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Football Recruiting Three-star DE Keysaun Eleazer leaves official visit excited about FSU's plan for him, updates recruiting process

Three-star defensive end prospect Keysaun Eleazer wrapped up his midweek official visit to FSU on Wednesday. And while the 6-6 and 205-pound defender has one more official visit left on his summer schedule it is clear that Eleazer left his visit to Tallahassee impressed by how FSU coaches plan to use him if he were to sign with the Seminoles in December. Eleazer also updated his timeline in making that decision.

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"I wanted to have a chance to get around the players and see if it was a fit, get around the scheme and continue to build connections around the staff," answered Eleazer when asked about what he wanted to accomplish during his official visit with Florida State during his midweek trip to Tallahassee.

The Southeast Raleigh (NC) High product left impressed with the emphasis FSU but on things outside of the practice and game field.

"So, I definitely saw that they view it as more than just football," said Eleazer. "They develop kids beyond football and football isn't going to last a whole lifetime. They will develop you as a man."

Eleazer also spoke about how FSU defensive coordinator Tony White and defensive line coach Terrance Knighton plan to use him their multiple front defense and that is what made the biggest impression on him.

"I just left a meeting with the defensive line coach to see how they plan on using me, so that really stood out to me," said Eleazer. "And to see how I would be utilized and see how it could transfer on to getting me to the next level as that is ultimately the next goal."
He also went on to explain that FSU views him as a player who could start out at the JACK position to take advantage of his pass rush skills early in his career but also as a player who as the potential to grow into a every down defensive end on either side of the line of scrimmage.

As far as a timeline is concerned, the lanky defender currently plans to announce his commitment on July 22. However, Eleazer who has also taken official visits to Stanford, Georgia Tech, NC State and Tennessee, still has a Virginia Tech this weekend before getting into decision making mode.

"I wouldn't say there is a leaderboard," explained Eleazer. "That's what I plan on doing (weighing the pros and cons of each program) after my last OV this weekend."

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Football Recruiting Relationships with Malzahn, Hand could help the Seminoles land DE/OLB Katrell Webb

Three-star defensive end/outside linebacker prospect Katrell Webb wrapped up his official visit with Florida State on Tuesday. Webb spoke with Osceola at the conclusion of his visit and said that FSU was one of three schools he would consider moving forward with his recruiting process.

And while it was important for him learn more about FSU's new defensive staff and their scheme, it could be his relationship with the Seminoles three new offensive assistants that make the difference in landing his signature in December.


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"It was great." Webb said of his two days on FSU's campus. "Always great to be down in Tallahassee.

One of the biggest things Webb wanted to learn from FSU head coach Mike Norvell and defensive line coach Terrance Knighton was how they plan to use him in the Seminoles multiple front defense under new coordinator Tony White.

"I really wanted to see is I fit in their new defensive system," said Webb. "I talked to Coach White, talked to Coach Knighton, you know I feel they have a great program going on down here, great new defensive staff."

FSU wants to take advantage of Webb's versatility as a defender.

"JACK, for sure," answered Webb when asked where FSU planned to play him.

And Webb likes the idea of playing the hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker position for the Seminoles.

"Being a stand up, the edge of the defense, being able to make plays in space, go out and cover, get fits, get sacks for sure," continued Webb. "It's similar to what I play at my high school, in my schematic defense. I am definitely familiar with it and can get the job done."

However, it might be Webb's relationships with FSU offensive staff that make the difference in whether or not he signs with the Seminoles or elsewhere.

"I was familiar with the offensive staff, previously where they were at UCF recruiting me for offense in my earlier years of recruiting," said Webb of new offensive assistant coaches Gus Malzahn, Tim Harris Jr. and Herb Hand. "So it was great to see them bond together for sure with Coach Malzahn and Coach Hand. They been my guys since eighth grade. So (having) them added to the program, it's really like the cherry on top for real."

Webb, who has also taken official visits to Stanford, Purdue, Indiana and Mississippi State, also updated where he is in his recruiting process.

"Right now, definitely FSU, here, and Purdue for sure," said Webb

And what stands out to Webb about FSU?

"Really being able to connect with all the people and being able to talk to everybody," said Webb. "I love the people down here," continued Webb. "It is really incomparable, the family feeling you get down here at FSU. That was my favorite part about it."

