🏹 April 25th - The Chief Brief 🏹

All-ACC Energy, National Spotlights & Portal Power Moves

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The Chief
April 25, 2025

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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

TGIF, Seminole!

We’ve got All-ACC tennis takeovers, golf squads chasing titles, volleyball upgrades, and transfer portal movement that could reshape multiple rosters by the weekend. 🌀 Whether it’s postseason hardware or spring recruiting fireworks, Florida State is making noise on all fronts.

Here’s what’s crackling across Seminole Nation today:

🔥 Volleyball adds a versatile setter with over 1,700 career assists.
🔥 Tennis racks up EIGHT All-ACC honors between the men’s and women’s teams.
🔥 Golf opens ACC play with firepower from Weaver and Bigham.
🔥 FSU-Clemson baseball earns a national TV spotlight.
🔥 Jamir Watkins hits ESPN’s NBA Draft Big Board.
🔥 Portal Watch: WR Tony Johnson and OL Josh Raymond headline FSU’s visitor list.
🔥 2026 legacy OT Aaron Thomas picks up a Noles offer.

This is one of those editions where you’ll want to scroll slowly — because every section’s got something cooking. Let’s get into it. 🍢

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🏐 Setter Signing! FSU Volleyball Adds Transfer Nellie Stevenson

The Seminoles just added a high-impact quarterback for the court. 🏹

Florida State Volleyball announced the signing of 5’11” setter Nellie Stevenson, a two-time standout from Montana State who brings over 1,700 career assists and a championship pedigree to Tallahassee.

📋 Quick Hits:
• 🏐 Played all 61 matches over two seasons at Montana State
• 🧠 Career: 1,713 assists | 68 aces | 240 digs | 44 blocks
• 🔥 2023: 1,049 assists (8.53 per set) + 34 aces + 9 double-digit dig matches
• 🏆 Former CCCAA Tournament MVP at Feather River College
• 🌉 Native of San Leandro, CA | All-Conference HS standout

🎯 Why It Matters:
Stevenson brings versatility, grit, and veteran leadership to FSU’s setting rotation. With postseason experience and a dynamic serve, she’ll give the Noles a spark heading into summer.

🎾 Double the Honors: FSU Women’s Tennis Stars Earn All-ACC Recognition

Big accolades for a rising duo on the court. 💫

Florida State’s Eva Shaw and Maria Juliana Parra Romero have earned All-ACC honors, the conference announced Thursday — marking the first All-ACC selections of their careers.

🏅 Award Breakdown:
• Eva Shaw – 3rd Team All-ACC (Singles + Doubles)
• Parra Romero – 3rd Team All-ACC (Doubles)

🔥 Season Highlights:
• Shaw went 10–5 at No. 1 singles, including ranked wins over Notre Dame & Louisville
• The duo posted a 13–4 doubles record with 3 ranked wins, climbing to No. 39 in the ITA rankings
• Notable Wins: Defeated doubles teams ranked No. 15 (Duke) & No. 25 (Miami)
• 📈 12-match win streak = 3rd-longest in FSU doubles history

🎯 Why It Matters:
Shaw and Parra Romero are forming one of the most consistent pairings in the ACC — with big-match poise and a ton of momentum heading into the postseason.

🎾 All-ACC Sweep! FSU Men’s Tennis Earns Four Conference Honors

Big time talent, big time results. 💪

Four Florida State men’s tennis players were named to the 2025 All-ACC Teams, as the Seminoles continue their dominance in singles and doubles play.

