🏹 August 9th - The Chief Brief 🏹

Preseason Honors, Early Statement Wins, and Big Names Eyeing Tallahassee

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The Chief
August 09, 2025

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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Saturday, Seminole! Here’s what’s happening as we head into the thick of August:

🏈 Award Season Starts Early – Three Noles land on prestigious preseason watch lists, including two Mackey Award tight end candidates.

⚽ Soccer Starts Strong – Women’s soccer opens with a dominant 4-1 exhibition win over Alabama, showing off the deepest roster of the Pensky era.

🏈 Voices from Jacksonville – Norvell, freshman WR Tae’Shaun Gelsey, and safety K.J. Kirkland break down camp intensity and growth heading into Scrimmage 2.

🏈 Jimbo Gets Candid – Former FSU coach Jimbo Fisher reflects on his 2017 exit, calling it the hardest decision of his career and reaffirming his love for the Noles.

🏀 Big-Time Target – 5⭐ center Chamiah Francis includes FSU in her final 7 and locks in an official visit to Tallahassee this fall.

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🏈 Trio of Noles Named to Preseason Award Watch Lists 🏈

Three Seminoles earned spots on prestigious preseason watch lists Friday.

  • Luke Petitbon – Rimington Trophy (nation’s best center)
    The redshirt senior transfer from Wake Forest started 22 games for the Deacs, earning All-ACC honorable mention in 2024. Allowed just one sack all season, tied for the fewest among ACC centers.

  • Randy Pittman Jr. – Mackey Award (nation’s best tight end)
    The UCF transfer and familiar face in Gus Malzahn’s offense caught 32 passes for 416 yards and two TDs last season, both scores coming in a career game vs. Arizona.

  • Landen Thomas – Mackey Award
    As a true freshman in 2024, the Moultrie, Ga., native started the final seven games, logging 14 catches for 173 yards and a TD. Posted a team-high seven receptions vs. Clemson — the most by any Seminole last year.

Why It Matters: FSU is one of just four schools with two Mackey Award candidates, highlighting depth and talent at tight end heading into a season opener vs. Alabama in a renovated Doak Campbell Stadium.

🏟 Next Up: Alabama, Aug. 30, 3:30 p.m. on ABC.

⚽ Noles Roll Past Alabama in Exhibition ⚽

Florida State women’s soccer kicked off 2025 with a 4-1 exhibition win over Alabama on Friday night at the Seminole Soccer Complex.

Scoring Recap:

  • 29’ – Arizona State transfer Enasia Colon opens the scoring (assist: Gianna Riley).

  • 31’ – Lara Danta doubles the lead with an unassisted strike.

  • 54’ – Jordynn Dudley makes it 3-0.

  • 79’ – Ashllyn Anderson cleans up in the box for 4-0.

  • 86’ – Alabama pulls one back late.

The Seminoles showcased their depth, using 23 players in the first half alone, including both goalkeepers Addie Todd and Kate Ockene. Key returners Dudley, Wrianna Hudson, Solai Washington, Taylor Suarez, Mimi Van Zanten, and Heather Gilchrist anchored a veteran core, while newcomers like Colon made an immediate impact.

Why It Matters: With 27 players on the roster — the deepest in Brian Pensky’s tenure — FSU looks loaded for another title run. Transfers from Arizona State, Virginia, and NC State, plus a strong freshman class, add new firepower to an already elite group.

🏟 Up Next: Regular season opener vs. Florida, Thursday, Aug. 14 (7 p.m.), at home.

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🏈 Norvell, Gelsey & Kirkland Talk Camp in Jacksonville 🏈

Friday marked Day 2 of FSU’s camp stint in Jacksonville, with head coach Mike Norvell, freshman WR Tae’Shaun Gelsey, and safety K.J. Kirkland meeting with the media.

Norvell’s Takeaways:

  • Called it a “good, emotional, challenging day” with short-yardage, red zone, and 1-on-1 drills designed to test focus and “emotional maturity.”