Webb also spoke about Mike Norvell's message to before he left campus.

"He talked about what do I want," began Webb when asked about Norvell's parting words. "I told him I wanted to be great. If I want to be great, he told me this is the place for me to be. He will push me to my limit. I feel like I could put trust in a guy like Coach Norvell, for sure. Seeing, being that he has been through it, put guys where I want to go. They put guys in the league. So, if that is where I wanted to go, that was definitely the message for me for sure."

The Suwannee (Ga.) Collins Hill High product says that FSU was his last official visit, and he could make a decision on which school he will commit to within the next week or so and that will decide between three schools: FSU, Purdue and Indiana.

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Football Recruiting FSU high on the board again for five-star RB Derrek Cooper

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Florida State wasn't cleanly in the picture for five-star athlete Derrek Cooper at the beginning of the new year.

After a poor showing on the field last season, the Seminoles were struggling to find momentum with Cooper as they had not had him back on campus since last summer's elite camp.

But a spring visit in March to Tallahassee reignited the interest from Cooper and an official visit was set. That visit began on Monday and ended just after noon on Tuesday.

The Seminoles and specifically Gus Malzahn pitched Cooper on being a Heisman caliber player in Florida State's new offense.

"When I was sitting the meeting, he was showing me a presentation on how he makes high level guys known and gets them on the Heisman boards. If you can run the ball, catch the ball - running backs even throw the ball in his offense."

Being developed and prepared for the NFL is the major factor in Cooper's recruitment, as his finalists all have a pedigree of getting players to the next level. Cooper got to see more of that side of Florida State over the last few days, as well as getting to spend more time with Head Coach Mike Norvell.

"I got to see a lot. Just sitting in the meetings with Coach Norvell. He's a great guy. FSU is high on my board again," Cooper said.

"That he wants me. He yells a lot," Cooper added on his conversations with Norvell. "I like that though because he is a great coach. He's always like that and that's what I'm looking for in a head coach - someone who is consistent."

Cooper has one official visit left to take - as he heads to Ohio State on Friday. He has already taken in visits to Miami, Georgia, Alabama and Auburn. It will be among this crop schools that Cooper hopes to make a decision at some point in July.

At the very least, the Seminoles have put themselves squarely back into the mix for a prospect they once were a top choice for. He stated a few times during his exit interview that FSU was back up high on his board.

"I've always loved Florida State. It was just good to get back here and just feel the tradition. It was great to get back up here," he said.

Baseball Florida State baseball portal needs as the offseason begins

The Florida State baseball team's 2025 season ended heartbreakingly close to a return trip to the College World Series.

Still, it's hard to argue the Seminoles' 2025 campaign, which ended Sunday night with a 14-10 loss at Oregon State, was anything other than a success. FSU lost multiple starting pitchers, its best reliever and four batters who were taken in the first four rounds of last year's MLB Draft -- including two first-round picks -- off the 2024 team. And yet, the FSU coaching staff did such a good job restocking the roster that even with those losses, the Seminoles nearly made a second straight trip to Omaha, which hasn't happened at FSU in 25 years.

As is often the case on highly-successful teams, FSU will again have a decent amount of production to replace this offseason so that the 2026 Seminoles can carry over the momentum of the last two seasons.

Here's a look at what FSU is losing and could stand to replace through the transfer portal this offseason:

Infield

The corners of the FSU infield seem likely to be locked down for 2026 with first baseman Myles Bailey (.327 with 19 homers) and third baseman Cal Fisher (.303 with eight home runs) both expected to return for their sophomore and junior seasons, respectively. The middle infield, though, is going to be brand new in 2026.

Shortstop Alex Lodise has played his way into first-round contention after his exceptional 2025 season (.394 with 17 home runs) which made him one of three finalists for the Golden Spikes Award. Second baseman Drew Faurot (.307 with 16 homers) is also likely to be off to the pros after finishing his junior season at FSU. These two each started all 58 of FSU's games this season as second-year transfers into FSU and were quite impactful both at the plate and as a middle-infield pairing in the field. That leaves a gaping hole that will certainly need to be addressed.

It's likely that FSU's first portal commit of the offseason, Davidson infield transfer Eli Putnam (.350 with 35 homers and 34 doubles the last two seasons) already addressed one of those spots. He projects as a second baseman if FSU wants to keep Fisher at third base, which would make sense.

