FSU Stock Report (May 3, 2016)

It’s quietly become a busy week for Florida State athletics. Last Thursday, Jalen Ramsey was selected fifth overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. FSU’s beach volleyball team is the top seed in the NCAA Tournament and the FSU baseball team is clinging to a top-5 national ranking. Here’s a look at what’s trending up and what’s trending down around Nole Nation:

Stock Up

FSU DH Quincy Nieporte: After a slow start to the 2016 season, Florida State baseball designated hitter Quincy Nieporte is on a tear. Last week, Nieporte was recognized as a player of the week by three separate publications. Over the last six games, Nieporte has raised his batting average 52 points to .295.

Former FSU K Roberto Aguayo: Florida State kicker Roberto Aguayo became the highest selected kicker in the NFL Draft in over a decade on Friday when he was selected 59th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That was the highest a kicker had been taken since Ohio State’s Mike Nugent went 47th overall to the New York Jets in 2005. Aguayo is expected to make his Bucs’ debut on Aug. 11 in a preseason contest against the Philadelphia Eagles.

FSU Softball: Florida State defeated Pittsburgh 15-5 on Sunday to clinch its fourth consecutive ACC regular season softball championship. The Seminoles have won eight straight and will face No. 1 Florida on Wednesday before resuming a contest against the top-ranked Gators that was halted in the ninth inning on April 13.

Former FSU G Malik Beasley: Former Florida State basketball guard Malik Beasley has been invited to the NBA Draft combine, which will run May 11-15. Beasley was just a blip on most’s radar a few months ago, but is now projected to go in the mid to late first round. The draft will be held on June 23.

Stock Down

FSU closer Tyler Warmoth: Florida State baseball closer Tyler Warmoth has had a tough go of it lately. On Monday, Warmoth gave up three runs to Clemson in the bottom of the eighth to allow the Tigers to extend a 4-3 lead to 7-3. In Warmoth’s previous appearance on April 23, Warmoth blew a save, giving up a 2-run home run in the ninth inning to Notre Dame’s Jake Shepski. In his last 3 1/3 innings of work, Warmoth has allowed five runs. Warmoth will face his former school on Wednesday as FSU travels to face Stetson.

FSU in the NFL Draft: There were 10 Florida State players who hoped to hear their names called over the 3-day NFL Draft, but only defensive back Jalen Ramsey and kicker Roberto Aguayo were selected. The two players taken were the lowest total for FSU since 2009 when defensive end Everette Brown was the only Seminole selected. This comes after FSU set a modern era record by having 29 players drafted over a 3-year span. As TDN’s Clint Eiland points out, the low output is probably more of a testament to what FSU has coming back, but it was still disappointing nonetheless.

Worth Mentioning

• FSU women’s track and field athlete Kellion Knibb was named the ACC’s Field Athlete of the Week on Monday. Knibb set a Penn Relays record in the discus, tossing it 58.55 meters.
• FSU third baseman Jessica Warren was named ACC Softball Player of the Week after going 9-for-16 at the plate in four games. Warren hit three home runs, drove in nine runs and touched home seven times during the stretch.
• Top-seeded FSU beach volleyball will open the NCAA Tournament in Gulf Shores, Alabama on Friday against Stetson.
  FSU men’s tennis will open the NCAA Tournament in Athens, Georgia against Baylor on May 13.