  • Sunday’s scrimmage will feature both situational work and “play ball” segments, with a heavy workload to evaluate playmakers before Alabama prep begins.

  • On RB Ousmane Kromah: “If he keeps progressing like he is, I fully expect him to make a great impact.”

  • Injury status: Only a few players could be questionable for Scrimmage 2 — overall, “we’re in pretty good shape.”

Freshman Spotlight – Tae’Shaun Gelsey:
The spring enrollee says early arrival gave him a jump on learning the system and bonding with teammates. At 6’3”, he sees blocking, size, and matchup ability as ways to contribute immediately: “Whatever way Coach Norvell wants me… I’ll do anything it takes to help us have a better season than last year.”

Secondary Leader – K.J. Kirkland:
Feels comfortable in DC Tony White’s 3-3-5 scheme, praising its freedom for defenders to “have eyes on the ball” and make plays. Also lauded safeties coach Evan Cooper for bringing NFL experience to the room: “One of the best coaches I’ve ever been with… he helps us in every aspect.”

Why It Matters: With Scrimmage 2 looming, evaluations from Jacksonville will shape depth charts and rotations as Alabama prep nears.

🏟 Next Up: Helmet-only practice Saturday, full scrimmage Sunday.

🏈 Jimbo Fisher: “Never Wanted to Leave” FSU 🏈

Former FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher opened up on the TRIALS to TRIUMPH podcast with ex-Seminole FB Freddie Stevenson, calling his 2017 departure for Texas A&M the “most difficult thing I’ve ever done.”

“Never wanted to go… I grew up a Florida State fan. The Bowdens were like family to me… I cried in that meeting. It killed me, but life takes turns sometimes.”

Why He Left: Fisher cited a lack of university backing for facility upgrades and staff/player resources — concerns he compared to the ACC’s current challenges. He said his asks weren’t for himself but to keep FSU ahead in the evolving college football landscape.

Lasting Ties: Fisher spoke fondly of the players he left behind — Cam Akers, Brian Burns, Deondre Francois, among others — and the bond he had built with them.

Legacy at FSU:

  • Record: 83-23 (.783 – highest in FSU history)

  • Titles: 2013 BCS National Champion, three straight ACC titles (2012-14)

  • Streak: 29 consecutive wins from 2012-14

Why It Matters: Even with his controversial exit, Fisher’s impact on FSU’s modern era — on the field and in recruiting — remains unmatched, and his comments underscore the program’s ongoing push to keep pace nationally.

🏀 2026 5⭐ C Chamiah Francis Includes FSU in Final 7 🏀

One of the top frontcourt prospects in the 2026 class, Chamiah Francis (No. 26 nationally), has narrowed her list to seven schools — and Florida State made the cut.

Finalists: Alabama, Florida State, Miami, North Carolina, Ole Miss, LSU, Duke.

The 6’3” center has set an official visit to Tallahassee for Oct. 10-12, part of a busy fall travel schedule:

  • Aug. 31 – Miami

  • Sept. 6 – Alabama

  • Sept. 19 – Duke

  • Sept. 27 – Ole Miss

  • Oct. 25 – North Carolina (tentative)

  • LSU visit in the works

Scouting Report (via 247Sports): Legitimate high-major size and athleticism; active in the lane, productive around the rim, and trending toward elite status among her class’s bigs.

Why It Matters: Landing Francis would give FSU a centerpiece post presence in 2026 recruiting — the kind of rim-protecting, lane-dominating player who can alter games on both ends.

And that’s a wrap!

From preseason accolades to statement exhibition wins, it’s clear the fall sports calendar is heating up. Football camp is grinding toward Alabama, soccer looks loaded for another title run, and recruiting boards are stacked with high-profile targets across multiple sports. The season is coming fast — and we’ll have every play, every quote, and every storyline covered right here.

Go Noles,
The Chief Brief Team

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