So do they just wait til spring?

FSU brought in six offensive transfers this offseason, a group loaded with immediate and future contributors. I took a look inside the numbers to see where these players succeeded at their previous schools and how FSU could use each of them.

Who is he?

In addition to Kaliq Lockett earlier, Florida State also offered:

Newberry (Fla.) Three-star DT Jarquez Carter

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New Iberia (LA.) Westgate Four-star Safety Jaboree Antione

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Folsom (CA.) High Quarterback Ryder Lyons

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Lyons has no ranking for Rivals yet but is projecting to be one of the more sought after quarterbacks in the 2026 class.

Schedule of the spring tour dates. Many of these feature Mike Norvell but others will include Hamilton, Wyckoff, spring sports coaches:

FSU slides eight spots after the losses to Syracuse and Virginia:

Rivals national analyst Adam Gorney has more updates on visits to FSU and elsewhere from the weekend:

With the loss of Bell and Douglas I would think we would look at adding a TE with experience, size, and athletic ect. Morlock has size but overall he isn’t good enough to truly impact the game, especially the way Norvell loves utilize his TEs. I see where Bama’s TE Amari Niblack is planning to hit the portal. He was the #1 TE in the 22’ class. He had 4 TDs this season. @Fishbits thoughts?

Jameer Grimsley, a four-star early enrollee CB from Tampa, has entered the portal. Not a position of need per se, but just making a public service announcement.

We offered him in spring of '23 BTW.

Former 5 star from LSU is in the portal. I believe FSU finished 2nd for him out of high school. This one seems like it could be interesting.

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Written by Adam Stanley@Adam_Stanley
The PGA TOUR returns to the continental U.S. for the 65th annual The American Express, and with some players teeing it up for the first time in 2024, it’s as important time as ever to start collecting valuable FedExCup Points.
Justin Thomas is making his 2024 debut and is one of those golfers looking to get off to a fast start.
The American Express is now the third event of the season as the TOUR returns to a calendar-year schedule. Thomas, like many others, is sitting at zero FedExCup Points. It's his first time teeing it up at The American Express since a seventh-place finish in 2015.

Thomas, who finished 78th on the 2023 FedExCup standings, is looking to make some marked improvements in his game as he tries to find the winner’s circle again. At the PNC Championship in December, Thomas said he was awfully close with much of his game through 2023, but things just didn’t click for four straight days.
Thomas had four top-10 finishes last year and comes into 2024 with some momentum, results-wise. He finished fifth at the Fortinet Championship and added a solo third at the Hero World Challenge to his resume.
“I learned a lot this past season,” Thomas said at the PNC Championship. “No. 1 thing is things are never as bad as people make them out to be. At times I was just a couple putts, shots, swings here and there away from at least having a chance of making a run in the Playoffs. But it's a fine line out here.”
The 2024 campaign for Thomas starts anew this week at The American Express, and he’s as eager as ever to get off to a good start.
Here’s everything you need to know about the TOUR’s return to the Coachella Valley.
FIELD NOTES: World No. 1 and reigning Player of the Year Scottie Scheffler leads the way in the desert. Scheffler has three top-25 results at The American Express in his career highlighted by a solo third in 2020… Daniel Berger is making his return to action on the PGA TOUR. He hasn’t played on TOUR since missing the cut at the U.S. Open in 2022… Shane Lowry, a major winner and Ryder Cupper, will make his debut at The American Express… Patrick Cantlay is back in action at The American Express. Cantlay finished second in 2021, the year that he fired a course-record 61 at PGA WEST's Pete Dye Stadium Course in the final round. Cantlay was winless in 2022-23… Xander Schauffele returns to The American Express after finishing third a year ago on the back of a final-round 62, tied for low round of the day. Schauffele’s 2023 start in the desert was his first there in five years… The two 2024 winners on the PGA TOUR – Chris Kirk and Grayson Murray – are in the field at The American Express… Other notables in action this week include Tony Finau, Rickie Fowler, Tom Kim, Jason Day, Min Woo Lee, Will Zalatoris and Wyndham Clark… Of all the Korn Ferry Tour graduates making their 2024 season debuts, none may be more special than Tom Whitney. The Air Force veteran went to La Quinta High School, less than 10 miles from PGA West. This will be his first start as a full-fledged TOUR member. He played The American Express in 2018 (his only other TOUR start) and made the cut.
Comcast Business TOUR Top 10 and Aon Swing 5
*Denotes in the field for The American Express
SPONSOR EXEMPTIONS: Alabama sophomore Nick Dunlap will make his fourth TOUR start after playing two U.S. Opens and the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. Dunlap is on top of the PGA TOUR U Accelerated Program (with Gordon Sargent having earned enough points to become #TOURBound) and made history last August by becoming just the second male golfer to win both the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Junior Amateur – matching Tiger Woods. Dunlap, who lipped out for what would have been college golf’s first sub-60 round in August, was part of the winning Walker Cup team in 2023… Yuxin Lin returns to the PGA TOUR after making the cut at the Shriners Children's Open last fall. Lin, who turned pro in 2023 after being part of the University of Florida’s NCAA championship-winning squad, was a two-time winner of the Asia-Pacific Amateur… John Pak will tee it up at The American Express for the third time in his career. Pak, who broke through for a win on PGA TOUR Canada last year, finished eighth on the Fortinet Cup standings and has Korn Ferry Tour status for 2024… Taiga Semikawa finished tied for 30th at the Sony Open in Hawaii and is back in action at The American Express. Semikawa was a two-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour as an amateur in 2022 and then won twice as a pro on the same circuit last year… Raul Pereda and Hayden Springer received invites to The American Express and will make their TOUR debuts as members. Pereda and Springer finished tied for fourth at PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry. It was an emotional finish for Springer, who teed it up just weeks after the death of his 3-year-old daughter… Rounding out the sponsor exemptions are multi-time TOUR winners Patton Kizzire and Ryan Palmer and TOUR veteran Bronson Burgoon.
FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 500 FedExCup points.
COURSE: Three courses will once again be in use for The American Express.

