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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Today’s edition is stacked with stars on the rise, freakish athletic feats, and major preseason momentum across multiple FSU programs:

🎯 Mason Arnold's Special Teams Masterclass
Long snapper Mason Arnold joins elite company on the Mannelly Award watch list, anchoring a Seminole kicking unit that might just be the best in the country.

⚽ Nyanya Touray Goes International
The freshman forward led Team USA to the 4 Nations title in Mexico City, flashing big-time goal-scoring potential ahead of FSU soccer’s season opener.

🇪🇸 FSU Adds a Madrid Marksman
17-year-old Maximo Garcia-Plata joins the men’s basketball squad from Spain, adding international scoring talent to Loucks’ expanding roster.

🌟 Mayfield Visit Sparks Buzz
Top-75 2026 prospect Gage Mayfield raved about his official visit to Tallahassee—calling the campus energy "unreal" as FSU stays in his top five.

🛬 Buckeye Commit Still Eyeing the 'Noles
Ohio State OT commit (and FSU legacy) Aaron Thomas will return for a game-day visit this fall. Could a flip be brewing?

⚡ Micahi Danzy = Certified Freak
The redshirt freshman wideout earned a spot on Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List” with Olympic speed and powerlifter strength. Will 2025 be his breakout?

🔥 Scrimmage #1 at Doak
Mike Norvell previews tonight’s first preseason scrimmage as the ‘Noles gear up for Alabama. Expect full-speed contact, live reps, and rising stars to make their mark.

👇 Let’s get into it.

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🎯 Mason Arnold Earns National Recognition 🎯

Florida State long snapper Mason Arnold has landed on the preseason watch list for the Mannelly Award, given to the nation’s top long snapper.

🔥 Special Teams Standout:
Arnold started all 12 games in 2024 and played a key role in one of the best special teams units in the country, joining All-American punter Alex Mastromanno and kicker Ryan Fitzgerald. Together, they helped make FSU’s special teams a weapon.

• Mastromanno led the nation in punting average (49.3) and broke both ACC and FSU records
• Fitzgerald was perfect on the season, going 13-for-13 on field goals—including five from 50+—and 14-for-14 on extra points
• Arnold was named FSU’s Special Teams Newcomer of the Year and earned Academic All-District honors

📌 Why It Matters:
Solid special teams can win tight games—and with Arnold’s consistency, FSU’s kicking game remains elite heading into the massive Week 1 clash with Alabama.

👉 The season opener at Doak is set for Aug. 30 at 3:30 p.m. on ABC.

⚽ Touray Leads U.S. to 4 Nations Title ⚽

FSU freshman forward Nyanya Touray starred for the U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team, scoring a tournament-best three goals to help secure the 4 Nations Tournament crown in Mexico City.

🇺🇸 Seminole Trio Shines:
Touray, along with fellow FSU freshman Ashlyn Anderson and 2026 enrollee Sydney Schmidt, played key roles in all three matches of the international event.

• Touray scored in both the 3-1 win over Costa Rica and the 1-0 title-clincher vs. Mexico
• Schmidt netted the late equalizer vs. Canada and converted a PK in the shootout win
• Anderson provided valuable minutes off the bench and in one start

🗓️ What’s Next:
Anderson and Touray will suit up for the Noles this Friday, Aug. 8, in a preseason exhibition against Alabama. FSU officially opens the 2025 season on Aug. 14 vs. Florida—both matches are at home.

📌 Why It Matters:
With this kind of international experience, FSU’s new wave of talent looks more than ready to carry the Noles’ soccer legacy forward.

👉 Full tournament recap and match highlights.

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🇪🇸 FSU Adds Spanish Guard Maximo Garcia-Plata 🇪🇸

Florida State men’s basketball has officially signed 17-year-old shooting guard Maximo Garcia-Plata from Spain, adding international flair to the 2025 roster.

📝 Scouting Snapshot:
• 6’2” shooter who most recently played for Real Madrid’s U18 team
• Competed in the Adidas Next Generation Tournament (ANGT), averaging 10.6 PPG
• Also represented Spain at the FIBA U17 World Cup, putting up 8.4 points and 2.9 assists per game

🎯 Strengths & Fit:
Garcia-Plata brings a high-IQ game, FIBA experience, and a developing outside shot. Though his 3-point percentage hovered around 30% in multiple leagues, his potential and youth make him a long-term upside play for Luke Loucks' international pipeline.

📌 Why It Matters:
Garcia-Plata becomes the 14th player on FSU’s 2025 roster and adds backcourt depth with pro-level development experience from Europe’s most elite youth programs.

👉 More on what the Spanish standout brings to the 'Noles.

