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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy hump day, Seminole!

It’s a loaded edition as FSU football inches closer to kickoff:

🏈 Scrimmage Sparks – Norvell recaps the first full-pads practice, with playmakers emerging and the trenches heating up.
📊 48th in Coaches Poll – FSU falls outside the Top 25 but faces three ranked foes this season, starting with No. 8 Alabama.
🏃‍♂️ Doak Walker Watch – Oklahoma transfer Gavin Sawchuk is already turning heads in garnet and gold.
🧱 Recruiting Heat – Five-star flips? FSU is stacking key visits for the Alabama opener—and just dropped its Top 10 Most Wanted.
🏀 Twin Towers + Wingfield Visit – The hoops staff is cooking. FSU will host top-150 twins + a blue-chip Georgia forward this fall.
⛳ Golf Wins in the Classroom – FSU men's golf earns academic team honors and sends three to the U.S. Amateur.

📬 Let’s get into it.

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⛳ FSU Men’s Golf Wins Academic Honors ⛳

Florida State men’s golf was recognized on Tuesday with the 2024-25 Platform Golf Team Academic Award by the Golf Coaches Association of America, highlighting a strong year both on the course and in the classroom.

🎓 Academic Highlights:

• Team GPA of 3.107, with a program-best 3.40 GPA in the spring

• Earned GCAA All-Academic Team status (3.0+ GPA)

• Tyler Weaver & Gray Albright: GCAA All-Academic Scholars + 2025 All-ACC Academic Team

• Carson Brewer: Also named to the All-ACC Academic Team

🏆 What’s Next:
Weaver, Brewer, and Jack Bigham will compete at the 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship at The Olympic Club in San Francisco from Aug. 11–17.

📌 Why It Matters:
Excellence off the tee and in the classroom continues to define the culture of Florida State golf.

👉 More on the academic award and who’s heading to San Francisco.

🏃‍♂️ Gavin Sawchuk Lands on Doak Walker Watch List 🏃‍♂️

Florida State redshirt junior running back Gavin Sawchuk has been named to the preseason watch list for the Doak Walker Award, given annually to the nation’s top running back.

🔥 Career Snapshot:

• Transferred from Oklahoma, where he rushed for 977 yards and 11 TDs across 23 games

• All-Big 12 honorable mention in 2023 with five straight 100-yard games to close the year

• Highlights included 135 yards vs. Arizona (Alamo Bowl) and 130 yards + 3 TDs vs. TCU

📺 What’s Next:
Sawchuk is expected to be a key piece in FSU’s ground game when the Seminoles open the season vs. Alabama on Aug. 30 at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

📌 Why It Matters:
With explosiveness and postseason experience, Sawchuk gives FSU a proven threat in the backfield as the Noles look to make a statement in Week 1.

Read more here

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📽️ Norvell Recaps First Scrimmage: "Exactly Where We Are" 📽️

FSU head coach Mike Norvell broke down Tuesday night’s first scrimmage—and despite weather delays that forced a move indoors, he was pleased with the competitiveness, energy, and progress.

💥 Key Takeaways:

• Over 100 live reps, strong offensive start led by QB Tommy Castellanos

• Explosive plays from Duce Robinson, Randy Pittman, and Micahi Danzy

• Defensive standouts included James Williams, Jaden Jones, Earl Little, and Edwin Joseph

• Special teams got limited work, but returners and kicker Jake Pinegar continue to impress

🏈 Norvell’s Message:
“There’s still a lot to clean up, but I love the fight. This team is hungry, and we’ve got a critical week ahead in Jacksonville. Everything’s building to August 30.”

👉 Full transcript + video of Norvell’s post-scrimmage comments.

🗓️ Stacked Visit List for Bama Weekend 🗓️

With July and August visits on pause, FSU is loading up for a massive fall recruiting push—especially for the Alabama opener.

