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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Monday, Seminole!

The countdown to Alabama is officially on, and the picture around Florida State football is sharpening. From projected starters on offense to Tony White’s “mad science” defense, the Seminoles enter 2025 as a team built on transfers, fresh faces, and calculated risk.

📋 On the field, Warchant projects a revamped offensive depth chart with Tommy Castellanos under center, a running back room that could feature freshman phenom Ousmane Kromah, and a fortified offensive line anchored by Luke Petitbon.

⚾ In the majors, baseball alum Cal Raleigh is rewriting MLB record books — blasting his way past Griffey, Mantle, and Perez into baseball lore.

🦍 On the recruiting trail, FSU has targeted elite 2026 DL Damaad Lewis, while hoops newcomer Sha Muhammad brings a unique story — part rim protector, part artist — to Luke Loucks’ first roster.

🧪 And defensively, the spotlight is firmly on Tony White’s 3-3-5, a scheme built on confusion and chaos, with detailed film breakdowns from Warchant and Noles247 giving fans a first look at how it could fare against Alabama’s power.

Let’s dive into it 👇️ .

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📋 Projected Offensive Depth Chart vs. Alabama 📋

Florida State hasn’t officially released its depth chart yet (expected Monday), but after three weeks of preseason camp, the picture is coming into focus. Here’s a look at the Seminoles’ offense heading into the opener against Alabama according to Warchant.

⚡ Quarterback

• Starter: Tommy Castellanos – Boston College transfer, locked in as QB1.

• Backups: Brock Glenn (edge in experience), Kevin Sperry (freshman who’s turned heads).

🦅 Running Back

• Roydell Williams: Veteran likely to take first snap, brings SEC experience.

• Ousmane Kromah: The freshman phenom; possibly FSU’s best back already.

• Gavin Sawchuk: Steady Oklahoma transfer, could lead in touches due to versatility.

🎯 Wide Receiver

• Duce Robinson: True WR1, 6’6” matchup nightmare.

• Squirrel White: Speedy transfer, expected to start opposite Robinson.

• Jayvan Boggs: Freshman standout, likely WR3.

• Depth Rotation: Gavin Blackwell, Lawayne McCoy (injury watch), BJ Gibson, Micahi Danzy, Elijah Moore.

🧩 Tight End

• Randy Pittman: UCF transfer, all-around weapon with versatility.

• Landen Thomas: Sophomore ready for breakout if fully healthy.

• Depth: Amaree Williams (athletic pass threat), Markeston Douglas (blocking specialist).

🛡️ Offensive Line

• Tackles: Micah Pettus (RT), Gunnar Hansen (LT) – veteran transfers solidify the edges.

• Guards: Richie Leonard, Adrian Medley, Jacob Rizy – two of three expected to start; Rizy could rotate across multiple spots.

• Center: Luke Petitbon – transfer anchor and unit leader.

• Depth: Lucas Simmons, Andre’ Otto, Chavez Thompson (freshman), plus Rizy’s versatility across the line.

🔑 Big Picture
This is a retooled offense heavy on transfers and young talent. Castellanos’ dual-threat play, Kromah’s potential spark, and a revamped O-line will be critical against Alabama. Depth exists, but trust in the trenches and health at WR will be tested right away.

👉 Full breakdown and commentary here.

⚾ Cal Raleigh Makes MLB History ⚾

Florida State baseball alum Cal Raleigh continues to smash records with the Seattle Mariners. On Sunday, he produced his ninth multi-homer game of the season, rewriting history books in the process.

🔥 Record Breaker

• Passed Salvador Perez for most homers by a catcher in a season (49).

• Surpassed Ken Griffey Jr. for the most multi-HR games by a Seattle Mariner.

• Overtook Mickey Mantle for the most multi-HR games by a switch-hitter.

💨 What’s Next

• Raleigh now has his eyes on Mantle’s 1961 record of 54 home runs — the most ever by a switch-hitter in a single season.

📊 By the Numbers

• Batting average: .246

• OPS: .944

• RBI: 106

• Runs scored: 85

• Stolen bases: 14 (career high)

🎯 Why It Matters
Raleigh has gone from an FSU standout to one of the most feared power hitters in baseball, now standing in the same statistical neighborhood as Mickey Mantle. His surge isn’t just Mariners history — it’s historic for the sport itself.

👉 More highlights and breakdown here

🦍 Seminoles Offer Top DL Damaad Lewis 🦍

Florida State extended an offer to Charlotte (NC) Myers Park defensive lineman Damaad Lewis, one of the nation’s most sought-after trench prospects in the 2026 class.

🔥 The Profile

• Height/Weight: 6’4”, 240 lbs

• Ranking: No. 37 defensive lineman nationally (Rivals)

• Posted Top 5 this summer: NC State, Texas, Texas A&M, USC, Washington

💨 The FSU Pitch
Lewis said he was fired up after hearing from defensive line coach Terrance Knighton:

📅 What’s Next
Lewis is now in the process of scheduling more visits, with Florida State aiming to wedge into his top group. The Seminoles’ 2026 recruiting class currently sits at No. 15 nationally, and Lewis instantly becomes a high-priority target moving forward.

