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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

TGIF, Seminole!
The countdown to kickoff is almost over — and today’s edition packs in everything from recruiting updates to depth chart insight as the opener with Alabama draws near.

🏐 Volleyball Season Begins 🏐
FSU volleyball kicks off with the Garnet & Gold Scrimmage and South Alabama exhibition this weekend at Tully Gym, unveiling a roster featuring a record nine freshmen and impact transfers.

🏈 Recruiting Spotlight: Duyon Forkpa 🏈
A four-star linebacker target will be on campus for the Bama game. Forkpa, once leaning Florida, is uncommitted and FSU has a major chance to impress.

🏈 Legacy Watch: Jonah Winston 🏈
The younger brother of Jameis Winston sets his commitment date. With FSU in the mix, the Winston legacy could continue in Garnet & Gold.

🛡️ Safety Group Progress 🛡️
Coach Evan Cooper says his unit is maturing quickly. From Shyheim Brown’s leadership to rising names like KJ Kirkland and AJ Cromartie, the group is gaining trust across the board.

📊 Schedule Difficulty Rankings 📊
From tune-ups (East Texas A&M, Kent State) to the Death Valley gauntlet at Clemson, we rank every matchup on FSU’s 2025 slate from easiest to toughest.

👉 Let’s dive in.

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🏐 Seminole Volleyball Set to Open 2025 Season 🏐

Florida State volleyball kicks off its 2025 campaign this weekend with the annual Garnet and Gold Scrimmage Friday (6 p.m.) followed by an exhibition against South Alabama on Saturday (3 p.m.), both at Tully Gym. Entry is free, and fans can also attend the First Serve Party at 4 p.m. Friday.

🔥 Roster Reset

• Head coach Chris Poole enters his 18th season, welcoming 14 newcomers — including a program-record nine true freshmen.

• Returning leaders: Kyleene Filimaua (173 kills, 267 digs in 2024) and Iane Henke (143 kills, 74 blocks).

💨 Transfer Additions

• Mio Yamamoto (L): Two-time All-Sun Belt, 2023 Libero of the Year at Louisiana.

• Lily Nicholson (S): Former TCU starter with 1,108 assists last season.

• Nellie Stevenson (S): Over 1,600 career assists at Montana State.

• Delaney Ewing (MB): 155 kills, 83 blocks at San Francisco in 2024.

🧱 Key Battles

• Middle blocker rotation: Ewing, Kelsey Perry (109 blocks in 2024), Johanna Sova, and freshman Nenu Kpea.

• Freshmen contributors to watch: Payton Whalen, Ava Lambert, Ariel Ross, Victoria David, Ryan Murphy, Stefanija Pajic, Kaylee Peper, Lexie Mason.

📅 What’s Next
The Seminoles open their regular season in Jacksonville next weekend, facing UIC (Friday) and North Florida (Saturday).

Why It Matters: FSU blends experienced returners, high-profile transfers, and a huge freshman class, creating one of the deepest and most intriguing rosters in program history.

👉 Full schedule & ticket info at Seminoles.com

🏈 Four-Star LB Duyon Forkpa Visiting for Bama Opener 🏈

Florida State is set to host one of its top linebacker targets when Duyon Forkpa Jr. visits Tallahassee for the season opener against No. 8 Alabama.

🔥 Recruitment Snapshot

• Uncommitted four-star: Ranked No. 226 overall and No. 11 linebacker nationally by 247Sports.

• Took June official visits to Michigan, North Carolina, Florida State, Miami, and Florida.

• Was close to committing to Florida this summer but held off after strong pushes from FSU and Michigan.

• Other schools still on his radar: Clemson, Georgia Tech, and Ohio State.

💨 Scouting Report (Andrew Ivins)

• Explosive linebacker with off-ball flexibility in a 3-4 scheme.

• Tested off the charts at IMG Academy Pro Day.

• Quick to trigger, strong in backside pursuit, and rangy enough to chase plays across the field.

• Still raw in 1-on-1 coverage and technique work but projects as a high-upside athlete if development continues.

📅 Why It Matters
Forkpa is the only one of 60 official visitors this summer still uncommitted, giving FSU a huge opportunity to make an impression during a primetime atmosphere at Doak Campbell Stadium.

👉 Full recruiting update here

🏈 Jonah Winston Sets Commitment Date 🏈

Three-star wide receiver Jonah Winston, the younger brother of FSU legend and Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston, has set his college commitment for Saturday, August 30.

🔥 Recruitment Snapshot

• Holds offers from Alabama, Auburn, Colorado, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Florida State.

• FSU extended an official offer earlier this month, keeping the legacy connection alive.

• Has not yet taken an official visit to any school, and his recruitment has been relatively quiet despite a strong offer sheet.

💨 Player Profile

• Class of 2026, 5’9”, 155 lbs, Hoover (Ala.).

• Ranked the No. 47 wide receiver nationally in the class per 247Sports.

• Known for quickness and playmaking ability, though undersized compared to typical Power 4 receivers.

