๐Ÿน August 20th - The Chief Brief ๐Ÿน

Depth, Debuts & Destinies

Forwarded this email from a friend? Subscribe at the button below

Yesterdayโ€™s Poll Results

Todayโ€™s Poll

Who would you most want to trade places with this week?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

๐Ÿน Welcome to The Chief Brief! ๐Ÿน

Happy hump day, Seminole! A big variety of updates today and first official Alabama prep day on the field.

โšฝ Weaverโ€™s Walker Cup Honor โšฝ
Tyler Weaver keeps raising the bar, earning a spot on the Walker Cup roster for Great Britain & Ireland โ€” another major milestone in his rise through the amateur golf ranks.

๐Ÿˆ Lucas Set for Comeback ๐Ÿˆ
Jaylin Lucas lands on the Comeback Player of the Year watch list after last yearโ€™s injury, with his elite return ability ready to give FSU a spark in Week 1 vs. Bama.

๐Ÿˆ Castellanos in the Golden Arm Race ๐Ÿˆ
Seminole QB Tommy Castellanos is on the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm watch list, bringing his dual-threat pedigree and proven production into the national spotlight.

๐Ÿ€ Egbuonu Sets FSU Visit ๐Ÿ€
Top-80 recruit Alex Egbuonu will be in Tallahassee Oct. 3โ€“5, giving FSU a prime shot to impress the versatile combo forward.

โšพ Alford to Chair NCAA Baseball โšพ
AD Michael Alford will lead the Division I Baseball Selection Committee in 2026, just as FSU looks to cement itself as a perennial national seed.

โšพ Messick Gets the Call โšพ
Former FSU ace Parker Messick will make his MLB debut Wednesday for the Cleveland Guardians, becoming the latest โ€˜Nole to reach The Show.

๐Ÿˆ Depth Before Bama ๐Ÿˆ
Norvell says competition across CB, safety, and OL isnโ€™t a weakness but proof of depth, as young talent emerges and veterans return ahead of Alabama.

Don't miss out on this modern-day gold rush - a 108 grams per tonne gold assay has just been recorded

- Exploration targets already identified as a result of locals' artisanal mining
- 108 grams per tonne gold assay recorded in May 2025
- Locals extracting gold from saprolite along a 4.5-kilometer trend
- Funds raised for a 10,000 metre drill program seeking to unlock the potential for a multi-million ounce gold deposit
- Positioned in the heart of the Guiana Shield, home to +80 million ounces of gold resources

โ›ณ Weaver Named to Walker Cup โ›ณ


Florida State menโ€™s golf standout Tyler Weaver has been selected to represent Great Britain & Ireland in the 50th Walker Cup at Cypress Point (Pebble Beach, CA) on Sept. 6โ€“7.

๐Ÿ”ฅ Rising Star

  • Ranked No. 11 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, the highest on the 10-player GB&I roster.

  • Qualified for the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont, finishing fourth among amateurs.

  • Advanced to match play at the 2025 U.S. Amateur.

๐Ÿ’จ Team Success

  • Helped GB&I win the St. Andrews Team Trophy.

  • Member of Team International that won the Palmer Cup.

  • Led Team England to bronze at the European Team Championships.

๐Ÿ“บ How to Watch

  • Match play event airs on Peacock and Golf Channel (Sept. 6โ€“7).

  • USA leads the Walker Cup series 39-9-1; GB&I last won in 2015 at Royal Lytham & St. Annes.

Why It Matters: Weaverโ€™s rise makes him one of FSUโ€™s most decorated amateurs in recent years, bringing international prestige to the Seminolesโ€™ golf program.

๐Ÿˆ Lucas Named to Comeback Award Watch List ๐Ÿˆ


Florida State redshirt junior Jaylin Lucas has been named to the preseason watch list for the Comeback Player of the Year Award.

๐Ÿ”ฅ The Setback

  • Suffered a season-ending injury vs. Boston College on Labor Day 2024.

  • Managed just seven touches before going down (13 rushing yards, 39 receiving yards, 36 return yards).

๐Ÿ’จ Proven Playmaker

  • Amassed 2,052 all-purpose yards at Indiana (2022โ€“23).

