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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

TGIF Seminole!

We've got culture, commitments, and community impact in this edition:

🏆 Richie Leonard IV’s Off-Field Impact
FSU’s veteran offensive lineman is up for the Wuerffel Trophy—and his resume goes far beyond the trenches. From youth camps to cancer care kits, Leonard is leading with purpose.

🛑 Darrell Jackson Jr. Named Preseason All-ACC
The Seminoles’ defensive anchor is earning preseason honors and gearing up for a dominant 2025 under new DL coach Terrance Knighton.

⚾ Baseball Adds a Bat: Brayden Dowd Transfers In
After a standout stint at USC and a summer in the Cape, Dowd brings a high-OBP, high-IQ presence to Link Jarrett’s reloaded squad.

🛡️ FSU–Bama to Be a Recruiting Spectacle
5-star OT Mark Matthews is the latest blue-chip prospect circling the opener in Doak. The trenches matter, and FSU’s future ones may be in the stands.

🏀 Jalan Wingfield Puts FSU in Final 7
The explosive 6’8” wing is plotting an official visit to Tallahassee—and he might be a perfect fit in Hamilton’s positionless system.

🎥 Behind the Scenes: New Episodes of Day One and The Climb
FSU released two new looks into its hoops and football programs. From Loucks' culture-building to legacy players featured in The Climb, there’s depth beyond the surface.

Let’s get into it ⬇️

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🏆 Richie Leonard IV Nominated for Wuerffel Trophy 🏆

Florida State offensive lineman Richie Leonard IV is making headlines for his impact off the field.

The redshirt senior has been nominated for the prestigious Wuerffel Trophy, which honors FBS players who exemplify community service, leadership, and academic achievement.

🌍 His Off-Field Legacy:
• Founder of the Richie H. Leonard Football Camp in Cocoa, FL — a free youth event that drew nearly 300 attendees in its first year.
• $5,000 donation to Cocoa High School football, funded through camp sponsorships.
• Mission trip to Argentina this past May with FSU’s FCA chapter to help spread football and serve local communities.
• Supports AAU youth basketball, works with children in Tallahassee and Cocoa, and is organizing care packages for cancer patients at Moffitt Cancer Center, where his mom underwent treatment.

🏈 On the Field:
Leonard has appeared in 35 games across his career. He started three games in 2024 before a season-ending injury and led Florida’s O-line in snaps in 2023 with 755.

🔁 Past Winner:
FSU alum Dillan Gibbons won the Wuerffel Trophy in 2022. Leonard could soon follow in those footsteps.

📍 Looking Ahead:
Leonard and the Noles open the 2025 season at a revamped Doak Campbell Stadium vs. Alabama on August 30.

👉 Read more about Leonard’s impact and nomination.

🛑 Darrell Jackson Jr. Earns Preseason All-ACC Honors 🛑

Veteran defensive lineman Darrell Jackson Jr. has been named to the 2025 Preseason All-ACC Team, a nod to his disruptive presence in the trenches.

📈 2024 Recap:
• Started all 12 games
• 32 tackles, 4.0 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass breakup
• Dominated vs. Miami with 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble
• Followed it up with a season-high 5 tackles vs. UNC

💪 Career Totals:
• 38 games played
• 84 tackles, 9.0 TFL, 6.5 sacks

🎙️ Why It Matters:
With Terrance Knighton now leading the DL room, Jackson is expected to anchor a deep and versatile front line. His leadership and production will be key in the trenches this season.

👉 Read more about Jackson’s rise and what’s expected in 2025.

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⚾ FSU Lands Impact Outfielder Brayden Dowd from USC ⚾

Florida State Baseball has added another major bat to its 2026 roster—USC transfer Brayden Dowd has officially signed with the Seminoles.

📝 Why He Chose FSU:
Dowd cited Coach Link Jarrett’s player development track record:

📊 Dowd’s Resume:
• 2023: .324 AVG, .801 OPS, 8 SB, All-Tournament Team in Pac-12
• 2024: .324 AVG, .970 OPS, 15 2B, 10 HR, 46 BB, .446 OBP
• Career: 101 games, .904 OPS, 11 HR, 62 RBI, 78 runs

🌎 Currently playing in the Cape Cod League with the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox, Dowd brings experience, plate discipline, and leadoff potential.

📍 Big Picture:
Dowd becomes FSU’s third position player from the portal and tenth overall addition—further boosting a program that just sent a record 11 players to the MLB Draft.

👉 Read more on Dowd’s transfer, performance, and expectations in Tallahassee.