🌟 Top-75 Prospect Gage Mayfield Visits FSU 🌟

Four-star small forward Gage Mayfield, the No. 1 player in Alabama and a top-75 national recruit in the 2026 class, took his official visit to Florida State last week—and he came away impressed.

📍 Visit Highlights:
• “The energy around the campus was unreal,” Mayfield told Warchant
• Praised the coaching staff’s chemistry and the way they welcomed his family
• Spent time with lead recruiter Chris Kent, saying they were “laughing and enjoying time together”

🏀 Fit & Future:
• Head coach Luke Loucks emphasized FSU’s ability to develop Mayfield for the next level
• Mayfield is a 6’7” wing who starred in Atlanta tournaments this summer
• The Hale County product includes FSU in his top five, along with Michigan, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt

📌 Why It Matters:
FSU continues to make a strong impression on elite 2026 talent—and Mayfield’s visit is another sign that Loucks’ recruiting momentum is very real.

👉 Read more on how Mayfield’s visit went and where the Seminoles stand in his recruitment.

🛬 Buckeye Commit (and FSU Legacy) Set to Visit Tallahassee 🛬

Ohio State offensive tackle commit Aaron Thomas—whose father once suited up for the ‘Noles—plans to return to Tallahassee this fall for an unofficial visit during FSU’s home game vs. Miami on October 4.

📍 The Backstory:
• 6’7”, 300-pounder from Phoenix (AZ) committed to Ohio State on June 25
• Took official visits to FSU, Texas A&M, Arkansas, and Ohio State this summer
• Son of former FSU offensive lineman Eric Thomas

🔁 Still in Play?
Although Thomas is currently pledged to the Buckeyes, Florida State remains in the mix. His return visit—despite already having used his official—signals the Seminoles haven’t backed off.

📌 Why It Matters:
FSU is still hunting for more help at offensive tackle in the 2026 class. Thomas and fellow tackle Johnnie Jones (who’s also slated for a return visit) are names to watch down the stretch.

👉 Read more about Thomas’ upcoming visit and what it means for the O-line recruiting board.

⚡ Micahi Danzy Named to Feldman’s “Freaks List” ⚡

One of the fastest men in college football—and maybe the country—has officially earned his freak badge. Redshirt freshman WR Micahi Danzy cracked Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List at No. 68, joining elite company ahead of the 2025 season.

🚀 What Makes Him a “Freak”:
• Ran a 44.38 in the 400m—an FSU & ACC record, 9th-fastest in the world
• Power cleans 335 pounds at 6’1”, 185 lbs
• Clocked over 24 mph in speed testing (22+ mph is NFL elite)

📈 Where He Fits:
Danzy redshirted in 2024 as a running back but transitioned to wide receiver this spring. While he’s still raw as a pass catcher, his blistering speed could carve him a role on jet sweeps or special teams—especially at kickoff returner.

📌 Why It Matters:
Danzy’s inclusion adds to FSU’s reputation for elite athletes and gives Gus Malzahn another gadget weapon to scheme around. The raw tools are rare. Now it’s all about fit and opportunity.

👉 Read Feldman’s full Freaks List feature at The Athletic.

🔥 First Scrimmage Incoming: FSU Gears Up at Doak 🔥

Florida State will take the next big step of fall camp Tuesday night with its first full-team scrimmage inside a newly renovated Doak Campbell Stadium. It’ll be the first live-action test as the Seminoles ramp up toward the August 30 opener vs. Alabama.

🎙️ Norvell’s Vision:
• Wants to see “dominant contact,” clean technique, and emerging playmakers
• Scrimmage will be mostly base calls to test player instincts and execution
• “This team is ready to go and strap it up,” Norvell said Monday

👀 What to Watch:
• Ole Miss transfer OL Micah Pettus is excited to get full-speed reps after a limited spring
• Freshman DT Kevin Wynn is eager to experience Doak from the field, not the stands
• Some special teams reps will be included, with more to come in the second scrimmage on Aug. 10

📍 What’s Next:
After Tuesday’s action, Norvell will provide a full breakdown. Coordinators Gus Malzahn and Tony White will speak Wednesday, before the team heads to Jacksonville for a new phase of camp later in the week.

👉 Stay tuned for full scrimmage reports and coaching reactions.

And that’s a wrap!

From scrimmage prep to world-class speed and future stars visiting campus, the momentum in Tallahassee is building fast. Next stop? Doak under the lights tonight, and Alabama at the end of the month.

Thanks for riding with us—see you tomorrow with more.

– The Chief

👟 P.S. Someone needs to find Micahi Danzy a cape. 24 mph is... criminal.