  • Holds 3 career kickoff return TDs, tied for the Hoosiersโ€™ all-time record.

  • 2022 honors: First-team All-American kick returner, Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year.

  • 2023 honors: Third-team All-Big Ten, led league with 26.0 yards per kickoff return.

๐Ÿ“บ Whatโ€™s Next

  • Returns to action August 30 vs. Alabama (3:30 p.m. on ABC).

  • Enters 2025 with 1,199 career kickoff return yards, 559 rushing yards, 368 receiving yards, and 9 total TDs.

Why It Matters: Lucas brings elite return ability and versatility to FSUโ€™s offense โ€” his comeback could be a spark plug against Alabama and beyond.

๐Ÿˆ Castellanos on Golden Arm Watch List ๐Ÿˆ


Florida State senior quarterback Tommy Castellanos has been named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List, honoring the nationโ€™s top upperclassman QB.

๐Ÿ”ฅ Career Snapshot

  • Transferred to FSU in December after 20 starts at Boston College (2023โ€“24) and a freshman season at UCF (2022).

  • Career totals: 3,689 passing yards, 33 passing TDs, 1,427 rushing yards, 15 rushing TDs.

๐Ÿ’จ Dual-Threat Production

  • First player in BC history with 2,000 passing & 1,000 rushing yards in a season (2023).

  • Accounted for 28 total TDs in 2023, including a 142-yard, 4-TD rushing game vs. Army.

  • Fenway Bowl 2023 MVP after rushing for 156 yards and 2 TDs in a win over SMU.

  • Started first 8 games of 2024, producing 18 passing TDs and just 5 INTs.

๐Ÿ”’ Familiar Connection

  • Played under Gus Malzahn at UCF in 2022 โ€” now reunited with him at FSU as offensive coordinator.

๐Ÿ“Œ Also on the Watch List

  • Castellanos is on the Maxwell Award watch list, recognizing the nationโ€™s most outstanding player.

Why It Matters: FSU hasnโ€™t had stability at QB since Jordan Travis โ€” Castellanos brings proven production and dynamic playmaking into the national spotlight.

This cannabis startup pioneered โ€œrapid onsetโ€ gummies

Most people prefer to smoke cannabis but that isnโ€™t an option if youโ€™re at work or in public. 

Thatโ€™s why we were so excited when we found out about Moodโ€™s new Rapid Onset THC Gummies. They can take effect in as little as 5 minutes without the need for a lighter, lingering smells or any coughing. 

Nobody will ever know youโ€™re enjoying some THC.

We recommend you try them out because they offer a 100% money-back guarantee. And for a limited time, you can receive 20% off with code FIRST20.

๐Ÿ€ Egbuonu Sets FSU Visit ๐Ÿ€


Class of 2026 small forward Alex Egbuonu (No. 79 nationally, 6โ€™5โ€, 210 lbs) has scheduled his official visits, with Florida State on deck for Oct. 3-5.

๐Ÿ”ฅ Recruitment Timeline

  • Official visits: Boston College (Sept. 12-14), Georgetown (Sept. 16-17), Providence (Sept. 26-28), Stanford (Sept. 30โ€“Oct. 1), Florida State (Oct. 3-5), Auburn (Nov. 1-3).

  • Already visited Marquette (official) and Xavier/Auburn (unofficial).

  • Plans to cut his list at the start of the school year and make a decision after Christmas.

๐Ÿ’จ What Heโ€™s Looking For

  • Player development.

  • Strong relationships with coaches.

  • Right fit for him and his family.

๐Ÿง  Scouting Report (Adam Finkelstein)

  • Strengths: Rare blend of power, length, and skill. Three-range scorer (paint, midrange, three). Strong driver with footwork, physicality, and ability to shoot over defenders. Good rebounder (6.4 RPG).

  • Swing Skill: Perimeter shooting (27% from 3 in 3SSB play). More comfortable off the dribble.

  • Areas to Improve: First-step quickness, lateral mobility, and shooting consistency.

  • Overall: Combo-forward with mismatch potential โ€” versatile, physical, and skilled.

Why It Matters: Egbuonuโ€™s October visit gives FSU a chance to impress a top-80 national recruit who blends power and perimeter skill, filling a future need on the wing.