🛡️ 5⭐ OT Mark Matthews Eyeing FSU–Bama Game Visit 🛡️

The season opener vs. Alabama isn’t just a statement opportunity on the field—it’s shaping up to be the recruiting weekend of the year.

🚨 Latest Name to Watch:
Mark Matthews, a 5-star offensive tackle from St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.), confirmed he’s planning to attend the game.

• No. 3 OT and No. 15 overall in the 2027 class
• Florida’s No. 2 player
• Offered by FSU in February and building strong ties with OL coach Herb Hand

🗣️ Matthews on Hand:

📊 Scouting Snapshot:
• 6’6”, 265 lbs, freak athleticism
• “Aces the eye test,” “elite reactionary skills,” “balanced and in control,” per 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins
• Still raw, but upside to be one of South Florida’s best OL prospects ever

📍 Big Picture:
Matthews’ visit underscores how critical the Bama game will be—not just for the 2025 team, but for FSU’s future in the trenches.

👉 Read more about Matthews’ profile and what his interest means for the Seminoles.

🏀 4⭐ Wingfield Schedules FSU Visit as Final 7 Announced 🏀

One of the top rising forwards in the 2026 basketball class is narrowing in on his decision—and Florida State is still in the hunt.

🔥 Jalan Wingfield, the No. 104 overall player in the country, named FSU among his final 7 schools:
• Auburn
• Cincinnati
• Florida State
• Georgia Tech
• Kennesaw State
• Ole Miss
• South Carolina
• Vanderbilt

🏀 What to Know:
• 6'8", 225 lbs out of Tri-Cities High (Atlanta, GA)
• Son of former NBA forward Dontonio Wingfield
• Schedules official with Georgia Tech (Aug. 22–24) and planning one with FSU in October
• Wants a system that embraces positionless basketball and lets him play through mistakes

📈 Scouting Profile:
• Explosive athlete with a powerful frame
• Dominant finishing around the rim—dunks everything in sight
• Developing touch on the perimeter, but thrives when attacking the paint

🎯 Big Picture:
With a decision coming before his senior season tips off, FSU’s upcoming visit could be pivotal. Leonard Hamilton’s system might be the perfect fit for a modern, rim-attacking hybrid forward like Wingfield.

👉 Read more about his game, timeline, and where FSU stands.

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🎥 Day One Ep. 2 Shows Loucks’ Vision for Seminole Hoops 🎥

Florida State men’s basketball dropped Episode 2 of Day One, its behind-the-scenes docuseries following new head coach Luke Loucks as he reshapes the program.

🧱 This Episode’s Focus:
• Loucks’ early months leading FSU and setting a cultural foundation rooted in energy, connection, and belief
• A deep dive into freshman Alier Maluk’s upbringing and journey
• Spotlights on the team’s performance staff, including:
– Ben O'Donnell (Director of Performance)
– Chris Kent (Assistant Coach/Director of Development)
– Kate Castor (Team Dietician & Nutritionist)

👀 Why It Matters:
From team meetings to early workouts, this episode gives fans a clear look into the vision, values, and support system behind the 2025–26 roster—and Loucks’ drive to build something special in Tallahassee.

👉 Watch Episode 2 and see how the new chapter of FSU hoops is taking shape.

🎬 The Climb Spotlights Legacy, Leadership, and ACC Kickoff 🎬

FSU dropped a new episode of The Climb, its signature football docuseries—and this one blends tradition with the present in a powerful way.

📍 Inside This Week’s Episode:
• Behind-the-scenes from ACC Kickoff, featuring interviews with:
– HC Mike Norvell
– QB Tommy Castellanos
– DL Darrell Jackson Jr.
– OL Richie Leonard IV
– DB Earl Little Jr.

• Reflections from seasoned staffers entering Year 6 in Tallahassee:
– RBs coach David Johnson
– QBs coach Tony Tokarz
– TEs coach Chris Thomsen

👨‍👦 Legacy Highlight:
A moving segment centers on Antonio Cromartie Jr., Camdon Frier, and Duce Robinson—sons of former FSU greats Antonio Cromartie, Dominic Robinson, and Matt Frier—now donning garnet and gold just like their dads.

🎯 Why It Matters:
From leadership continuity to generational legacy, this episode shows that The Climb is as much about where FSU’s going as it is about where it’s been.

👉 Watch the episode and see why the Seminoles believe the best is yet to come.

And that’s a wrap!

Whether it’s Richie Leonard’s community impact, Brayden Dowd’s bat, or the recruiting buzz around FSU–Bama, one thing’s clear: the future in Tallahassee is being built with purpose.

Catch you tomorrow—same time, same spirit.

– The Chief