🔎 The Takeaway
This recruitment is still open, and while NC State and Texas programs have been steady leaders, FSU’s reputation for developing NFL-ready linemen could put them in the mix if they can get Lewis on campus soon.

👉 Full update here.

These cannabis gummies keep selling out in 2025

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Although this system was discovered in the 1990’s, farmers and scientists at Mood were among the first to figure out how to tap into it with cannabis gummies. Just 1 of their rapid onset THC gummies can get you feeling right within 5 minutes!

🏀 Sha Muhammad: Shot-Blocking Artist 🏀

Florida State’s newest forward, Shahid “Sha” Muhammad, brings more than just size (6’11”) to Luke Loucks’ first roster. With a natural gift for timing and athleticism, Muhammad is already one of the most prolific shot blockers to wear Garnet and Gold — and he hasn’t even played a game yet in Tallahassee.

🛡️ Defensive Force

• Swatted 47 shots in 31 games last season at UMass (1.5 per game).

• Holds the Southern Idaho program record with 106 blocks in 30 games (3.5 per game).

• Across three collegiate seasons: 156 blocks in 61 games — a career average of 2.5 per contest.

• Once blocked more shots alone (106) than all 13 of his teammates combined (105).

🎨 More Than a Player

• Accomplished pencil sketch artist, currently mastering how to draw hands.

• Yellow belt in Jiu-jitsu, talented at ping pong, skateboarding, and comics.

• Didn’t even pick up basketball until age 17, right after an 11-inch growth spurt.

📣 From Loucks’ Perspective

“Sha has some special and unique athletic abilities that we think will be a good fit in our system,” said head coach Luke Loucks, who spent nearly a decade in the NBA. “Our job is to develop Sha so that he reaches his potential and becomes a productive player within our program.”

🌟 The Bigger Picture

Muhammad is both FSU’s elder statesman at 23 and a late-blooming big man whose career is still on the rise. Between his rim protection, versatility, and unique off-court story, he might be the most fascinating addition to Loucks’ first roster.

📅 What’s Next

The Seminoles tip off Loucks’ debut season on Nov. 4 at the Tucker Center, and Muhammad is expected to be a central piece in FSU’s defensive identity.

👉 Full profile on Muhammad here

🧪 Tony White’s Mad Science 🧪

From El Paso high school fields to Tallahassee’s sidelines, Tony White’s journey with the 3-3-5 defense has been anything but traditional. What started as Rocky Long’s oddball experiment decades ago has now become White’s signature — and Florida State’s latest weapon heading into 2025.

🔎 Origins of the Scheme

• Born from necessity at New Mexico in the 1980s, the “Fire Ant” defense used smaller, faster athletes to swarm instead of relying on 300-pound linemen.

• Long added wrinkles like the Rover safety, blending speed with creativity.

• White learned the system firsthand as a freshman at UCLA, flipping from Oklahoma State in a late recruiting twist that changed his life.

🔥 White’s Philosophy

• “In the 3-3, you hope to just have 11 good athletes and then figure out where to put them,” White says.

• Positionless football is the goal: safeties become linebackers, linebackers become ends, blitzes come from everywhere.

• Unpredictability is the edge: “Everything’s not what it seems at first.”

📈 Building Credibility

• At Syracuse and Nebraska, White’s defenses consistently punched above their weight, confusing bigger, faster rosters.

• His units thrive on adaptability, much like his own coaching style — calm off the field, fiery in teaching moments.

• Now at FSU, he has access to a higher caliber of athlete, allowing him to expand the scheme’s creativity even further.

💡 What It Means for FSU

• Expect constant movement, disguised pressures, and defensive versatility.

• Early buy-in from leaders like LB Justin Cryer shows players are embracing the change.

• Against Alabama’s elite OL and WR Ryan Williams, White’s system faces its toughest first test — but also its chance to prove disruptive on the big stage.

👉 Full feature on White’s 3-3-5 journey here

🎥 Breaking Down Tony White’s 3-3-5 🎥

FSU’s defense under Tony White isn’t just unconventional—it’s designed to confuse, disguise, and frustrate opposing offenses. To give fans a deeper look at how the scheme actually functions, both Warchant and Noles247 have released detailed film breakdowns.

These video studies walk through White’s defensive philosophy, how the 3-3-5 adapts to personnel, and the ways Florida State plans to counter Alabama’s talent in the season opener.

👇️ Watch the breakdowns below to see why White’s “organized chaos” could be the X-factor in 2025.

And that’s a wrap!

That’s a wrap for today’s edition, and the countdown to Alabama is almost over. From Cal Raleigh chasing Mantle to Tony White crafting chaos, it feels like every corner of Seminole sports has something worth watching.

See you back here tomorrow as we keep marching toward kickoff. Until then — keep the War Chant going.