Shortstop, though, remains up in the air. FSU has a few options on its own roster such as Noah Sheffield and Jace Estes. But at such an important position, Link Jarrett and staff may value finding a shortstop with more experience and more pop in his bat than the returning options on the roster.

Outfield

FSU is also likely to lose two members of its starting outfield from this year's team in center fielder Max Williams (.321 with 19 homers) and right fielder Gage Harrelson (.339 with .444 on-base percentage and 17 extra-base hits). Both are juniors who are likely to be well-regarded enough in this year's draft class that they don't elect to give up their final year of negotiating leverage and return to the Seminoles for their senior season.

That leaves FSU just one full-time starter from this year's outfield back in 2026 in rising junior Chase Williams. The junior-college transfer suffered a shoulder injury early in the season which first knocked him out for an extended time and then somewhat limited him even when he returned, forcing him to give up being a switch-hitter the rest of the season. Still, Williams managed to be quite effective in the field with some remarkable plays and at the plate with his blazing speed (18 for 20 on stolen bases, quite a few infield hits) and the power he found in the postseason with two NCAA Tournament home runs. He's likely to move to centerfield in 2026 as his athleticism allows him to cover a larger swathe of land out there.

FSU does have a few internal options it could consider to fill up the other two spots in the outfield. Brody DeLamielleure platooned as a DH down the stretch of the season with James Hankerson Jr. while playing some left field earlier in the season. JUCO transfer Blayden Plain was expected to be in the mix at first base and in the corner outfield spots before suffering an injury which sidelined him all season long. Either of them are certainly options. However, it's another spot where the Seminoles could look for a boost through the portal like they got from Max Williams ahead of the 2024 season or from Harrelson in 2025.

Pitching

I know, I know...This probably should have been first on this list. Like the trenches in football, pitching is something that needs to be addressed every offseason through the transfer portal. With the ups and downs all pitchers go through and the injuries that always seem to occur over the course of a long season, you can truly never have enough pitchers on a college baseball team.

Among the starters, FSU is losing Jamie Arnold (2.98 ERA each of the last two seasons with 278 strikeouts over 190.1 innings), who is likely to be a top-five or at worst top-10 pick in July's MLB Draft. It's also possible FSU loses another starter in Joey Volini (3.50 ERA over a team-high 87.1 inning). However, that's not a guarantee as he doesn't have a significant amount of draft stock this year. Volini would forfeit his final year of leverage with the MLB if he returned to FSU for his redshirt senior season, but it could also potentially boost his stock and show MLB teams a larger sample size of what he's capable of on the mound.

Another question mark on the mound is Evan Chrest. The Jacksonville transfer and junior RHP was effective as FSU's midweek starter before suffering an arm injury on March 11 vs. Florida that forced him to miss the final three months of the season. He was still around the team throughout the rest of the season after undergoing surgery and appeared to be progressing well as he was no longer wearing the brace he was sporting on his arm by the end of the season. The questions, though, are if Chrest will be healthy enough to be back on the mound by February 2026 and if he elects to return to college or if he's draftable enough even while he's still recovering for a pro team to take a chance on him.

The lone returning starter for certain is rising junior LHP Wes Mendes (5.42 ERA over 78 innings). Mendes' first season with the Seminoles was a bit of a roller coaster which brutally ended in a valley when he allowed seven runs over two-thirds of an inning in Game 3 of the super regional at Oregon State. However, before that, he appeared to have really found something of late, throwing five or more innings in six of his seven starts before that while greatly reducing his walks and extra-base hits off him. A step in consistency this offseason under pitching coach Micah Posey would greatly help Mendes as his stuff is certainly good enough and he enters the offseason as a strong contender to be FSU's Friday starter next season.

In the bullpen, Joe Charles (4.84 ERA over 35.1 innings) is out of eligibility. While he didn't have a good super regional, he was far and away FSU's most reliable bullpen arm down the stretch of the 2025 season. Connor Hults, who threw just 5.2 innings this season due to injury after he was a valuable arm in FSU's 2024 postseason run, is also out of eligibility. But there are quite a few relievers who could return.