• Pete Dye Stadium Course: 7,187 yards, par 72
• La Quinta Country Club: 7,060 yards, par 72
• Nicklaus Tournament Course: 7,147 yards, par 72

La Quinta Country Club completed a two-year project at its course within the last year (greens on the back nine were replanted in 2022, and the front nine greens had the same treatment in 2023). The Pete Dye Stadium Course had plenty of work done to it in 2022 (including the removal of hundreds of trees), but the two-year project has turned into a three-year project: The rest of the work to restore the original Pete Dye design to how it played when the course opened 35-plus years ago was put on hold in 2023. That work will continue this year.
STORYLINES:
1. 59 watch
The American Express has seen multiple 59s shot on its courses (David Duval, 1999, and Adam Hadwin, 2017, on the Palmer Course at PGA WEST and La Quinta Country Club, respectfully), and although it’s been nearly a decade since a sub-60 round was shot at the event, the courses are in prime scoring conditions after some recent work.
2. Could a favorite win?
The first two winners of the PGA TOUR season came from long odds (Kirk was +12500 prior to The Sentry while Murray was +30000). Given the top-heavy field at The American Express, could this be the first week of the year when one of the favorites takes a win across the finish line? With 10 of the world’s top 25 in the field, including world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, perhaps this is the week.
3. A serious come "back"
Berger, who told Associated Press in May he had a slight bulge in a lower disc and deep bone sensitivity, returns to action on the PGA TOUR for the first time in 18 months. He was No. 25 in the world when he last played on TOUR but has dropped to well past No. 600. Still, Berger has exempt status through 2024 after winning the 2021 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
72-HOLE RECORD: 260, Patrick Reed (2014).
18-HOLE RECORD: 59, David Duval (Round 5, 1999 at PGA WEST/Palmer), Adam Hadwin (Round 3, 2017 at La Quinta CC). Stadium Course record: 61, Patrick Cantlay (Round 4, 2021). Nicklaus Tournament record: 61, Will Zalatoris (Round 2, 2022).
LAST TIME: Jon Rahm won for the fourth time in five official starts worldwide, topping TOUR rookie Davis Thompson by one shot after a four-round total of 27-under. Rahm and Thompson shared the 54-hole lead. But a 4-under 68 (to Thompson’s 3-under 69) was enough for the win – Rahm's ninth TOUR triumph. Xander Schauffele finished tied for third with Chris Kirk after Schauffele fired a 10-under 62, tied for the round of the day in Sunday’s finale. Taylor Montgomery rounded out the top five.