✅ Confirmed Visitors (vs. Alabama):

• 🔥 Asharri Charles (4⭐ EDGE, Miami commit)

• 📞 Johnnie Jones (4⭐ OT, Miami commit)

• 🔁 Izayia Williams (4⭐ LB, former FSU commit, Ole Miss commit)

🔁 Possible Bama Weekend Visitors:

• ❓ Kamron Wilson (4⭐ EDGE, Syracuse commit)

• ❓ Bear Fretwell (3⭐ OT, Alabama commit, previously GT)

📍Other Key Fall Visit:

• 🏈 Aaron Thomas (3⭐ OT, Ohio State commit, FSU legacy) will visit for the Miami game instead.

This fall will be critical for flipping top-tier targets and reshaping the trenches.

🎯 FSU’s Top 10 Most Wanted Recruits 🎯

With the No. 14 recruiting class nationally and 22 commits already in the fold, FSU is now targeting a handful of key additions to round out its 2026 haul. Here's a quick snapshot of the top remaining targets:

🔟 Chris Carbin (3⭐ EDGE, Georgia Tech commit) – OV for Miami game locked in
9️⃣ Kamron Wilson (3⭐ EDGE, Syracuse commit) – Once an FSU lean, in-season OV possible
8️⃣ Amari Latimer (3⭐ RB, Wisconsin commit) – FSU legacy, potential Bama weekend visit
7️⃣ DeAnthony Lafayette (3⭐ EDGE, LSU commit) – FSU childhood fan, fall visit likely
6️⃣ Jarius Rodgers (4⭐ EDGE, Syracuse commit) – Visiting for Miami game
5️⃣ Johnnie Jones (4⭐ OT, UCLA commit) – OV set for Alabama game
4️⃣ Izayia Williams (4⭐ LB, Ole Miss commit, ex-FSU commit) – OV set for Alabama game
3️⃣ Aaron Thomas (3⭐ OT, Ohio State commit, FSU legacy) – OV set for Miami game
2️⃣ Duyon Forkpa Jr. (4⭐ LB, uncommitted) – Decision delayed, major FSU target
1️⃣ Asharri Charles (4⭐ EDGE, Miami commit) – Top flip candidate, OV set for Alabama game

Plenty of firepower still in play for Mike Norvell’s final moves.

🏀 Twin Towers Visiting Tallahassee 🏀

Four-star forwards Gavin and Gallagher Placide are set to officially visit FSU the weekend of September 12th. The 6’10” and 6’9” brothers out of Dallas’ Faith Family Academy were offered by the ‘Noles in late June and are top-150 national prospects in the 2026 class.

FSU is one of five scheduled official visits, along with Kansas, LSU, Wake Forest, and Mississippi State. No predictions yet on their 247Sports Crystal Ball.

Could the Garnet & Gold land both?
Read more on basketball visitors →

🏀 Wingfield Sets FSU Visit for Miami Weekend 🏀

Four-star small forward Jalan Wingfield will officially visit Florida State from Oct. 3–5, lining up with the ‘Noles’ football clash vs. Miami. The 6’7”, 220-pound Georgia native is ranked No. 99 nationally and has FSU in his top group alongside Auburn, South Carolina, and Georgia Tech.

Wingfield’s return to Tallahassee — just under an hour from his hometown of Thomasville — marks his second visit to FSU, where he was first offered under Leonard Hamilton.

He becomes the ninth blue-chip 2026 prospect to schedule an official visit with the Seminoles.

Full visit list for FSU hoops →

📊 FSU Unranked, Lands 48th in Coaches Poll Votes 📊

The USA Today Coaches Preseason Poll dropped Monday—and Florida State finished 48th in vote count, failing to crack the Top 25.

The Seminoles will open the season against No. 8 Alabama at home on August 30. Other ranked opponents include:

• 🐅 No. 6 Clemson (away – November)

• 🙌 No. 10 Miami (home – October)

• 🐊 No. 17 Florida (away – season finale)

👉 Full poll results and voting coaches here.

And that’s a wrap!

Thanks for reading The Chief Brief!
As FSU gears up for the Alabama opener, the buzz is building in both football and basketball recruiting. The pads are on, the visits are stacking, and the culture is clear — Florida State is playing the long game.

Catch you tomorrow with more from camp, recruiting, and beyond.
— Chief