John Abraham (4.64 ERA over 33 innings) was a bit up and down this season as a sophomore, but his highs were exceptionally high and demonstrated his potential. VCU transfer Maison Martinez (5.55 ERA over 24.1 innings) is a rising senior and could potentially return to the Seminoles depending on where his draft stock is. He was a valuable early-season arm before he missed time and never again found his form after returning. Chris Knier (4.75 ERA over 30.1 innings) was effective out of the bullpen when he was in the strike zone. Rising junior Peyton Prescott (5.15 ERA over 36.1 innings) touched 100 miles per hour vs. Oregon State and has the chance to be a critical pitcher for the Seminoles in 2026 if he's available. He left the final game of the Corvallis Super Regional with an apparent arm injury, which is always concerning to see for a pitcher.

It also bears mentioning that all five FSU players who have entered the transfer portal as of Wednesday, according to D1Baseball, are pitchers in Hudson Rowan, Nick Greaney, David Davila, Matt Hoag and Mason McDougall. None of them had particularly large roles in 2025 and only two ever pitched in games this season.

Still, FSU is in need of multiple arms, both potential starters and likely bullpen arms to bolster those units and help ensure that the struggles from this past season (too many walks and big innings allowed) aren't nearly as big a problem in 2026.

Baseball Live Updates: FSU vs. Oregon State in Game 1 of the Corvallis Super Regional (6 p.m. on ESPN2)

After a few days of waiting and a cross-country trip by the team, Florida State baseball's super regional is finally here.

The ninth-seeded Seminoles (42-14) are in Corvallis, Ore. this week for a three game series at No. 8 seed Oregon State (45-13-1) with a trip to Omaha and the College World Series on the line. Game 1 is set for a 6 p.m. EST start on ESPN from Goss Stadium.

This will be the first time FSU and Oregon State have faced off. The Seminoles are looking for their 25th CWS appearance overall and their second in a row while OSU is looking for its first CWS appearance since 2018 and its eighth overall.

The two teams begin this weekend's super regional with differing approaches on the mound. FSU is keeping No. 2 starter Joey Volini (8-5 3.68 ERA) in its first spot after he started last week's regional opener vs. Bethune-Cookman. He's thrown just 97 pitches in total over the last two weeks, coming out of the bullpen in FSU's ACC Semifinal loss to North Carolina and throwing just three innings in a weather-shortened start vs. BCU. The belief is that a few weeks of lesser usage could have him better prepared to start Game 1 and prevent FSU from throwing its ace, Jamie Arnold, on one day less rest than usual.

Oregon State, on the other hand, will be bumping a starting pitcher up a day for Game 1. The Beavers are starting freshman RHP Dax Whitney (6-3, 3.78 ERA) for the first game of the super regional after he started last Saturday vs. TCU and threw a season-high 104 pitches. Whitney's numbers are impressive in their own right, but especially considering he's a true freshman. He has 101 strikeouts to 33 walks over 66.2 innings this season. In his last three outings, Whitney has allowed three earned runs on eight hits over 17.1 innings, striking out 29 batters while walking six.

FSU baseball's radio voice Eric Luallen shared on X that the next three days are going to be hotter than expected in Corvallis, starting at 86 today and reaching into the mid-90s on Sunday.

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With a right-handed pitcher on the mound, James Hankerson Jr. will get the start at DH for the Seminoles in Game 1 while Hunter Carns will get the start behind the plate and hit ninth.

Meanwhile, OSU put eight right-handed hitters in its starting lineup to face Volini.

FSU lineup

1rf9 Gage HarrelsonL.335
2ss1 Alex LodiseR.405
3cf18 Max WilliamsL.314
41b12 Myles BaileyL.328
53b4 Cal FisherR.310
62b3 Drew FaurotB.308
7lf5 Chase WilliamsB.350
8dh51 James Hankerson Jr.B.256
9c25 Hunter CarnsR.266

Oregon State lineup

1rf6 Talt, EastonL.272
2ss13 Arquette, AivaR.352
3lf1 Turley, GavinR.352
4c18 Weber, WilsonR.329
53b44 Caraway, TrentR.276
62b7 Singer, AJR.319
7dh54 Peterson, TyceR.281
8cf23 Reeder, CanonR.296
91b22 Krieg, JacobR.239

Unfortunately, we do not have anyone in Corvallis this weekend. I'll be covering the super regional remotely and sharing updates in the thread below once the game gets underway.
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Baseball Live Updates: FSU vs. Oregon State in winner-take-all Game 3 of Corvallis Super Regional

The Florida State baseball team showed its resilience Saturday night with an impressive 3-1 road win to bounce back from a heart-breaking 5-4 loss to force Game 3 of the Corvallis Super Regional.

