FSU sports information:

Ryan Fitzgerald, from Coolidge, Ga., ranks ninth in Florida State history with 299 career points, including a career-high 115 in 2023 courtesy of 19-of-21 field goals and 58-of-58 point-after tries. The only player in FSU history with multiple seasons of 57 made PATs, Fitzgerald was a Groza Award semifinalist and third-team All-ACC selection as a redshirt junior.

Fitzgerald’s .904 field goal percentage last season was seventh in the country and third in FSU history, and he led the ACC with 58 PATs, 77 total made kicks and 115 points. He ranked 11th nationally in PATs, 17th in total points scored and 20th in made field goals. Fitzgerald tied a career-high with three field goals and accounted for 10 points in the 16-6 ACC Championship Game victory against No. 14 Louisville.

Florida State’s four Groza Award trophies are the most in the country, and Sebastian Janikowski remains the only kicker to win the honor twice, taking home the award in 1998 and 1999. Roberto Aguayo in 2014 and Graham Gano in 2008 were also Groza Award recipients.

ACC Representatives on the Lou Groza Award Preseason Watch List:

Todd Pelino, Duke, Junior, PK
Ryan Fitzgerald, Florida State, Senior, PK
Aidan Birr, Georgia Tech, Sophomore, PK
Andres Borregales, Miami, Senior, PK
Noah Burnette, North Carolina, Senior, PK
Will Bettridge, Virginia, Junior, PK
John Love, Virginia Tech, Sophomore, PK

FSU sports information:

Alex Mastromanno, from Melbourne, Australia, was a second-team All-American in 2023, averaging 45.5 yards over 66 punts. The second-team All-ACC selection became Florida State’s first finalist for the Ray Guy Award last season and is the only semifinalist returning in 2024.

Behind Mastromanno, Florida State ranked third nationally in net punting average, with 26 punts inside the 20-yard line and just three touchbacks. Mastromanno’s season-long punt of 59 yards came at Clemson and Pitt, two of his 19 punts to travel at least 50 yards. His four punts of over 50 yards against Clemson and Miami were also career-highs.

ACC Representatives on the Ray Guy Award Preseason Watch List:

Lachlan Wilson, Cal, Redshirt Senior, P
Alex Mastromanno, Florida State, Redshirt Senior, P
Daniel Sparks, Virginia, Fifth Year, P
Peter Moore, Virginia Tech, Redshirt Senior, P
Ivan Mora, Wake Forest, Redshirt Senior, P

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Until the playoffs, then its anybody's guess. Playing the likes of Ohio State, Georgia, Michigan, etc well. . .its anybodys' guess, get there and roll the dice.

Call me a homer, but the three game losing skid we suffered last season was at a time when our depth was tested and we were without some real key members. Those games were very close.

With the amount key pieces we have returning, and with the addition of some TE's that can be real game changers I see our offense being even more dynamic. I have been rewatching several games, and in every game our TE's were serviceable, they made plays and sometimes made a really good play. But, there were so many opportunities where a 5 yard gain could have gone for a ton more, or when they just couldn't get to a pass that had to be thrown to a certain spot due to coverage. We were already really, really good but the addition of these TE's will really make this offense explode, in all aspects. We lead the nation in 20+ yard plays last season, and now with the addition of these pieces, that won't change.

The addition of the depth to both the OL and DL make me feel like we can now weather a stretch of games when one or two people are not available. . .whenever it happens in the season, even with the possibility of it happening when we play some solid teams.

I think we will have an opportunistic defense. I envision them giving up some plays, maybe still making a mistake here and there, but I feel they will make enough big plays and get many more turnovers this season to make up for it.

I feel LSU will be the best team on our schedule, we get them in Florida and I feel this game comes down to experience. At the end of the day, this is still Kelley's second year with that team, and our team has been running this scheme now for several years with most of them returning. I just feel we will be a more oiled machine in the opener than LSU will. I like that we have them in the opener.

Clemson will be the toughest environment of course, but again, there is a lot of transition going on right now in that program.

I know I have a hard time taking off my G and G glasses, but I am really trying to be objective. This team is loaded. Really loaded with talent and experience. That combination doesn't come around all the time. The ball may not bounce our way, and its still a game, a mistake here and there or a bad call here and there can be costly in a close game. . .but I like our chances to come out on top in every game.