HOW TO FOLLOW (all times ET)​

Television: Thursday-Sunday, 4-7 p.m. (Golf Channel)
PGA TOUR LIVE:
PGA TOUR LIVE is available exclusively on ESPN+

• Main feed: Primary tournament-coverage featuring the best action from across the course
• Marquee group: New “marquee group” showcasing every shot from each player in the group
• Featured groups: Traditional PGA TOUR LIVE coverage of two concurrent featured groups
• Featured holes: Combination of par-3s and iconic or pivotal holes

Radio:

• Thursday-Friday: 1-7 p.m.
• Saturday-Sunday: 2-7 p.m.

(PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com/liveaudio)



We start the California swing with a great field.

@Nolerball, with another strong finish, stretches his overall lead

Good Luck to everyone this week

Jones had a pretty lengthy conversation with the media after his junior day.
https://floridastate.rivals.com/new...nes-100-locked-in-taking-charge-of-2025-class

FSU sports information:

In a close game on Sunday afternoon at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, No. 15 Florida State Women's Basketball fell to Virginia, 91-87, in what was the 58th meeting in series history between the two programs.

“Obviously, a disappointing loss,” FSU coach Brooke Wyckoff said. “A lot of credit to Virginia and the way that they played – they came out, and despite having a rough start to ACC play, they came out and played really good basketball today, especially in the second half. We just didn’t get the job done on the defensive end.”

Sophomore Ta’Niya Latson, who was honored prior to the game for reaching 1,000 career points, led FSU with 22 points and six assists. Junior forward Makayla Timpson had 21 points with seven rebounds. Junior guard O’Mariah Gordon added 17 points and fifth-year guard Sara Bejedi had 10.

The Seminoles fell to Virginia despite turning the ball over just three times, while forcing 19 UVA turnovers. The Cavaliers shot 53.7 percent from the floor and out-rebounded FSU, 48-30, to counter their high total of miscues.

Taking advantage early, Virginia (9-9, 1-6) took a ten-point lead against the Seminoles (14-6, 5-3), but FSU got right back in it with its fast-paced offense despite facing its largest home deficit in nearly two months. Junior guard O'Mariah Gordon led FSU with seven points in the first quarter. Gordon was followed by Timpson, who recorded five points and four rebounds. UVA held a 27-22 lead at the end of the first quarter.

FSU managed to prevail in the second quarter, headlined by a nice spin pass from Latson and a finish by Snoop Turnage for the 3-pointer to knot the game at 35-35. The Noles continued to dominate the second quarter thanks to back-to-back free throws provided by Bejedi and Gordon, which helped FSU take 43-39 halftime lead.

After the Noles and Virginia battled back-and-forth throughout the third quarter, the Noles and Cavaliers tied 65-65 at the end of quarter three.

Even with the free throw given by Timpson, which broke the tie 66-65 to begin the period, the final quarter was taken over by Virginia. Guard Kymora Johnson was too much for the Noles as she recorded 35 points to get the Hoos their first conference win of the season. UVA out-scored FSU 26-22 in the final period.

The Seminoles travel to Durham, N.C., for their game against Duke on Thursday at 6 p.m., then play Georgia Tech on Sunday at 4 p.m. in Atlanta. Both games will air on the ACC Network.

Florida State (14-5, 5-2 ACC) faces off against Virginia (8-9, 0-6) on Sunday at 2 p.m. There will be a live stream on ACC Network Extra. FSU is fourth in the ACC, while Virginia is tied for last.

UVA holds a 35-22 series lead, but the Seminoles have won nine of the past 10 meetings.

Florida State boasts one of the best quartets in the ACC in Ta’Niya Latson (20.3 points), O’Mariah Gordon (13.9), Makayla Timpson (13.6)and Sara Bejedi (13.2). The group has accounted for 85.5 percent of the team’s points production in ACC play.

In FSU’s 14 wins this season, it is averaging 86.1 points, 15.4 assists and owning a +4.4 turnover margin per game.

Sophomore Ta’Niya Latson is coming off a 22-point performance at Syracuse on Thursday, her 29th 20-point game in 49 career games.

Junior forward Makayla Timpson owns three six-block performances in her career, with one of them coming in last year’s 77-68 road win atVirginia. Timpson has 54 blocks this season, eyeing the lofty single-season record of 84 held by Jacinta Monroe in the 2008-09 season. HeadCoach Brooke Wyckoff is second on the single-season FSU list with 80 blocked shots as a freshman in 1997-98.

Florida State’s 79.7 points per game in ACC play leads the league, while its 83.2 overall points per game is second in the ACC.