But that win on its own means little if the Seminoles can't carry that momentum into Sunday's winner-take-all Game 3. The ninth-seeded Seminoles (42-15) will play No. 8 seed Oregon State (46-14-1) Sunday at 9 p.m. from Goss Stadium in Corvallis, Ore. with a spot in the College World Series on the line for the winner.

FSU is looking to clinch consecutive trips to the CWS for the first time since the Seminoles made three straight trips since 1998 through 2000. It is also looking to be the only team from last year's CWS field to make it back to Omaha this season.

With its season on the line for the second straight night, FSU will turn to sophomore LHP Wes Mendes (7-2, 4.66 ERA). The Ole Miss transfer is coming off his best collegiate start in the closing win of FSU's regional last Sunday, allowing two runs on five hits over eight innings with nine strikeouts and two walks. Mendes has thrown five-plus innings in each of his last four starts and six of his last starts since he appeared to hit a wall midway through the season.

Oregon State will start redshirt freshman RHP James DeCremer (3-0, 4.72), who will be making his third career start. His second career start came on Monday, when he delivered five shutout innings in the Beavers' Corvallis Regional Final vs. USC, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out six batters. That start is his only appearance since May 13 and he's thrown just 26.2 innings all season compared to Mendes' 77.1 innings this season.

After both catchers made an impact in their first starts of the regional, FSU made a change by putting both of them in the starting lineup for Sunday's game. Hunter Carns will DH and hit seventh while Jaxson West will catch and hit eighth

FSU lineup

1rf9 Gage HarrelsonL.335
2ss1 Alex LodiseR.396
3cf18 Max WilliamsL.314
41b12 Myles BaileyL.318
53b4 Cal FisherR.311
62b3 Drew FaurotB.307
7dh25 Hunter CarnsR.273
8c20 Jaxson WestL.243
9lf5 Chase WilliamsB.327

OSU lineup

13b44 Caraway, TrentR.266
2ss13 Arquette, AivaR.352
3lf1 Turley, GavinR.345
4c18 Weber, WilsonR.335
52b7 Singer, AJR.317
6dh54 Peterson, TyceR.276
71b22 Krieg, JacobR.250
8cf23 Reeder, CanonR.297
9rf9 McEntire, CarsonR.257

I'll have updates once again for this late-night tilt.

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Football Recruiting Florida State makes its case for dual-sport athlete Jasen Lopez

There may not be an uncommitted WR prospect in South Florida that Florida State covets more than Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade Madonna receiver Jasen Lopez.

The four-star slot receiver has been a target that the Seminoles identified early in the year and they finally got the dual-sport athlete on campus for a visit over the weekend. Lopez was due in to visit campus unofficially in April but the tragic shooting on campus cancelled that visit.

This made the past weekend's official visit all that more important as the Seminoles had to jam pack the weekend full of activities to make up for lost time.

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It was great," Lopez said exiting his official visit. "I can't complain about anything. The facilities, the people, the genuine nature. It was just great, everything."

"Honestly just being around these guys. I'm going to be here for the next three to four years, so just being around there and seeing how they think," he later added. "Also getting in the meeting room and seeing how they can use me in their offense was a big part that I was looking forward to. Obviously I know the facilities, campus and everything else is nice."

Florida State sees Lopez as a true slot threat that can be a playmaker with the ball in his hands.

"They feel like I can be a playmaker in their offense. They can move me around and those are the kind of people that they look for. Just people that are versatile and can do many things - playmakers honestly," Lopez explained.

But Lopez's recruitment has a unique flavor, as the four-star's goal is play both football and basketball at the next level. New FSU basketball Coach Luke Loucks offered Lopez in basketball during the spring and Lopez spent some time with the basketball staff on the official visit.

"I went to the basketball facilities and went through that. I met some of the coaches that they just hired with Coach Loucks. I was able to get on the phone with him; he wasn't here this weekend because he was with some family. It played a big part, honestly. They went into detail in how they would use me. It meant a lot to me and my family that they said if I weren't a football recruit that they would still recruit me for basketball," Lopez said.

