Florida State Seminoles news roundup: Amateur champ, Eligibility lawsuit, Wisner back, and more

As we continue to barrel toward Week 0 of the college football season and Florida State’s opener against New Mexico State, the news has been pouring out of fall camp. Young players on the rise, veterans returning from injury - all the typical storylines. 

However, FSU football isn’t the only sport making headlines. This edition of Renegade's Roundup: we’ll whip around to a few stories in other sports that you may have missed and then, of course, hit on a few items from fall camp that we can’t let go unnoticed. 

FSU golfer Jack Whaley becomes the U.S. Amateur champion

Donning his Florida State cap and the Seminole Garnet and Gold, 22-year-old senior Jack Whaley outlasted Jay Leng Jr. to win the U.S. Amateur on Sunday. In claiming the Havemeyer Trophy over the Stanford junior, Whaley has earned an exemption into the 2027 U.S. Open, the 2027 Open Championship at St. Andrews, and The Masters. 

 The Englishman and former NAIA star, who transferred to FSU from Dalton State, was stung by a wasp on the fourth fairway, but powered through to a 4 and 3 victory in the 36-hole final at Merion. 

He is the first Englishman to win the U.S. Amateur since Matt Fitzpatrick did it at Brookline in 2013. Fitzpatrick went on to win the 2022 U.S. Open at Brookline. The U.S. Open will return to Merion in 2030, 2040, and 2050. 

Alex Steen sues the NCAA seeking a 5th year of eligibility

When the NCAA adopted its five-in-five eligibility rule this summer, it opted not to grandfather in Class of 2022 athletes who had exhausted their eligibility in just four years. Many have since sued the NCAA and won injunctions, granting them a fifth year. 

Alex Steen, who started 29 games for Florida State last year after transferring from Division II Florida Southern College, where he played three seasons, is looking to do the same. He filed the lawsuit in Leon County District Court on Friday, August 14. Steen was not a part of previous legal filings, which have been successful and argued on the same grounds. 

To this point, Class of 2022 athletes have not been granted an injunction to enter the Transfer Portal, though former FSU quarterback Tommy Castellanos is suing for that right. However, until that lawsuit is decided, Steen would likely return to FSU after averaging 6.8 points and 5.8 rebounds in nearly 20 minutes a game for head coach Luke Loucks. 

Quintrevion Wisner is working his way back from injury

Texas transfer running back Quintrevion Wisner has missed most of fall camp with an undisclosed injury that offensive coordinator Tim Harris Jr. has described as “something minor.” That minor injury has lingered for a while, but during his most recent availability on Saturday, Harris told reporters that Wisner is “working himself back to getting in the fold.” 

In his absence, Ousmane Kromah has emerged as the clear RB1 in FSU’s backfield and, by all indications, is poised for a breakout sophomore season. 

More: QB2 competition was Kevin Sperry’s to lose, and now he might lose it

JuCo transfer Malachi Marshall missed all of spring football in Tallahassee and was even limited by injuries during fall camp. Yet, he’s already nipping at Kevin Sperry’s heels for the QB2 job. 

"It's an absolute competition and push," Norvell said. "We gave him an opportunity two weeks ago where he was live, and he got to go show himself in that type of situation. We actually came back and gave Kevin a couple series there on Saturday, during that tackling portion where he was live."

Ideally, FSU won’t have to know who is QB2 behind starter Ashton Daniels, but the competition is very real down the home stretch of fall camp, and it will be tough for Sperry to hold Marshall off.

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