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TGIF, Seminole!

A super spread out edition as we close out February. All sports are in go-mode:

🥎 Invitational Power Surge 🥎
No. 10 softball swept FGCU to open the Unconquered Invitational, flashing big innings, late responses, and clean closing work in the circle.

🏃 ACC Indoors: Day One Movers 🏃
Shenese Walker posted the fastest women’s 200 prelim time, while Durian Moss and Amare Williams advanced to Saturday’s men’s 200 final.

🏀 Seminoles Hoops: One Loss, One Big Add 🏀
The women fell at Duke after a strong start, but Luke Loucks answered with momentum on the trail: four-star guard Martay Barnes is in.

🎾 ACC Tennis Is Here 🎾
Men’s tennis opens league play at No. 17 Notre Dame and Louisville, leaning on ranked doubles and a long unbeaten run vs. both.

🥍 Another Measuring Stick 🥍
Lacrosse heads to No. 1 North Carolina with a young attack producing and Superia Clark anchoring the defense.

⚾ Howser Weekend Vibes ⚾
Baseball hosts The Citadel for a three-game set with Kids Club Saturday, Military Saturday, and Sunday Funday at the park.

🏀 Watkins Gets Paid 🏀
Former Seminole Jamir Watkins was converted from a two-way to a standard NBA contract with Washington.

🏈 Combine Watch: Darrell Jackson Jr. 🏈
Jackson checked in lighter at 315 with elite length — now it’s all about how the testing numbers match the traits.

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Florida State improved to 15–4 Thursday night, taking both ends of a doubleheader against FGCU (12–3, 5–3) at JoAnne Graf Field to open the Unconquered Invitational.

💣 Game 1: Offensive Avalanche
The Noles struck early with three runs in the first and exploded for eight more in the third.

The 5-6-7 trio of Kennedy Harp, Makenna Sturgis, and Bella Ruggiero went a perfect 6-for-6 with five runs and six RBI. Harp’s two-run blast in the first marked her first home run of the season.

Jazzy Francik (7–1) earned the win, while Makenna Reid closed it out efficiently.

⚡ Game 2: Late-Inning Response
After falling behind 3–0 in the fifth, FSU answered immediately with three runs to tie it — highlighted by Harp’s wall-scraping double and Ruggiero’s RBI knock.

Anna Hinde delivered the dagger in the sixth, launching a two-out, two-run homer to secure the 5–3 win.

Bella Dimitrijevic shut the door, retiring seven of the final eight batters for her third win, while Ashtyn Danley tossed three scoreless innings in the start.

Why It Matters:
Depth continues to show up with power in the middle of the order, timely hitting late, and multiple arms closing games cleanly. The Plex remains a fortress.

Up next: Doubleheader vs. Rutgers (10 a.m.).

👉 Read more for full stats and Invitational updates.

Florida State wrapped up day one of the ACC Indoor Championships in Boston with multiple finals qualifiers and early points on the board.

⚡ Sprint Surge
Top-seeded Shenese Walker cruised through the women’s 200 prelims, posting the fastest overall time (22.96) to advance to Saturday’s final. Lucy May Sleeman also punched her ticket with a 23.76.

On the men’s side, Durian Moss (20.80 PB) and Amare Williams (20.93 PB) each won their heats in the 200 to move on to the final. Neo Mosebi narrowly missed scoring, finishing 10th (21.19).

🏃 Distance Highlights
Kaden Levings placed seventh in the unseeded 5,000m with a personal best 14:00.10.

The women’s distance medley relay earned FSU its first point of the meet with an eighth-place finish (11:12.75), while the men’s DMR clocked the 10th-fastest time in program history (9:45.70).

Why It Matters:
The sprints are positioned for podium runs, and early momentum is building heading into day two.

Up next: Men’s long jump kicks off Friday at 1 p.m.

👉 Read more for full results and championship updates.

Florida State battled early but No. 12/14 Duke used a dominant second half to hand the Seminoles an 80–52 loss Thursday night at Cameron Indoor.

🔥 Shavers Sets the Tone
Jasmine Shavers poured in 21 points on 9-of-20 shooting, marking her sixth 20+ point performance of the season. She scored 12 in the opening quarter alone as FSU grabbed an early 20–17 lead.

Solé Williams added 12 points on a perfect 4-of-4 from the line, while Tatum Greene led the team with eight rebounds. Pania Davis (3 steals) and Allie Kubek (2 blocks, 2 steals) helped fuel early defensive pressure.

⚡ Turning Point
The Seminoles trailed just 33–29 at halftime and entered the fourth quarter down 55–40, but Duke’s perimeter shooting and second-half runs created separation late.

📊 By the Numbers
FSU forced eight first-half turnovers and converted them into 10 points, but the Blue Devils shot their way into control after the break.

Why It Matters:
The competitiveness showed in stretches, especially early, but sustaining that level for 40 minutes against elite ACC teams remains the hurdle heading into tournament week.

Up next: Regular-season finale at Wake Forest (Sunday, 4 p.m., ACC Network).

👉 Read more for full game recap and stats.

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Florida State (8–4) begins conference action this weekend with matchups at No. 17 Notre Dame (9–2) on Friday (5 p.m.) and at Louisville (9–4) on Sunday (12 p.m.).

📊 Series Confidence
The Seminoles ride strong history into both clashes — winners of nine straight over Notre Dame and nine of the last 11 against Louisville. FSU also defeated the Cardinals twice last season, including a 4–3 thriller in the ACC Tournament.