🏅 All-ACC Honors:

Singles
• 🥇 Corey Craig – First Team (No. 16 nationally, 18–6 record, 11 ranked wins)
• 🥈 Jamie Connel – Second Team (No. 44 nationally, 24–9 record, 8–2 in ACC play)

Doubles
• 🥈 Alex Bulte & Youcef Rihane – Second Team (No. 3 ITA ranking, NCAA Semifinalists)

🎯 Fast Facts:
• FSU has earned an All-ACC Singles First Team nod every completed season this century
• Craig’s two Top-10 wins this spring cement him as one of the top newcomers in the nation
• Connel is riding a 6-match unbeaten streak into the postseason
• Bulte & Rihane reached the NCAA Doubles Semifinals — just the second pair in program history to do so

📅 What’s Next:
FSU (18–8, No. 19 nationally) awaits its draw for the NCAA Tournament — bracket drops Monday at 5:30 PM.

⛳ ACC Championship: Weaver, Bigham Pace FSU in Opening Round

Steady start, eyes on a surge. 🔁🔥

The No. 10 Florida State men’s golf team teed off Thursday at The Club at Olde Stone, kicking off the 2025 ACC Championship with a team score of 3-over (291) — good for a tie for eighth place heading into Round 2.

📊 Day 1 Leaders:
• Tyler Weaver: 1-under 71 (🔥 31 on the front nine with 3 birdies + 1 eagle)
• Jack Bigham: 1-under 71 (💥 6 birdies total)
• Gray Albright: 2-over 74
• Luke Clanton: 3-over 75 (🦅 Eagle on hole 7)
• Carson Brewer: 3-over 75 (Back-to-back birdies on 14 & 15)

📍 Round 2 Info:
• ⛳ Paired with Georgia Tech + Stanford
• 🕘 Tee time: 9:55 AM ET

🎯 Big Picture:
FSU’s top trio has the firepower — now it’s about stringing it together across all five. Two more rounds of stroke play left before Sunday match play begins.

📺 National Spotlight: FSU-Clemson Baseball Game Gets Primetime Bump

Mark your calendars and set your reminders — the spotlight is shining on The Howser. 🌟⚾

Florida State’s Saturday matchup vs. No. 2 Clemson (May 3) has been picked up for national broadcast on ACC Network, moving first pitch to 6 PM ET at Dick Howser Stadium.

🗓️ FSU vs. Clemson Series Details
• 📍 Tallahassee | May 2–4
• 🔢 Clash of the Titans: FSU (#4) and Clemson (#2) lead the ACC in winning percentage
• 🎟️ Get tickets: Seminoles.com/Tickets

📡 TV Schedule (ACC Network):
• 🥎 Sunday, Apr. 27 @ 3 PM: FSU at Louisville (Baseball)
• 🥎 Sunday, Apr. 27 @ 6 PM: FSU at Louisville (Softball) — Doubleheader Day
• ⚾ May 3 @ 6 PM: FSU vs. Clemson
• ⚾ May 15 & 16 @ 7 PM: FSU vs. North Carolina

📻 Tune In: Every game live on WFLA 100.7 FM, FSU Gameday App, and Seminoles.com

⚾ Top-20 Tilt: No. 4 FSU Baseball Heads to No. 19 Louisville

High-stakes baseball in the Bluegrass. 🎯

Florida State (No. 4) hits the road to face No. 19 Louisville in a crucial ACC series with postseason positioning on the line.

🗓️ Series Schedule (All ET):
• 🧢 Friday, April 25 — 6 PM | ACCNX
• 🧢 Saturday, April 26 — 2 PM | ACCNX
• 📺 Sunday, April 27 — 3 PM | ACC Network

📍 Where: Jim Patterson Stadium, Louisville, KY
📡 Watch: ACCNX (Fri/Sat), ACC Network (Sun)
🧠 Why It Matters: Both teams are fighting for ACC supremacy — and national seeds.

🏀 Jamir Watkins Lands at No. 70 on ESPN’s NBA Draft Big Board

One foot in the pros, one still in the portal. 👀

Florida State wing Jamir Watkins has cracked Jonathan Givony’s updated ESPN NBA Draft Big Board, coming in at No. 70 overall — just outside the 59-pick threshold of this year’s draft.

