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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Sunday, Seminole!

This edition is stacked with elite visit news, defensive mindset shifts, and a friendlier ACC slate than you might expect. Let’s run it:

1. 🧨 Miami Commit Eyes the ‘Noles 🧨
   FSU is heating up its pursuit of 4⭐ EDGE Asharri Charles—a Venice standout committed to Miami—who just locked in a visit for the Alabama opener.

2. 🏀 Big-Time Forward Visiting for Miami Weekend 🏀
   6'8" 4⭐ PF Jalan Wingfield will be in Tallahassee during the FSU-Miami football showdown as Coach Loucks builds out a deep fall visit list.

3. 📊 FSU’s 2025 ACC Schedule Looks… Manageable? 📊
   Projections show six of eight opponents are expected to finish below FSU in the standings. That’s a recipe for a bounce-back.

4. 🚨 Flip Watch: Izayia Williams Returns 🚨
   The former FSU commit—and current Ole Miss pledge—plans to attend the Bama game. His recruitment remains wide open.

5. 🎯 10 Recruits to Watch This Fall 🎯
   From flip candidates to sleeper OTs, we break down FSU’s most important fall targets—and what it’ll take to land them.

6. 🏃‍♂️ New RB Target Emerges: Amari Latimer 🏃‍♂️
   After losing Amari Thomas, FSU is pushing for a visit from bruising Wisconsin commit Amari Latimer, a 4⭐ back from Georgia.

7. ⚔️ “First Boat Out” – Knighton Sets the Tone ⚔️
   New D-line coach Terrance Knighton brings fire and film-room motivation, using Troy, Tyson, and Celtics docs to lead FSU’s trench culture reset.

Let’s get into it 👇

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🔥 Miami Edge Commit Asharri Charles Sets FSU Official Visit 🔥

Florida State is turning up the heat on one of its earliest 2026 targets—and a current Miami commit.

📍 Visit Details:
• Asharri Charles (4⭐ EDGE | Venice, FL)
• Official Visit: August 30, during FSU’s season opener vs. Alabama
• FSU was his first offer back in Jan. 2023 and hosted him for camp last summer

🚨 Recruitment Recap:
• Committed to Miami in late June after visits to Miami, Kentucky, Louisville, and Mizzou
• Despite the pledge, FSU has re-engaged, hoping to flip him as they rebuild their Edge board

📊 Prospect Profile:
• No. 150 overall, No. 15 EDGE nationally (247Sports)
• 6'2", 230 lbs – ultra-productive junior year:
→ 107 tackles, 15.5 TFLs, 13.5 sacks, 6 PBUs, 2 forced fumbles
→ Helped Venice win the Florida 7A state title

🎯 Scouting Snapshot:
Described as a high-motor pass rusher with violent hands, elite length (34” arms), and the flexibility to win with both speed and power. Needs refinement, but has the tools to be a quarterback’s nightmare.

👉 Full breakdown of Charles’ game and visit details.

🏀 4⭐ Forward Jalan Wingfield Sets FSU Visit for Miami Game Weekend 🏀

Florida State men’s basketball continues stacking its fall visit slate—and a top-15 power forward in the 2026 class is now locked in.

📍 Visit Details:
• Jalan Wingfield (6'8" | Tri-Cities HS, Atlanta, GA)
• Official Visit: Oct. 3–5, aligned with the FSU vs. Miami football game at Doak
• Offered in Oct. 2023 by Leonard Hamilton; now being recruited by new HC Luke Loucks

🎯 Recruiting Landscape:
• Ranked No. 104 nationally, No. 14 PF, No. 6 in Georgia (247Sports)
• Final 8: FSU, Auburn, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Vanderbilt
• Also visiting Georgia Tech (Aug. 22–24)
• Hopes to decide before his senior season tips off

🧠 Scouting Snapshot:
Described as a “burly, heavy-footed four-man” with elite vertical pop and physicality at the rim. Possesses some perimeter skill but thrives when attacking the paint with power.

👨‍👦 Legacy Note:
Wingfield’s father, Dontonio, was a McDonald’s All-American, starred at Cincinnati, and played four seasons in the NBA.

👉 Read more on Wingfield’s game and FSU’s pursuit.

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📊 2025 ACC Projections Favor FSU’s Schedule 📊

The preseason ACC media poll might have pegged Florida State to finish 7th, but a deeper dive into the numbers tells a much friendlier story for the ‘Noles.

🗺️ The Breakdown:
Six of FSU’s eight ACC opponents are projected to finish below them in the standings. That’s a stark contrast from 2024, when FSU faced five of the league’s top seven teams.

📆 Key Matchups by Ranking:
• @ Virginia (Sept. 26) – Picked 14th
• vs. Miami (Oct. 4) – Picked 2nd
• vs. Pitt (Oct. 11) – Picked 9th
• @ Stanford (Oct. 18) – Picked 17th
• vs. Wake Forest (Nov. 1) – Picked 16th
• @ Clemson (Nov. 8) – Picked 1st
• vs. Virginia Tech (Nov. 15) – Picked 11th
• @ N.C. State (Nov. 21) – Picked 10th

📈 What It Means:
If projections hold, FSU avoids much of the conference’s top-tier while getting key games like Miami and Virginia Tech at home. It’s a softer schedule than last year—and that could set the stage for a strong bounce-back season.

👉 Full analysis and team-by-team breakdown here.