🎯 Rankings Watch
The duo of Erik Schiessl and Luis Felipe Miguel climbed to No. 14 nationally in doubles after earning ACC Duo of the Week honors. Schiessl (No. 62), Azariah Rusher (No. 81), and Miguel (No. 109) are all ranked in singles.

Why It Matters:
Conference play resets everything. Road wins against ranked competition would immediately boost FSU’s ACC positioning.

👉 Live stats and video available on Seminoles.com.

Florida State (2–4, 0–2 ACC) heads to Chapel Hill on Friday for a tall test against No. 1 North Carolina (4–0, 2–0 ACC). First draw is set for 5 p.m. on ACCNX at Dorrance Field.

🔥 Youth Movement on Offense
Redshirt freshman Summer Harrell is coming off her first career hat trick against No. 11 Boston College and now has eight goals on the season while also leading the team in assists.

🛡️ Defensive Anchor
Senior Superia Clark continues to set the tone on the back line, pacing the Seminoles with nine caused turnovers, including three in the last outing.

Why It Matters:
Another ranked ACC opponent, this time the defending national champs. It’s a measuring-stick moment for a young FSU squad looking to break through in conference play.

👉 Read more for full game notes and matchup details.

Florida State returns to Dick Howser Stadium for a three-game set against The Citadel (Feb. 27–March 1).

📅 Series Schedule
Friday – 12 p.m.
Saturday – 1 p.m.
Sunday – 1 p.m.

🎉 Weekend Themes at Howser
Saturday is Kids Club Day, with prize wheel spins and pack pickups, and Military Saturday presented by VyStar featuring in-game recognitions.

Sunday brings Sunday Funday which means free admission for Kids Club members and youth in little league jerseys, postgame base running for kids 12 and under, plus Mardi Gras beads while supplies last.

🎟 Game Info
FSU students receive free admission with FSUID (right field gate at Haggard Plaza). Gates open 60 minutes before first pitch.

👉 Tickets and full details available at Seminoles.com.

Luke Loucks continues to stack talent in Tallahassee; this time landing four-star combo guard Martay Barnes following his official visit earlier this week.

🔥 Reclass, Then Commit
Barnes recently reclassified from the 2027 class to 2026 and chose Florida State over Auburn after taking official visits to both. Previously a top-50 prospect in 2027, he now ranks No. 90 overall (No. 12 SG) in the 2026 class per 247Sports, maintaining four-star status.

The 6’2”, 170-pound Orlando product becomes the fifth high school pledge in Loucks’ 2026 class, joining Marcis Ponder, Collin Paul, Brandon Bass Jr., and Jasen Lopez.

⚡ Scouting Snapshot
Barnes plays in attack mode. He’s explosive off the bounce, thrives in transition, and has shown flashes as a lob thrower and off-the-dribble playmaker. He averaged 13.9 points, 3.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.8 steals on the 3SSB circuit.

He’s a high-volume (and currently streaky) three-point shooter, but with a fluid release that suggests room for growth. Defensively, his quick hands create turnovers — though sometimes at the cost of over-aggression.

🧠 Fit Under Loucks
The blueprint is clear: play fast, space the floor, let guards attack. FSU ranks top-25 nationally in tempo and takes over half its shots from three. With key backcourt minutes opening up next season, Barnes could step into immediate opportunity in a system built for pace and perimeter freedom.

Why It Matters:
Loucks is doubling down on Florida-based, high-upside guards who can play fast and stretch the floor. Barnes fits the identity so now it’s about refining efficiency and decision-making to unlock the ceiling.

Former Seminole Jamir Watkins is officially on a standard NBA contract after the Washington Wizards converted his two-way deal into a reported two-year agreement.

📈 Rookie Production
The 6’7” forward, drafted 43rd overall in 2025 and acquired by Washington on draft night, is averaging 5.7 points and 3.5 rebounds across 30 games (four starts).

Defense has been his calling card with multiple steals in six games and at least one steal in 13 of his last 16 appearances.

🧱 G-League Impact
In nine games with the Capital City Go-Go, Watkins averaged 13.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.9 steals — reinforcing his two-way value.

🎓 Seminole Roots
After beginning his career at VCU, Watkins closed with two seasons at Florida State, earning All-ACC Second Team honors as a senior in 2025.

Why It Matters:
Watkins has carved out a role through versatility and defensive activity and now he has the long-term security to continue developing at the NBA level.

👉 Read more for full contract details and pro outlook.

Florida State defensive tackle Darrell Jackson Jr. officially measured in at the NFL Combine and the number that stands out most is the weight.

📊 Updated Measurements
6’5½”
315 pounds
34¾” arms
11” hands

Jackson was listed at 337 pounds on FSU’s roster last season and weighed 328 at the East-West Shrine Bowl. He’s now down another 13 pounds heading into on-field drills.

⚡ What’s Next
Defensive linemen are scheduled to run the 40-yard dash Thursday around 3 p.m., giving scouts a clearer look at how the leaner frame translates athletically.

📈 Career Snapshot
Jackson finished with 25 consecutive starts at FSU, posting a career-high 45 tackles this past season. He leaves college with 129 tackles, 12 TFLs, and 7.5 sacks.

Why It Matters:
At 315 with elite length, Jackson’s physical profile just became even more intriguing. Now it’s about testing numbers to match the traits.

👉 Read more for full Combine updates.

Momentum is a funny thing.

Sometimes it shows up in eight-run innings.
Sometimes in a 22.96 on the clock.
Sometimes in a commitment tweet.

The through-line? Progress stacking in multiple places at once.

Appreciate you reading, Chief.
We’ll be back tomorrow.