🏹 April 23rd - The Chief Brief 🏹

Midweek Heat Check: Portal Power Moves, Comeback Wins & Recruiting Pushes

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The Chief
April 23, 2025

Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

What’s your reaction to FSU Baseball’s 30-7 start?

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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

It’s Wednesday in Tallahassee, and things are heating up across the board. ☀️

After a brief lull following last week’s campus shutdown, Florida State is back in motion — and fast. From a thrilling baseball comeback win to portal visits lining up and 2026 recruiting targets needing to be locked in, this week is shaping up to be a pivotal one for the ‘Noles.

Here’s what’s on deck in today’s edition:

⚾ Comeback Kings: No. 4 FSU rallies past Stetson to notch win No. 30 — with fireworks from Harrelson, Williams, and Carns.

🚪 Portal Watch: Houston CB Jeremiah Wilson visits Thursday. DL + WR targets heating up as the clock ticks toward Friday’s portal deadline.

📋 Post-Spring Snapshot: We’ve got a full breakdown of FSU’s offensive two-deep, featuring rising freshmen, depth questions, and returning stars.

🔁 Transfer Window Movement: FSU’s needs are clear (CB, WR, DL), and the offer train is rolling — with new names and key updates inside.

🗓️ Recruiting Rundown: Over 60 summer official visits already scheduled — and five more names FSU needs to lock in now.

It’s a loaded Wednesday, and we’ve got every angle covered. Let’s get into it. 👇

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⚾ Comeback Noles! No. 4 FSU Rallies Past Stetson for 30th Win

Resilience + fireworks = another W at The Howser. 💣🔥

No. 4 Florida State stormed back from a 4-0 deficit to beat Stetson 11–6 Tuesday night, improving to 30–7 on the season and extending their home win streak over the Hatters to 19 straight.

📈 Game Highlights:

• Gage Harrelson: 2 hits, 4 RBI, diving catch + homer
• Chase Williams: 2 hits, 4 SBs (tied 4th-most in FSU history), 2 RBI, 3 R
• Hunter Carns: 3-run 💣 in the 7th to ice it — his 6th of the year
• Max Williams: Team-leading 15th HR
• John Abraham (W, 3-0): 1.2 scoreless innings in relief
• Chris Knier: Locked it down with a clean 2-inning save

🔢 Stat Sheet:

• FSU: 11 runs on 8 hits | 3 HRs
• Stetson: 6 runs on 10 hits | 3 errors
• FSU now 70–26 all-time vs. Stetson

🛣️ Next Up: Top-20 showdown at No. 19 Louisville (April 25–27)

🚪 Transfer Alert: CB Jeremiah Wilson Visiting FSU Thursday

One of the top defensive backs in the portal is heading to Tallahassee. 👀

Houston cornerback Jeremiah Wilson will visit Florida State on Thursday, he confirmed to Noles247 — his only scheduled visit at this time.

📋 Quick Profile:
• 🏈 5'10", 185 lbs | Kissimmee, FL native
• ⭐ 92 Transfer Portal Grade (247Sports)
• 📈 2024: 16 tackles, 4 INTs, 4 PBUs | 86.4 PFF Grade
• 🔁 Recruited by Tony White at Syracuse (2022)

🎯 Why It Matters:
• Cornerback remains one of FSU’s most pressing portal needs
• Wilson brings elite production + system familiarity under Tony White

🏈 Post-Spring Offensive Two-Deep: Early Fall Forecast for FSU

Florida State wrapped up spring practice and is now moving into the exit interview phase — but before more portal movement, here's where the offense stands today. 🔍

📋 Projected Two-Deep (Offense)

Quarterback
1️⃣ Tommy Castellanos ("The Franchise")
2️⃣ Brock Glenn
🧠 Freshman Kevin Sperry flashed legit upside — sub-package potential?