📋 Watkins at a Glance: 

• 6'7", 210 lbs (measured 6'5" without shoes, 6'10.75" wingspan)

• 🏀 2024–25: 18.4 PPG | 5.7 RPG | 2.4 APG | 1.2 SPG

• Shot 42.7% FG | 32.1% 3PT on 5 attempts/game • 2nd Team All-ACC | Top-50 national usage rate

📉 Draft Dilemma:

• Declared for the 2025 NBA Draft + entered transfer portal (again)

• Ranked No. 7 available transfer by 247Sports

• Known for: elite athleticism, explosive dunks, versatile defense • Needs refinement: efficiency, turnovers, shot selection

🧠 Scouting Note:

"Best suited for an up-tempo system... a highlight reel in the open court... strides as a catch-and-shoot threat."

🦍 Legacy Alert: FSU Offers 2026 OT Aaron Thomas

A Seminole legacy is officially on the board. 📬🍢

Florida State has extended a scholarship offer to three-star offensive tackle Aaron Thomas out of Phoenix (Ariz.) Mountain Pointe — the son of former FSU center Eric Thomas, who helped anchor the 1999 National Championship team.

📋 Recruiting Rundown: 

• ⭐ 3-Star OT | No. 46 OT nationally (247Sports)

• 🧬 Son of FSU legend Eric Thomas (starting C, ‘99 Natty team)

• 🏟️ Attended 2024 Clemson game in Tallahassee

• 🔁 Unofficial visit last fall, now back on the radar with a full offer

• 📞 OL Coach Herb Hand visited in-person on his first spring eval day

🎙️ Thomas:

“I grew up watching FSU… it’s pretty cool to me. Coach Hand coming all the way out here was big.”

📆 What’s Next:

• OV to FSU now in the works

• Already scheduled visits: Washington (this weekend), Minnesota (May 30), Arkansas (June 13), Texas A&M (June 20), Ohio State (TBD)

• No current Crystal Ball predictions

📈 Scouting Snapshot (via 247Sports):

“Fluid, natural athlete with high upside… still raw, but has elite tools and finishing mentality. The gene pool is strong.”

📬 Portal Watch: Cincinnati WR Tony Johnson Visiting FSU This Weekend

Another big-time target is heading to Tallahassee. 👀

Florida State will host Cincinnati wide receiver transfer Tony Johnson on Saturday and Sunday, as the Seminoles look to address a growing need in the WR room. Johnson is one of the top available pass-catchers in the spring portal window.

📋 Quick Profile: 

• 🏈 5’10”, 187 lbs | Former FAU standout | Grad transfer

• 🧮 2024 (Cincinnati): 48 rec, 449 yds, 6 TD

• 📊 Career: 108 rec, 1,118 yds, 13 TD

• ⭐️ No. 310 overall | No. 56 WR in transfer portal (247Sports, 88 grade)

🎯 FSU WR Context:

• Three scholarship WRs have exited: Hykeem Williams, Jalen Brown, Malik Benson

• Tony Johnson would bring experience, production, and red zone value

🛫 The Competition:

• Also visiting UCF, Miami this week

• Other contenders: Kentucky, Syracuse

• No set timeline for a decision — but visits are stacking up fast

👉 Johnson becomes FSU’s third known spring portal visitor, joining CB Jeremiah Wilson (Houston) and OL Josh Raymond (Vanderbilt, visiting next week). Keep tabs on our Portal HQ for updates as the race heats up.

And that’s a wrap!

📌 Coming Up:
• 📊 Friday ACC golf leaderboard shakeups
• 🧢 Louisville series tracker for FSU Baseball + Softball
• 📬 Portal visit recaps (👀 WR Tony Johnson + OL Josh Raymond)
• 📈 Early buzz on FSU’s 2026 & 2027 classes

📣 Got a take? A tip? A hot recruiting nugget?
Hit reply and let us know — we might feature it in the next edition. Until then...

Stay locked in. Stay loud. Go Noles. 🍢
— The Chief Brief Crew

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