Latson remains one 30-point game shy of sole possession of first place in school history. Latson is currently tied with Seminole legend Sue Galkantas (1980-84) with 11 30-point performances in their FSU careers.

Junior guard O’Mariah Gordon continues her impressive comeback season after battling foot injuries last year. Gordon is averaging 14.0 points vs. ACC opponents this year, shooting 48.1 percent overall, 39.3 percent from downtown, 3.4 rebounds per game and a 1.8 assist/turnover ratio.

From the Tampa Bay Times:

The investigation has been underway since at least June 9 when the NCAA sent UF President Ben Sasse a notice of inquiry. That’s a formal document the NCAA’s enforcement staff sends to schools to inform them of the investigation before interviewing any of their employees or athletes.

The specific nature of the investigation and potential violations are not specified in the four-page note. But in October, the Tampa Bay Times requested any notices of inquiry regarding potential violations related to name, image and likeness or recruiting. The request was initially denied but fulfilled Friday.

Jaime Ffrench was all smiles after his most recent visit to Florida State, which is not just one of his top three schools but is the new leader for the 2025 four-star receiver.

"I would say Florida State," Ffrench said on Saturday afternoon. "The tradition, the chemistry, the program, the people in the program. All of that plays a factor in recruiting, especially how they put the ball in the air."

Ffrench decommitted from Alabama on Jan. 14, just days after Nick Saban's retirement announcement. And shortly after Mike Norvell's long-term extension with FSU was announced, the Seminoles coach was visiting Ffrench in Jacksonville.

"It was a blessing," Ffrench said. "It made me feel that I was wanted. Made me feel like top priority. That’s what he made me feel. I appreciate him for that."

FSU 67 Clemson 78 The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly


The Good

Even with the loss, FSU is in a three way tie for 3rd place in the ACC. A loss by Duke later tonight would make it a four way tie for 2nd. Currently Pitt is leading Duke 11-5.

At one point in the game FSU was shooting a poor 58%. The 'Noles turned it around to finish 73% from the stripe.

The reserves had a good showing midway through the first half helping to build FSU's largest lead, 21-13.

Primo Spears reached the 1,000 point club on the first of a two shot foul.

Jalen Warley reached 100 steals. His run out lay up on the play gave FSU a 19-10 lead.

Plays of the game: Darin Green's head fake to get the open three look, 15-10. Taylor Bol Bowen's blocked shot of PJ Hall attempting a floater in the lane, 23-18. Baba Miller's lob to DeAnte Green. Hall tried to draw the charge on the play unsuccessfully, 25-20 FSU. Not sure why it was not scored as a blocked shot, but Tom House adjusting quickly for the block on Jack Clark's attempted lay up off the right block, 28-25.

Attendance at over 10,000. It was the first time attendance surpassed that level since Duke almost exactly two years ago. Unfortunately, it was a loss tonight unlike the 79-78 win over Duke.


The Bad

FSU falls to 11-7 overall, 5-2 ACC ending a 5 game winning streak with Clemson getting back to back wins. Coming into the game, FSU was just 2 of its last 7 vs the Tigers. Make that 2 of 8. It started out well enough for FSU who actually led a good deal of the game. The Seminoles held a 21-13 lead halfway through the first half. It was all down hill from then on. Clemson got its game plan on track by playing physical and making shots they had not been making during their losing stretch. Such as three pointers (3 of 21 vs GT, 7-17 ((42%)) tonight) or really anything from their guards. The scouting report on Clemson was you can afford to have Hall score his points (13 in this game, he had 31 in their last game) but make sure you stop the guards. CU's starting guards combined for 24 points with all guards scoring 40 including a career high 11 for reserve Josh Beadle. Bottom line is Clemson executed its game plan moving FSU's defense around eventually getting the ball to the open shooter. As Leonard Hamilton noted in the post game, there were far too many open looks by Clemson. Meanwhile the Tiger defense effectively disrupted FSU's offense. An 11-2 run starting at the end of the first and carrying over into the second gave CU a 39-32 lead. The Tigers never looked back maintaining an eight point or so lead the rest of the game.


The Bad

You could sense the trouble that was about to occur when FSU was holding a lead with Clemson's big men on the bench with foul trouble and yet could not pull away.

FSU unable to capitalize on the opportunities they created. Case in point Warley with back to back steals only to turn the ball over and the second, a fast break lay up clang off the rim.