โšพ Alford Named Baseball Committee Chair โšพ


Florida State Director of Athletics Michael Alford will serve as the Division I Baseball Selection Committee Chairman for the 2026 season, per D1Baseballโ€™s Kendall Rogers. He replaces Southeastern Louisiana AD Jay Artigues.

๐Ÿ”ฅ Alfordโ€™s Track Record

  • Joined the committee in 2023, term runs through 2027.

  • FSU earned the No. 8 seed (2023) and No. 9 seed (2024) under his tenure.

  • Guided FSU baseball to Omaha in 2024; fell in 2025โ€™s Corvallis Super Regional.

  • Former college baseball player at Mississippi State and UAB.

  • Hired Link Jarrett in 2022; Jarrett is 114-64 in three seasons, already among FSUโ€™s fastest coaches to 100 wins.

๐Ÿง  Whatโ€™s Changing in 2026

  • Committee will expand seeding from 1โ€“16 โ†’ 1โ€“32.

  • Teams outside the top 16 will be grouped and placed with geographic considerations.

Why It Matters: Alford will help shape the postseason format just as FSU looks to cement itself as a perennial national seed under Jarrett.

โšพ Messick Gets the Call to The Show โšพ


Former Florida State ace Parker Messick is set to make his MLB debut Wednesday with the Cleveland Guardians, filling a spot in the rotation against the Arizona Diamondbacks at 3:40 p.m. ET.

๐Ÿ”ฅ Seminole Rรฉsumรฉ

  • Drafted in the 2nd round of the 2022 MLB Draft by Cleveland.

  • FSU career: 38 games (32 starts), 200.1 IP, 3.10 ERA, 289 strikeouts.

  • 2021: ACC Pitcher & Freshman of the Year, 126 Ks over 90 innings.

  • 2022: Finalist for the Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophy; 136 regular-season strikeouts ranked 4th-most in FSU history.

๐Ÿ’จ Climbing the Ranks

  • Minor League career: 73 appearances, 3.33 ERA, 1.19 WHIP.

  • 2025 season at Triple-A Columbus: 3.47 ERA across 98.2 innings.

Why It Matters: Messick becomes the latest Seminole to reach the majors, adding another chapter to FSU baseballโ€™s pipeline of pro talent.

๐Ÿˆ Depth Building Before Bama ๐Ÿˆ


With 12 days until kickoff vs. Alabama, FSU has moved from camp to game prep while still sorting out a few key position battles. Mike Norvell says the competition reflects positive depth, not underperformance.

๐Ÿ”ฅ Position Battles Still Live

  • CB2: Jaโ€™Bril Rawls, Quindarrius Jones, and Shamar Arnoux remain in the mix. Jones is back full-go after being limited.

  • Boundary Safety: Shyheim Brown, Ashlynd Barker, and KJ Kirkland are all competing, with Barker making a late push.

  • OL Guard: Jacob Rizy has emerged as a contender after returning from injury, bringing versatility across the line.

๐Ÿ’จ Depth Notes

  • DL Boosts: Jayson Jenkinsโ€™ rapid recovery from a leg injury and WKU transfer Deante McCrayโ€™s emergence have bolstered depth.

  • Young DBs: Ricky Knight and Cai Bates drew mentions as developing pieces who could factor in despite scout-team work.

  • WR Gavin Blackwell is back to full speed, making plays in two-minute drills.

๐Ÿง  Norvellโ€™s View

  • Depth is closing gaps between first and second team, which he sees as critical insurance against injuries.

  • New wrinkle: practice now ends with good-on-good team drills to sharpen game-readiness.

  • Daily pre-practice race torch has been passed to DE James Williams.

Why It Matters: Instead of depth being a concern, emerging pieces across the secondary and defensive line are fueling optimism that FSU will have more balance and flexibility going into Week 1.

And thatโ€™s a wrap!

Thatโ€™s a wrap for todayโ€™s Brief! From golfโ€™s international stage to footballโ€™s preseason watch lists, the Garnet & Gold continues to shine across sports. With just under two weeks until Bama, the depth chatter is turning into real optimism โ€” and weโ€™ll be here to track every storyline as it builds.

See you tomorrow, Chief.

How'd we do?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.