I feel like I am covered in kool aid like it was a McDonalds Grimace shake at the moment. . . but I don't care. 😁

This morning's practice was an impressive display from the FSU defense at every level.

Ricky Knight III keeps making plays, Cam Riley's "WOW" play, Pat Payton and Darrell Jackson domination and the offense's response with a few chunk runs from Kam Davis and others.

Here are the Osceola staff observations from Day 7 of FSU preseason camp.

Darius Washington, Maurice Smith, Joshua Farmer, Alex Mastromanno are recognized. Plus, the full teams as well as Cam Ward earns ACC preseason POY:

Apparently, Clemson is girding for a protracted battle with the Atlantic Coast Conference asking permission from the South Carolina Attorney General to spend $1 million over the next 12 months to fight the conference.

The State has reported that the university has received authorization from the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office to pay four law firms up to $975,000 through June 30, 2025, as the school challenges the ACC’s grant of rights and conference exit fees in court, according to documents obtained by The State on Monday.

The authorizations come as the university and the conference gear up for what’s presumed to be a lengthy court dispute in the dueling lawsuits Clemson vs. ACC, which is playing out in South Carolina, and ACC vs. Clemson, which is playing out in North Carolina.

Both cases in the Clemson-ACC legal dispute remain active, and one is on hold pending an appeal to a state supreme court that could take 12 to 18 months.

The week before Clemson filed its lawsuit against the ACC, the school had been authorized in mid-March to pay three law firms up to $475,000 combined over the first four months of its legal dispute from March 1 to June 30.

Citing “very complex litigation of significant value,” Clemson requested in early May a second, separate authorization to pay four law firms up to $975,000 combined from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. That amounts to one fiscal year, which is the maximum amount of time that can be approved at once for outside counsel.

Clemson, however, is not using any state money for the lawsuit.

Clemson asks permission to spend $1 million in legal fight

FSU sports information:

Four former Seminoles have advanced to the knockout stage of the 2024 Summer Olympic Women’s Football Tournament with the United States and Canada.

Casey Krueger, Jenna Nighswonger, and Emily Sams are part of the U.S. side that topped Group B and won all three of its group games with victories over Zambia, Germany, and Australia. Krueger and Nighswonger appeared in all three games as substitutes and have racked up a combined 125 minutes of play, helping to keep the clean sheet in the opening match against Zambia.

Gabby Carle was selected as an alternate for Canada before injuries in the squad allowed her to start the opening two games against New Zealand and France. In both games the Canadians conceded the first goal before mounting comebacks, including a massive 2-1 victory over hosts France. Carle has played nearly 150 minutes for the side at the tournament and helped keep a clean sheet over Colombia in the final group match to advance.

Onyi Echegini helped Nigeria qualify for the tournament for the first time in over 15 years and scored the first Olympic goal for the nation since 2008. She made starts against Brazil and Japan, scoring a long-range effort before halftime against Japan. Nigeria were eliminated in the group stage of the competition.

The quarterfinals of the tournament will take place on Saturday. The United States will face Japan in a rematch of the 2011 and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Finals at 9 a.m. ET while defending gold medalists Canada face the 2016 gold medalists Germany at 1 p.m. ET.

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FSU sports information:

Three Florida State Seminoles were named to the 2024 ACC Volleyball Preseason All-ACC Team on Thursday afternoon. Returning All-ACC performers Audrey Koenig and Khori Louis were both named to the 18-person team while incoming Arkansas transfer Taylor Head was named to the team as well. FSU's three athletes on the Preseason All-ACC Team is the program's most since 2015 and it ties a program record. The defending ACC Co-Champions were picked to finish fifth in the country behind Pitt, Stanford, Louisville and Georgia Tech. Florida State continues its streak of 14 consecutive seasons as being picked in the top five of the preseason poll.

Koenig, a Wesley Chapel, Fla., native, is coming off the best season of her career as she was named the ACC Co-Player of the Year in 2023 and was also a First Team All-ACC selection. Koenig tallied career highs in kills (374), kills per set (3.37), hitting percentage (.300) and digs (306). Koenig has led the Seminoles in kills for the last two seasons and will look to become just the sixth Seminole in the rally scoring era to surpass 1,000 career kills. Koenig was also terrific defensively last season as she continued to be an all-around player for FSU. Koenig was second on the team last season with 306 digs.