Running Back
1️⃣ Roydell Williams (RB1 for now)
2️⃣ Jaylin Lucas / Ousmane Kromah (Top-5 recruit arrives this summer)

Tight End / H-Back
• Landen Thomas / Markeston Douglas (in-line)
• Randy Pittman / Chase Loftin (H-back, flex weapons)

Wide Receiver
• 9-WR: Duce Robinson / Elijah Moore
• 2-WR (sweep): Squirrel White / Lawayne McCoy or Micahi Danzy
• Slot WR: Jayvan Boggs (🔝 spring riser) / BJ Gibson

Offensive Line
• LT: Gunnar Hansen / Lucas Simmons
• LG: Adrian Medley / Andre’ Otto or Jacob Rizy
• C: Luke Petitbon (leader of the unit) / Otto or Rizy
• RG: Richie Leonard / Otto or Rizy
• RT: Micah Pettus / Jonathan Daniels

🎯 Big Picture:
• Castellanos, Robinson, White, and Thomas = a strong core
• OL health and WR depth remain question marks
• Incoming freshmen (Kromah, Gelsey) could shake things up early

🚪 Transfer Portal Watch: FSU Ramping Up Post-Weekend

After a quiet few days on the recruiting trail due to the campus shutdown, things are picking up again in Tallahassee — and Florida State is refocusing efforts on key portal targets with just days left in the spring window. 🔁

📍 Where Things Stand:

Following the departures of three wide receivers, FSU is actively evaluating replacement options at WR, while also monitoring high-impact defenders at safety and on the defensive line.

📈 Notable Portal Targets:

  • WR TreyShun Hurry (San Jose State)
    Explosive playmaker with offers from FSU, Miami, Tennessee, and more. A visit could materialize soon.

  • WR Keelon Marion (BYU)
    Productive and experienced — FSU interest is “moving fast” according to insiders.

  • DB Zaquan Patterson (Miami transfer)
    Former 4⭐ recruit — visited Ole Miss, headed to Florida next. FSU could get a visit, but may currently trail.

  • DB Jeremiah Wilson (Houston)
    Tony White connection. Orlando native with versatility at safety/corner. Visit to FSU is expected Thursday. A push here makes the 'Noles a major contender.

  • DL Bernard Gooden (USF)
    New portal entrant from Alabama. 37 tackles, 10 TFL in 2024. FSU evaluating closely.

  • DL Akelo Stone (Ole Miss)
    Contacted by FSU and others. 15 tackles, 1.5 sacks in 2024. A visit could be on the horizon.

🎯 What’s Next:

Originally expected to take 3–4 players, FSU could expand that number due to recent attrition. Positions of focus:

  • Wide Receiver ✅

  • Safety/Defensive Back ✅

  • Defensive Line ✅

  • Offensive Line/Corners — still being evaluated

🕔 Reminder:
The spring portal window closes Friday, April 25, but player commitments can continue beyond that. Expect visits, offers, and decisions to unfold well into May.

📅 Five Key Recruits FSU Must Lock In for Summer Officials

Spring visits are winding down, and with over 60 official visitors already expected in June, Florida State’s staff is hustling to lock in a few more top-tier targets. 🔑

Here are five names the ‘Noles must secure for official visits ASAP:

⭐️ 5-Star LB Xavier Griffin (USC commit)
• FSU was an early offer and has hosted Griffin twice
• Noles remain a top challenger to USC
• Word is FSU will get an OV — but it’s not locked in yet

🌟 4-Star DL Deuce Geralds
• One of FSU’s top 2026 DL targets
• Two spring visits = strong momentum
• Need to beat out Michigan, OSU, LSU, Oklahoma for a summer visit slot

🌟 4-Star OT Kamari Blair
• Rapid riser on FSU’s board
• Recent visit went well, but his OVs are booked (Vandy, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Kentucky)
• FSU must elbow into that rotation — and fast

🌟 4-Star LB Adam Balogoun-Ali
• Top in-state LB who’s yet to visit FSU
• Included FSU in his Top 8 — now staff must convert that into an official

🌟 4-Star EDGE Tristian Givens
• Elite pass rusher — FSU in his Top 4 with Tennessee, USC, and Texas A&M
• No OV date set yet, but FSU needs to get one locked in

🎯 Bottom Line:
The 2026 class momentum is real — now it’s about sealing the deal with summer official visits.

And that’s a wrap!

FSU's momentum is building — but the next 72 hours could define the direction of both the roster and the recruiting class. Whether it’s landing Jeremiah Wilson, locking in priority visits, or keeping the bats hot at The Howser, one thing’s clear:

This week is about closing.

We’ll be back tomorrow with portal reaction, spring position grades (👀 defense up next), and recruiting confirmations as summer visit season draws near. Until then...

Stay sharp, stay loud, and Go Noles. 🍢

— The Chief Brief Team

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