"It's something that me and my family evaluate," Lopez continued when asked how to balance a recruitment in both sports. "You can tell if they have a good relationship between the football and basketball staff and their communication. I can tell if they have planned it out and that's something that we've been looking at. FSU did a great job with this."

Lopez went on to say that Mike Norvell is open to him playing both sports if he signs with Florida State. Of course, the Seminoles are not the only school to be pitching this opportunity, as all of his finalists have also leaned into Lopez dream's of being a dual-sport collegiate athlete.

But what Florida State may have going for them is the fact that multiple underclassmen currently on roster have been competing in multiple sports in recent years under Norvell.

"It is something they brought up. They said how they actually have people who do it and are not just talking to talk. They have guys on the roster that do it now and at a high level. They did bring that up to us. It means something because it's one thing to say it and another thing to actually do it," Lopez said.

The Rivals250 receiver has already taken in official visits to NC State, West Virginia and Georgia Tech. But perhaps the biggest challenger in Lopez's recruitment is hometown Miami.

Lopez is going to take his final official visit to Miami this upcoming weekend and then enter decision mode.

"I'm just trying to wait and see. I'm going to take these visits and hopefully I'm able to commit sometime in July - maybe August."

Lopez is ranked as the No. 4 slot receiver prospect in the country by Rivals and is currently considered to be the No. 151 prospect in the country nationally.

Baseball Live Updates: FSU vs. Oregon State in Game 2 of Corvallis Super Regional (Saturday, 9 p.m. on ESPN2)

The Florida State baseball team had about 24 hours to move past a heartbreaking loss before playing with its season on the line late Saturday night.

The Seminoles were one out (and even one strike) away from stealing an upset Game 1 win over Oregon State in the Corvallis Super Regional at Goss Stadium. But the Beavers rallied for three two-out runs in the ninth to send the game to extras and another run in the 10th to walk off with an improbable 5-4 win over the Seminoles. FSU now needs to win two straight road games at Oregon State to punch its second straight ticket to Omaha.

The first of those games will be played Saturday at 9 p.m. EST (6 p.m. local time) and broadcast on ESPN2. FSU will be the home team in Game 2 of the super regional and would again be the road team if it forces a winner-take-all third game on Sunday (time and channel TBA).

The good news for FSU -- which also makes blowing Friday's game more frustrating -- is that it held back ace pitcher Jamie Arnold for the second game of the series, electing not to throw him on short rest. FSU's ace, who is expected to be a top-five or top-ten pick in next month's MLB Draft, is coming off perhaps his best start of the reason last Saturday in FSU's regional win over Mississippi State. The junior lefty allowed three runs on five hits over seven innings, striking out a season-high 13 batters while walking just two.

Oregon State is countering with sophomore LHP Ethan Kleinschmit (8-3, 3.70 ERA) on the mound. He's been the Beavers' Sunday starter and will be on one day shorter rest after last throwing 114 pitches last Sunday vs. St. Mary's. Kleinschmit has been fairly reliable for OSU, allowing more than four earned runs in a start just once this season back on March 30 vs. Nebraska. He's thrown a team-high 80.1 innings this season and has struck out 95 batters and walked 30. He has allowed 11 home runs on the season, but none of those have come in his last three starts.

With a lefty starter on the mound for the opposing team, Brody DeLamielleure gets the nod at DH for the Seminoles on Saturday. Jaxson West gets the start at the plate after Hunter Carns' strong night on Friday. There's also a shuffle in the order as Chase Williams shifts down to the nine-hole, changing the speed complexion of the lineup as it turns over.

FSU lineup

1rf9 Gage HarrelsonL.335
2ss1 Alex LodiseR.401
3cf18 Max WilliamsL.311
41b12 Myles BaileyL.325
53b4 Cal FisherR.313
62b3 Drew FaurotB.307
7dh23 Brody DeLamielleureR.252
8c20 Jaxson WestL.241
9lf5 Chase WilliamsB.340

OSU lineup

1rf6 Talt, EastonL.270
2ss13 Arquette, AivaR.353
3lf1 Turley, GavinR.348
4c18 Weber, WilsonR.332
53b44 Caraway, TrentR.270
62b7 Singer, AJR.321
7dh54 Peterson, TyceR.282
8cf23 Reeder, CanonR.297
91b22 Krieg, JacobR.245

I'll provide updates once the game gets underway.