Louis has been a staple in the middle for the Seminoles' offense for the past three seasons and is coming off her best season for the Seminoles. Louis tallied a career-high 271 kills and hit an outstanding .432 which ranked fourth in the entire country and was the fifth-best hitting percentage in FSU history. Louis is also a huge part of the Noles' defense as she will be FSU's top returning blocker as she recorded 93 total blocks last season.

The Noles made one of the top offseason transfer moves in all of college volleyball as they picked up Taylor Head from Arkansas who was an All-America Honorable Mention last season for the Razorbacks who made the Elite Eight. Head tallied 494 kills which was a top 20 mark in the country and second in the SEC. Head was also a threat behind the service line as she recorded 36 aces in 2023. Head was a great all-around player for the Razorbacks as she was second on the team with 406 digs and also recorded 59 blocks.

Fans will get their first chance to see the defending ACC Co-Champions at the Garnet and Gold scrimmage at 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 16.

2024 Preseason ACC Volleyball Coaches Poll
1. Pitt (13), 285
2. Stanford (3), 268
3. Louisville (2), 265
4. Georgia Tech, 230
5. Florida State, 226
6. SMU, 199
7. Miami, 197
8. NC State, 187
9. Duke, 140
10. North Carolina, 135
11. Wake Forest, 121
12. California, 109
13. Notre Dame, 105
14. Clemson, 92
15. Boston College, 86
16. Virginia, 55
17. Virginia Tech, 37
18. Syracuse, 17

2024 Preseason Volleyball All-ACC Team
Taylor Head, Florida State
Audrey Koenig, Florida State
Khori Louis, Florida State
Bianca Bertolino, Georgia Tech
Tamara Otene, Georgia Tech
Cara Cresse, Louisville
Anna DeBeer, Louisville
Charitie Luper, Louisville
Elena Scott, Louisville
Grace Lopez, Miami
Mabrey Shaffmaster, North Carolina
Olivia Babcock, Pitt
Rachel Fairbanks, Pitt
Torrey Stafford, Pitt
Sami Francis, Stanford
Kami Miner, Stanford
Elena Oglivie, Stanford
Elia Rubin, Stanford

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NOW, Kid is a winner, every time he touches the ball it could be a TD

Does anyone know when boosters will receive their season tickets and tickets to the GT game?

Surprised that they still haven’t come in.

TIA for responses.

ACC representatives on the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List (award given for on-field performance and community service):

Name, School, Class, Position
Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College, Senior, DE
Jaydn Ott, Cal, Junior, RB
Barrett Carter, Clemson, Senior, LB
Maurice Smith, Florida State, Senior, OL
Clayton Powell-Lee, Georgia Tech, Junior, DB
Ashton Gillotte, Louisville, Senior, DL
Jaden Harris, Miami, Sophomore, DB
Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina, Graduate Student, RUSH
Brandon Cleveland, NC State, Junior, DT
Brandon George, Pitt, Graduate Student, LB
Jonathan McGill, SMU, Graduate Student, S
Tristan Sinclair, Stanford, Graduate Student, ILB
Justin Barron, Syracuse, Senior, DB
Will Bettridge, Virginia, Junior, PK
Jaylin Lane, Virginia Tech, Graduate Student, WR
Justin Cody, Wake Forest, Senior, DL

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With every run and catch out of the backfield, practice after practice, the point is driven home: Florida State has assembled a deep and versatile running back room and one that could be the identity of the offense in 2024.

There is a veteran in Lawrance Toafili but also transfers like Roydell Williams and Jaylin Lucas who have fit right in. There’s a veteran itching for more carries in the rotation in Caziah Holmes. There’s a second-year back in Sam Singleton, who looks far more comfortable this camp. There’s a freshman who doesn’t look like a freshman (224-pound Kam Davis) and a freshman who has stunned with his speed (Micahi Danzy, who clocked in at 21 mph recently).

The running back room has been nothing short of impressive, even if there’s the asterisk of seeing just one full-pad practice and a few more in shells. Day in and day out, FSU’s backs have been the most consistent room on offense. And it helps when they are running behind an offensive line that is also loaded with experience and depth.

