now how do those guys in Vegas do that?

That seriously could not have been a set play I hope when the ball made its way to De'Ante Green stationed above the key. Finding himself wide open, he launched the three that missed the mark. Now why was he wide open? Because he was 1-9 on the season from the arc!!! Who the heck is going to guard him out at the line? If that is a set play, might I recommend taking it out of the play book.

OK, this does not pertain in any way to our game. But, if you thought FSU shot poorly against SMU, you should have seen Notre Dame tonight vs The Citadel. The Irish shot 27% from the floor and were 4 of 23 from three point land. That is 13% for those of you keeping score at home.

OK, not pertaining to our game Part Deux. Michigan in losing to the gatros 106-101 with a grand total of three, yes, count 'em, three bench points.


Up Next

FSU will play the third game of a seven game home stand hosting Winthrop on Friday. Tip is at 7:00 PM and will stream on the ACCNX. The 8-5 Eagles (2-4 road) are not a team to be overlooked. Earlier tonight Winthrop hung with the 10-1 Gamecocks until late in the game eventually losing 72-62. It will be the last game before taking an 8 day break. The task for any coach in a game that falls right before Christmas is keeping players focused until the game is over. I'd put my money on Hamilton when it comes to keeping a team focused.

Mike Norvell discusses how the Seminoles have prepared for the Orange Bowl, the frustration he still has with the College Football Playoff, players' decisions ahead on the NFL draft and more.

(On the CFP's decision) "It’s been challenging. You basically got 12 hours to celebrate what was an unbelievable accomplishment for this team. Then you had to learn how to work through disappointment, hurt, frustration, anger, every bit of it. And you’re 18- to 22-year-old kids and a 42-year-old coach. It’s hard.

"But at the end of the day you control the things that you can control. We did everything that we needed to do to win 13 games this season. Now we get an opportunity to go get better.

"You can’t just be good when it sounds good. For a group of young men that are having to work through that, it’s probably been the most challenging couple weeks of coaching I’ve ever hard. It is our reality. You work through it and you go push and get better."

(On bowl practices) "I’m proud of the guys for what I’ve seen this week. We’re introducing more of Georgia and getting into game plan for what’s ahead. But it still comes down to the little things, our execution, our communication, being able to go apply the things we’re learning in the meeting room and work to apply it out there on the practice field."

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Some positive thoughts heading into signing day and Orange Bowl planning
Signing Day and Orange Bowl