Breakdown of recent commits

FSU was at 9 commitments before this past week. They landed WR Brandon Bennett-6'0-170 (American Heritage Plantation, DL James Carrington (Crean Lutheran) 6'2 257, DL Wihlley Caedau (Booker T Washington-Atlanta, GA) 6'5-290 and LB Noah Lavalle (Walton HS) 6'2-220. When you look at the recruiting breakdown by position that leaves FSU right now with 0 (QB), 1 (RB), 3 (WR) 0 (TE), 2 (OL) 1 (DE), 1 (DT), 2 (LB) 2 (S) and 1 (CB). FSU will look to sign a QB, possibly another RB, 1-2 WR, 1 -TE, 2-3 OL, 1-DE, 2 DT, 1 LB, 1 S and another CB. I think you could see Jaden O’Neal and Chauncey Kennon end up in the class real soon.

BREAKDOWN

WR Brandon Bennett (American Heritage): 6'0-170:
Bennett fastest (100m) times were in March and May of this year. He timed in at 10.50, 1052, and 10.56 (100m) this year in track and field. He is one of the fastest players in the nation. When you have elite speed, you can change a game on one play. He had a kickoff return last year in the state finals.

DE James Carrington (Crean Lutheran) 6'2 260: One thing you have to like on film is Carrington has a motor. He keeps going even when it looks like Carrington does not have a shot at making the play. He has above average burst off the ball. His play reminds me a little bit of Keir Thomas. Will be interesting to see where he lines up in FSU new scheme. Solid get and should be able to provide some production for FSU.

DL Wihtlley Cadeau (Booker T. Washington - Georgia) 6'5 290: He is a prospect that has some upside. Plays a little high. He is going to have to work on his technique. He does get off blocks and get into the backfield. He lacks elite level burst off the ball. Very raw prospect that will need to be developed. Will you have the time to get that done? He is someone that I could see ending up on the offensive line. He is going to be 320 pounds and is athletic enough to play tackle in college.

LB Noah LaVallee (Walton HS) 6'2 220: One thing that stands out on film is his instincts. He seems to flow to the ball before it is snapped. Really like his ability to see something and react quickly. He does a good job of diagnosing plays. You will see him track down ball carriers. Like his versatility. You can move him around and Noah will make plays. I think he could be a very good player in college. This may be an underrated get at this time.

DT Tico Crittendon (Lithonia) 6'4-300: Tico is probably the best of the defensive lineman they took. He is violent with his hands. I like the way he comes off the ball and gets into the backfield. He has a quick first step off the ball. He is very effective against the run.He has a chance to be a very good player at the next level.

Football FSU's 14 straight top-four finishes ranks among ESPN's most unbreakable records

Former FSU outside linebackers coach Jim Gladden alerted me to this ESPN cover story today. Lots of props for FSU's streak of 14 top four finishes which comes in at No. 3 on their list of the top 10.

Here's what ESPN had to say about it:

"For all the late Bobby Bowden accomplished during his Hall of Fame career, his remarkable consistency could be the most impressive thing. His Florida State teams finished in the top five of every final AP poll from 1987 to 2000, an amazing run no matter the era.

"Bowden finished his legendary 34-year career at FSU with two national championships (and could have won a few more had it not been for those dreaded missed field goals against Miami), and more importantly, he put Florida State football on the map.

"Think about it: Fourteen straight top-five finishes. Pete Carroll had some dominant teams at USC, and the Trojans' longest streak was seven straight top-five finishes (2002-08). The same is true for Oklahoma under Wilkinson (1952-58). And while Alabama won six national titles under Nick Saban, his longest run of top-five seasons was five in a row (2014-18)."

As Gladden pointed out, those 14 straight weren't just top 5, they were top 4 finishes. And yes, top four is even harder to do than top five.

ESPN's List of Unbreakable Records

Football Recruiting Seminole Sidelines: FSU picks up three commitments after recruiting weekend

On Wednesday's edition of the Osceola's Seminole Sidelines, Patrick Burnham and Nick Carlisle discuss FSU picking up three commitments (Tico Crittendon, Tank Carrington and Noah LaVallee) after a weekend of official visits.

Thanks to Seminole Sidelines' sponsors: Alumni Hall and Mowrey Law Firm.

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