📌 Why It Matters
FSU’s involvement with Jonah carries extra weight given the Winston family legacy. With a decision coming soon, the Seminoles could find themselves back in the Winston spotlight if they can land him.

👉 Full recruiting update here

The Next Gold Rush? Where AI Meets Robotics

The last gold rush created fortunes.

This one is driven by AI + robotics—and it’s happening inside your home.

The smart home market is exploding, projected to hit $158 billion, with this emerging category growing 23% annually.

And one startup is leading a new wave of innovation: RYSE.

What Ring did for the boring doorbell, RYSE is doing for window shades.

They’ve developed innovative hardware and smart software that automate blinds and shades using AI-powered controls.

Why investors are paying attention:
- 10 awarded patents protecting both hardware and control tech
- Over 120 Best Buy locations already stocking RYSE products
- Doubled revenue year-over-year, with over $12 million in lifetime revenues
- $10M+ raised from 3,000+ investors

This isn’t just another smart home gadget.

RYSE is a scalable, patent portfolio of technology designed to transform how people control light, privacy, and energy in their homes.

You can now invest in RYSE at just $2.25/share—in a company building the kind of tech that giants like Amazon, Google, or Samsung are known to acquire.

This opportunity is open to everyday investors, not just VCs or institutions.

Own a piece of the next smart home winner—before Wall Street takes notice.

🛡️ Cooper on Safeties: Growth & Competition 🛡️

FSU safeties coach Evan Cooper shared his thoughts on his position group as the Seminoles gear up for Alabama.

🔥 Growth & Mentality

• Cooper praised the group’s steady progress since spring, noting improved maturity, confidence, and consistency.

• He emphasized cross-training players at all three safety spots to maximize versatility.

• His philosophy: focus less on starters, more on who can be trusted to make plays when called upon.

💨 Key Players

• Shyheim Brown: Challenged by staff, responding with toughness and improved consistency. Cooper says he’s “playing good football right now.”

• KJ Kirkland: Confidence and technique showing real strides; described as a “big, imposing guy who can cover.”

• Earl Little Jr.: Praised for his deliberate growth, steady work ethic, and increasing comfort.

• Edwin Joseph: Talented but being pushed to eliminate “Twitter plays” in favor of daily consistency.

• Freshmen: Max Redmon (spring enrollee) is finding confidence; AJ Cromartie has drawn high praise for discipline and maturity.

🧠 Coaching Philosophy
Cooper stresses discipline, preparation, and effort over raw talent:

📌 Why It Matters
The safety group blends veteran leadership with emerging young depth. If consistency follows the talent, this unit could transform from a question mark into a cornerstone of Tony White’s defense.

👉 Full transcript and analysis here

📊 Ranking FSU’s 2025 Schedule: Easiest to Toughest 📊

With kickoff just around the corner, here’s how the Seminoles’ 2025 schedule stacks up from least to most difficult:

🔥 Easiest Games

• East Texas A&M (Week 2): FCS opponent coming off a 3–9 season. A true tune-up game.

• Kent State (Week 3): Went winless in 2024 (0–12); unlikely to threaten FSU.

• at Stanford: Cross-country trip, but the Cardinal are still the ACC’s weakest team.

• at Virginia: Friday night road game, but injuries (including LB Kam Robinson) leave the Cavaliers vulnerable.

💨 Mid-Tier Challenges

• Wake Forest (Home): Rebounding after a 4–8 season, but playing in Doak tilts it heavily FSU’s way.

• Virginia Tech (Home): Injury-plagued in 2024, and lost key players. FSU should have the edge in November.

• Pittsburgh (Home): Sneaky-tough. QB Eli Holstein and RB Desmond Reid return. Panthers nearly upset FSU in 2023.

• at NC State: Carter-Finley on a Friday night is a proven trap. FSU just 2–4 there since 2012.

⚔️ Rivalry & Elite Tests

• Miami (Home): Hurricanes bring in QB Carson Beck and are seeking back-to-back wins over FSU.

• at Florida: DJ Lagway leads UF’s most talented roster under Billy Napier. The Swamp atmosphere is always brutal.

• Alabama (Home, Week 1): Crimson Tide remain more talented across the board, but a new QB and the home opener keep the upset door cracked.

• at Clemson: The toughest game. Death Valley has been a nightmare for FSU, and the Tigers return Cade Klubnik and an ACC-title roster.

📌 Why It Matters
The season features plenty of manageable games, but rivalry matchups (Miami, Florida), Alabama in Week 1, and a road trip to Clemson will likely define whether FSU can bounce back from 2024 or faces another uphill climb.

👉 Full schedule analysis here

And that’s a wrap!

Between volleyball’s season kickoff, a big-time linebacker visit, Jonah Winston’s looming commitment, and the latest on FSU’s safety depth, it’s clear this fall will be packed with storylines. With Alabama just days away, the countdown is on — and we’ll keep you locked in every step of the way.

Thanks for reading The Chief Brief — where Seminole fans get smarter, faster.

👊 Until tomorrow, Chief