Some not very smart play either such as Miller riding the smaller guard, Joseph Girard, at the time line and thus called for the foul. Really, that far away from the basket and you ride him?


The Ugly

Three point shooting once again. At the half, FSU was 1-7 (14%). The 'Noles "improved" to 3-11 in the second, 22% for the game. Hamilton finally admitted in his post game interview his disappointment at his team's lack of success at the arc. Practice where the team shoots well is one thing. Games are something else.

Bol Bowen with the three from above the key. The bad news, his missed. The good news, Chandler Jackson's putback lay up, 17-12.

Bol Bowen again with the three. The good news, it did not ring up his "prowess" from the arc to 2 of 15 on the season because he was fouled on the play. The bad news, he was 1 of 3 at the stripe.

Rebounding. OMG!!! It was a disaster. Reserve guard Jack Clark had 7 boards. So did Girard. Both would have led the Seminoles in that category in this game. In fact, FSU was outrebounded 39-22. Tiger guards went for the ball. FSU's did not. As Hamilton said after the game, there is no reason any team should have just three offensive rebounds in any game like what FSU had tonight.

Clemson's offense was so effective that at one point they were shooting 73% in the second period. They finished the game at 51% from the floor.

With FSU trailing just 47-40, what the 'Noles needed to do was drive the gaps and draw the foul or hit the high post against the Tiger 3-2 zone. FSU did neither settling for threes or long jumpers that of course missed the mark.

Jamir Watson's lob pass to ?????????

And speaking of passes, Clemson's Chauncey Wiggins and his teammate not on the same page as Wiggins' pass sailed into the third row of the stands. HEADS UP you guys in that row!!!!

And even more passing. Apologies for not recalling which FSU player was involved, but whoever it was launched a beautiful pass into the lane. Unfortunately there was no Seminole teammate there. Instead it went right to the Clemson player over near the left corner. But hey, it was a beautiful looking pass.

At the 6:26 mark of the first half, De'Ante Green hit a jumper, 25-20 FSU. Over the next 16:56, the 'Noles made just 5 more baskets.


Up Next

FSU heads to Syracuse on Tuesday for a 7:00 PM tipoff and aired on the Deuce. This is not Syracuse under Jim Boeheim. Gone is the 2-3 zone all game long. Syracuse is 13-5, 4-3 and 9-0 at home. So it will not be easy. But maybe they are due for a home loss. Earlier today, the 'Cuse at home beat Miami 72-69 on a three point shot at the buzzer by a guy who has seven career threes.

CMN, are we the new Bama south?

The student section was sold out. The house was rockin’.

Florida State started with energy but ran out of gas in the second half.

Locked in a tie game, the Seminoles came out of halftime flat as the misses from the floor and free-throw line built, and Clemson took a 78-67 win to halt FSU’s five-game ACC win streak. It was FSU’s first loss of 2024.

But they opened the second half making just 3 of their first 10 shots from the floor and 5 of 10 free-throw attempts, allowing Clemson to take a 10-point lead on Dillon Hunter’s 3-pointer with 8:14 left.

One exception to the struggles for FSU (11-7, 5-2 ACC) was Jamir Watkins, who had 13 of his 15 points in the second half. He also had five rebounds on the day, but the Tigers were more aggressive on the glass, too, outrebounding FSU 39-22.

FSU (11-6, 5-1 ACC) plays host to struggling Clemson (12-5, 2-4) on Saturday at 4 p.m. The game will be televised on the ACC Network, with Mike Monaco and Randolph Childress on the call.

FSU has won five straight ACC games and seven of eight when factoring in December wins over North Florida and Winthrop. The last time FSU won six straight ACC games was Jan. 2022.

It's a reunion weekend for the Seminoles, who welcome back Bob Sura, Jeff Hogan, Harry Davis, Pat Kennesy, Hugh Durham, Greg Grady, Eugene Harris, George McCloud and Charlie Ward (among others).

Baba Miller's last five games have been impressive: 9.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2 assists.

Primo Spears is six points from 1,000 for his college career - he had 381 at Duquesne, 511 at Georgetown and so far 102 at FSU.

FSU is 79th in KenPom's rankings. Clemson is 39th. If FSU wins, it would be their biggest victory since knocking off Colorado (now No. 32 by KenPom). The teams will also play at Clemson on Feb. 24.

That QB is solid