“We got more backs, we’re stronger, tougher runners,” running backs coach David Johnson said. “They have a really good understanding of what's going on.”

FSU's first full-pads practice of preseason camp this morning was exactly as intense and competitive as you would imagine.

Here are our staff observations from Day 6 of preseason camp, including some impressive throws from DJ Uiagalelei, some less-proven linebackers rising to the occasion and much more.

FSU sports information:

Florida State golfer Gray Albright, who led the Seminoles to the cusp of the 2024 NCAA Division I Championship, is ranked No. 12 nationally on the list of rising seniors on the PGA Tour University preseason top 25 ranking for the 2024-25 season. Albright averaged a career-low 71.65 strokes as a junior in leading the Seminoles to the runner-up spot against Auburn in the NCAA Championship Finals at the Omni La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, Calif. He enters his senior season ranked among the top-20 golfers in school history with a 72.35 career stroke average.

Albright is one of six players from the ACC on the preseason top-25 list which includes players from 21 schools and eight different countries. A total of four schools – Arizona State, UCLA, North Carolina, and Oklahoma -- have two players each on the list. Also on the list from the ACC are players from Virginia, NC State, Louisville, and Duke.

Arizona State’s Preston Summerhays is No. 1 on the PGA TOUR University preseason top-25 list for the in 2024-25 season.

“Being named to the PGA Tour U Preseason top-25 list means a lot for both me and our team,” said Albright. “Most importantly, it says that we have a group of really good players on our team. PGA Tour U has given us the opportunity to have a place to play straight out of college and that’s huge. It’s really nice to know that good play in college will benefit you in the professional world.”

Albright has two career wins on his Seminole resume – the 2023 Seminole Intercollegiate and the 2024 Watersound Invitational. His best career single-round score of 65 in the first round of the 2023 Jackson T. Stephens Cup is tied for the 20th lowest single-round score in school history.

In partnership with the World Amateur Golf Ranking, PGA TOUR University ranks players based on the last two years of their collegiate careers. Eligible Tournaments include NCAA Division-I men’s team competitions, official PGA TOUR tournaments and select DP World Tour events.

The No. 1 player in the final PGA TOUR University Ranking in May 2025 will earn PGA TOUR membership, while players Nos. 2-5 (fully exempt) and Nos. 6-10 (conditional) will earn Korn Ferry Tour membership for 2025. Additionally, players ranked sixth through 25th ill earn fully exempt membership for the North America Swing of PGA TOUR Americas in 2025.

“Gray established himself as one of the top players in the country during his junior season,” said Florida State Head Coach Trey Jones. “His hard work and attention to detail helped him improve his world ranking by over 400 spots during the last year. Gray is a great example of hard work, determination, and talent. This is a well-deserved ranking for one of our team leaders.”

Introduced in 2020, PGA TOUR University identifies the best players in collegiate golf and provides membership opportunities on PGA TOUR-affiliated tours. PGA TOUR University alumni have won 24 professional events, and 12 alumni earned their PGA TOUR cards for the 2024 season.

2024-25 PGA TOUR University Preseason Ranking

Rank Name, University

1. Preston Summerhays, Arizona State

2. Omar Morales, UCLA

3. Brendan Valdes, Auburn

4. Calum Scott, Texas Tech

5. Jackson Van Paris, Vanderbilt

6. Jackson Buchanan, Illinois

7. David Ford, North Carolina

8. Ian Gilligan, Florida

9. Jose Luis Ballester Barrio, Arizona State

10. Phichaksn Maichon, Texas A&M

11. Deven Patel, Virgina

12. Gray Albright, Florida State

13. Maxwell Ford, North Carolina

14. Stephen Campbell Jr., Oklahoma

15. Justin Hastings, San Diego State

16. Pablo Ereno Perez, UCLA

17. Algot Kleen, LSU

18. Nicholas Mathews, NC State

19. Andrew Goodman, Oklahoma

20. Sebastian Moss, Louisville

21. Tiger Christensen, Arizona

22. Zac Jones, BYU

23. Luke Sample, Duke

24. Nathan Franks, South Carolina

25. Jake Peacock, South Florida