👀 Former FSU Commit Izayia Williams Visiting for Bama Opener 👀

Florida State’s primetime showdown with Alabama on August 30 is shaping up to be a huge recruiting weekend—and a familiar face is expected back on campus.

🔁 The Visitor:
• 4⭐ LB Izayia Williams (Tavares, FL)
• Current Ole Miss commit
• Former FSU pledge (decommitted in Nov. 2024)
• Ranked No. 169 nationally, No. 10 LB in 2026 class (247Sports)

🗓️ Visit Details:
• Expected to attend the FSU-Bama opener in an unofficial capacity
• FSU working to lock in an official visit closer to December's Early Signing Period

📈 Why It Matters:
Williams has committed to five programs already—including FSU—and his recruitment remains wide open. He’s a freak athlete with three-down potential and elite speed, and FSU is still firmly in the mix.

🧠 Scouting Snapshot:
247Sports’ Andrew Ivins describes Williams as a “supercharged linebacker” with NFL Combine traits and rare sideline-to-sideline range. With the right development, he could be an all-conference playmaker.

👉 Read more on Williams’ visit and recruitment journey.

🎯 10 Recruits FSU Is Chasing Hard This Fall 🎯

Florida State’s fall board is taking shape with a mix of flip targets, long shots, and high-upside names still in play. Here are 10 key prospects FSU is keeping tabs on—some could be in Tallahassee sooner than later.

🔁 Top Flip Watch:

• 4⭐ RB Amari Thomas – Commits Aug. 9 (Clemson vs. South Carolina battle). FSU still lurking if the offense shows serious juice this fall.

• 4⭐ Edge Trenton Henderson (LSU commit) – Longtime FSU priority who feels “most comfortable” in Tallahassee. DL development will be key.

• 4⭐ LB TJ White (Tennessee commit) – FSU nearly won this battle; strong defensive performance could tip the scale.

• 4⭐ LB Rodney Colton (Colorado commit) – Was nearly a Seminole. May require revenue-share resources to flip.

• 4⭐ OT Wilson Zierer (Auburn commit) – FSU was close once. Auburn struggles could open the door again.

• 3⭐ DE Jarius Rodgers (Syracuse commit) – Strong FSU lean if the new-look D-line under Knighton impresses.

• 3⭐ OT Javeion Cooper (Syracuse commit) – Quietly staying in contact. Visit expected.

📍 Still in Play:

• 4⭐ OT Sam Roseborough (Texas A&M commit) – Tough pull, but OL coach Herb Hand has history. Watch if Aggies stumble.

• 4⭐ Edge Andrew Rogers – Pitt visit set. August “commitment” may not stick. Tennessee leads for now.

• 4⭐ LB DQ Forkpa – FSU trails Michigan and UF, but a bounce-back season from the linebackers could change things.

📌 Bottom Line:
Most of these battles hinge on FSU’s performance this fall—especially how the offense clicks and how Tony White’s defense delivers. With key visits already being lined up, expect movement in these recruitments by October.

👉 Full player breakdowns and insider notes here.

🏃‍♂️ FSU Turns to 4⭐ RB Amari Latimer After Thomas Loss 🏃‍♂️

After losing four-star RB Amari Thomas last month, Florida State is pivoting to another promising Georgia back.

🔁 The New Target:
• Amari Latimer – 6'0", 215-lb bruiser from Sandy Creek (GA), currently committed to Wisconsin
• Committed to the Badgers in June but is still open to other suitors

🔥 FSU’s Pitch:
• Latimer originally received an offer from FSU in January
• Coach Norvell and RBs coach David Johnson are now pushing for an official visit around the Alabama game on August 30

📊 On-Field Impact:
• 1,113 yards and 15 TDs as a junior (8.3 YPC)
• Ranked No. 30 RB in 2026 by 247, but No. 20 nationally on the 247 Composite

👀 Who Else is in the Mix:
• Georgia, Georgia Tech, and Tennessee are also in touch

📌 Big Picture:
FSU is moving quickly to solidify its 2026 backfield—and Latimer has the size, vision, and SEC-level build to be a legit fit in Norvell’s offense.

👉 Full scouting notes and visit updates here.

⚔️ “First Boat Out”: Knighton Sets the Tone for FSU’s D-Line ⚔️

New defensive line coach Terrance Knighton is using a Hollywood epic to shape FSU’s identity up front—and the message is hitting home.

🎬 The Reference:
• Knighton showed players a scene from Troy (2004) where Achilles leads his warriors off the first boat to storm the beach
• Message to the D-line: “We’re the first boat out. We set the tone.”

💥 It’s Sticking:
• Players now echo “First boat out” before practices, workouts, and meetings
• Senior DT Darrell Jackson is fully bought in: “We’re the ones that got to set the tone and do it.”

🧠 Behind the Scenes:
• Knighton’s motivation toolbox includes clips from Mike Tyson, Super Bowl champions, and even a Celtics documentary
• He times these messages to keep the group focused and inspired during camp

🚨 Why It Matters:
Knighton’s NFL pedigree and unique leadership style are reshaping FSU’s defensive front—and the players are responding.

👉 Read the full story on how Knighton is building a new mindset in Tallahassee.

And that’s a wrap!

From fired-up film sessions to high-stakes recruiting visits, it’s clear the tone is being set—on the field, in the trenches, and across the board. “First boat out” isn’t just a saying—it’s a mission statement.

We’ll be tracking visit confirmations, flip smoke, and fall camp developments all week. Buckle up—August 30 is coming fast.

– The Chief