The Daily Nole

Seminole Saturday Summary: Noles Ink 17 During Early Signing Period, FSU Softball Named Top Postseason Team of Decade

FSU athletics

The first Early Signing Period for new Florida State head coach Mike Norvell was a successful one with the majority of the damage being done on Wednesday.

The Seminoles entered the day with the No. 26 overall class, according to the 247Sports Composite, and just 13 total commitments. FSU ended the day with 18 commitments, including 17 who signed and a class that ranks No. 21.

The Wednesday commitments included a pair of 4-star prospects in quarterback Chubba Purdy, who flipped from Louisville and wide receiver Bryan Robinson. FSU also added a pair of top-600 prospects in 3-star wide receiver Kentron Poitier and defensive end Josh Griffis. Griffis was once an FSU commitment, but flipped to Louisville before flipping back. The lone other addition was Australian punter Alex Mastromanno.

The lone unsigned commitment was 2-sport star Malachi Wideman. Wideman, a wide receiver on the gridiron and a guard on the hardwood, is expected to play both football and basketball at Florida State. Wideman will sign in February.

4-star defensive end Morven Joseph was the only player FSU had realistic hopes of signing this week that did not pick the Seminoles. The Lakeland native committed to Tennessee.

FSU softball won six straight elimination games to capture the 2018 national championship. (Maury Neipris/FSU athletics)

Florida State softball is more than a month away from beginning its 2020 season, but the Seminoles were recognized this week for their success in past seasons.

Softball American named FSU the No. 5 team of the 2010s and the No. 1 postseason team of the decade. The Seminoles won six ACC titles during the decade, including each of the last five. During the 2010s, FSU reached the Women’s College World Series three times and haven’t failed to reach the Super Regional round since 2012.

In 2018, FSU won its only national championship as a fastpitch program. The Seminoles won six straight elimination games to reach the championship round where they topped Washington in two games. FSU posted a record of 448-125-1 during the decade and has won at least 50 games in each of the last four and in five of the last six seasons.

Ahead of FSU for top team of the decade were Oklahoma, Florida, UCLA and Alabama. Florida State opens its 2020 season at home against North Carolina in the JoAnne Graf Classic on Feb. 7.

Football

Record: 6-6 (4-4 ACC)
Ranking: None
Past Week: Idle
Upcoming: vs. Arizona State (Dec. 31, Sun Bowl)
Recognitions:None
Weekly Commitments: Kentron Poitier, 3-star WR (No. 487 overall)*; Josh Griffis, 3-star DE (No. 558 overall)*; Alex Mastromanno, P (Unranked)*; Bryan Robinson, 4-star WR (No. 174 overall)*; Chubba Purdy, 4-star QB (No. 200 overall)*;
Weekly Decommitments: Alex Atcavage, 3-star G (Unranked)*
2020 Recruiting Class Ranking: No. 21 nationally, fourth in ACC (18 total commitments)*
Big Picture: Florida State had a solid Early Signing Period. The Seminoles signed two quarterbacks and addressed several needs.

Men’s Basketball

Record: 10-2 (1-1 ACC)
Ranking: No. 19 AP Poll; No. 19 USA Today Coaches Poll
Past Week: (2-0), defeated North Florida, 98-81; defeated South Florida, 66-60
Upcoming: vs. North Alabama (Saturday)
Recognitions: None
Weekly Commitments: None
2020 Recruiting Class Ranking: No. 26 nationally, sixth in ACC (3 total commitments)*
Big Picture: Florida State will play just one more non-conference game before playing 18 straight ACC contests. The Seminoles scored a pair of wins this week over in-state competition.

Weekly Review

North Florida 81, (19) FSU 98
Tuesday, Dec. 17

Freshman center Balsa Koprivica scored a career-high 15 points to lead a Florida State team that shot 57 percent from the field and remained perfect at home. North Florida’s Ivan Gandia-Rosa led all scorers with 23 points and shot 4-for-9 from deep. Garrett Sams was also 4-for-9 from distance for the Ospreys and finished with 20 points. North Florida shot 46 percent and made 13 3-pointers, but were handled on the glass, 39-27. In addition to Koprivica’s big night, six other Seminoles scored in double-figures. M.J. Walker scored 12 points on 5-for-7 shooting. RaiQuan Gray, Dominik Olejniczak, Devin Vassell, Trent Forrest and Patrick Williams each finished with 11 points.

South Florida 60, (19) FSU 66
Saturday, Dec. 21 (Orange Bowl Classic)

Florida State trailed 17-4 out of the gate and by as many as 10 more than midway through the second half, but the Seminoles closed the game on a 19-3 run to prevail over short-handed South Florida. Despite a relatively quiet afternoon, Devin Vassell’s jumper with about two minutes to play put FSU ahead for good. Down the stretch, the Bulls went more than six minutes without a field goal and just one point. RaiQuan Gray, Anthony Polite, Trent Forrest and M.J. Walker all scored 11 points to lead FSU. Michael Durr led South Florida with 15 points and seven rebounds. Guards David Collins and Laquincy Rideau each added 14 points in the loss. The Bulls dominated FSU on the glass, 42-28.

Women’s Basketball

Record: 11-0 (1-0 ACC)
Ranking: No. 8 AP Poll; No. 8 USA Today Coaches Poll
Past Week: (2-0), defeated St. John’s, 74-70; defeated North Florida, 70-41
Upcoming: vs. Michigan (Sunday, Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase in Uncasville, CT)
Recognitions: None
Big Picture: Florida State remained undefeated with a pair of wins this week. FSU wraps up non-conference play on Sunday against a good Michigan team.

Weekly Review

St. John’s 70, (8) FSU 74
Sunday, Dec. 15

Florida State trailed by eight early in the second quarter of its closest game of the season, but rallied to take a 3-point lead at halftime and never trailed again. The Seminoles would lead by as many as 15 in the second half before holding off St. John’s. FSU’s Nausia Woolfolk shot 10-for-18 from the field and scored a game-high 25 points in the win. Kiah Gillespie added 13 points and 13 rebounds for the Seminoles. Qadashah Hoppie led the Red Storm with 16 points.

North Florida 41, (8) FSU 70
Wednesday, Dec. 18

Florida State held North Florida to just 28 percent shooting as it dominated to stay undefeated on Wednesday. The Seminoles never trailed in the contest. River Baldwin finished with a career-high 19 points and eight rebounds to pace FSU. Kiah Gillespie added 13 points and eight boards in the victory. Morgan Jones chipped in with 11 points on 5-for-7 shooting. Jazz Bond led the Ospreys with 14 points.

Other News

FSU football has added TCU offensive line coach Chris Thomsen as deputy head coach.

FSU softball has unveiled its 2020 schedule.

FSU soccer defender Gabby Carle was selected to the United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-East Region Academic team.

FSU hoops will play in the Charleston Classic next season from Nov. 19 to Nov. 22.

FSU soccer forward Deyna Castellanos was named to TopDrawerSoccer’s Best XI first team. Malia Berkely was named to the third team. Jenna Nighswonger was named to Best XI Freshman second team.

FSU will hire Mississippi State’s Chris Marve as linebackers coach.

Louisville defensive end Jarrett Jackson will transfer to Florida State.

FSU defensive end Janarius Robinson said he plans to return for his redshirt senior season.

FSU quarterback Alex Hornibrook and linebacker Dontavious Jackson have left the program to focus on the NFL Draft.

FSU is “set to hire” Maryland assistant John Papuchis as special teams and defensive ends coach.

FSU running back Khalan Laborn and safety Hamsah Nasirildeen will miss the Sun Bowl after undergoing procedures.

FSU baseball will begin No. 15 in the Collegiate Baseball Poll.

Former Charlotte assistant Alex Atkins is expected to be named the new offensive line coach at Florida State.

*247Sports Composite rankings

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. Like The Daily Nole on Facebook. To pitch an idea, author a post or to learn more about The Daily Nole, email Mike Ferguson at Mike@TheDailyNole.com.