🏹 December 12th - The Chief Brief 🏹

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Welcome to The Chief Brief!

Here’s what we have in store for you on this chilly Tuesday:

🏆 Echegini's Honda Award Quest: Onyi Echegini of FSU Women's Soccer is in the running for the prestigious Honda Award.

🏈 Verse & Fiske's All-American Triumph: FSU's Jared Verse and Braden Fiske earn spots on the AP All-American teams.

🏀 FSU Basketball Schedule Update: The men's basketball game against Lipscomb rescheduled for Noon on Dec 30th.

🏈 Seminoles in the NFL Draft Spotlight: FSU stars to showcase their talents in Reese's Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Bowl.

🏈 FSU's Pursuit of SEC Talent: The Seminoles intensify recruitment of Texas A&M EDGE Fadil Diggs.

🏆 Onyi Echegini: A Finalist for the Prestigious Honda Award

Senior Onyi Echegini from Florida State Women's Soccer is making headlines as a finalist for the Honda Award, marking the fourth consecutive year an FSU player has been nominated.

Following in the footsteps of past nominees and winners from FSU, Echegini is contending to become the third Seminole to win this prestigious award, joining the likes of Natalia Kuikka and Jaelin Howell.

Echegini, named the ACC Offensive Player of the Year and a MAC Hermann Trophy finalist, had an exceptional season.

She led the Seminoles to their 2023 National Championship victory, scoring 16 goals and assisting five in 23 games. Her performance this season not only placed her eighth in FSU's all-time scoring records but also led the ACC in goals and points.

Echegini shone brightly in high-pressure situations, especially against ranked opponents, where she scored nine goals, including three game-winners.

The Honda Award, recognizing the best in collegiate athletics for 48 years, nominates top athletes from 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports.

The winner of this award also becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the 2024 Honda Cup.

The winner of the soccer category, selected by a panel of coaches and experts, will be announced after a vote involving over 1,000 NCAA member institutions. Echegini's nomination is a testament to her incredible talent and significant contribution to the FSU soccer legacy.

🏈 FSU's Defensive Powerhouses: Verse and Fiske Earn AP All-American Honors

Exciting news for our Seminole family! Two of our standout defensive linemen, Jared Verse and Braden Fiske, have been recognized as Associated Press All-Americans.

Jared Verse, our phenomenal redshirt junior defensive end from Dayton, Ohio, has been a force to reckon with, securing a well-deserved spot on the second team.

His stats speak volumes: 41 tackles, including a team-high 9.0 sacks and 12.5 for loss. His versatility shone through with three pass breakups, 11 quarterback hurries, a forced fumble, and even a blocked extra point.

Remember his stellar performance against Florida? Those 2.5 sacks and 3.0 tackles for loss not only earned him ACC Player of the Week honors but also set the tone for his dominant play in the ACC Championship Game.

Braden Fiske, our redshirt senior and a tower of strength from Michigan City, Indiana, clinched a place on the third team.

Fiske's contribution has been pivotal, with 43 tackles, 9.0 for loss, and 6.0 sacks. His career-best performance in the ACC Championship Game was a sight to behold: nine tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 3.0 sacks.

Fiske's impressive end-of-season surge, particularly in the last five games, was a key factor in our defensive success.

Together, Verse and Fiske have been the backbone of our Seminole defense, leading us to set ACC Championship Game records, including an astounding 14.0 tackles for loss and limiting our opponents to a mere 188 yards of total offense.

Their individual honors are just as impressive. Verse has already been recognized as a second-team All-American by The Athletic and USA Today, a first-team All-ACC selection, and was in the running for the Lombardi Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy.

As for Fiske, he's been named the College Football News Newcomer of the Year and Defensive Interior Lineman of the Year, besides earning a spot on the second-team All-ACC.

Here's to our defensive stars – bringing pride and excellence to FSU football!

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🏀 Quick Note: FSU Men's Basketball Game Time Change

Heads up, Seminole fans!

There's a schedule change for the FSU men's basketball team you should be aware of. The home game against Lipscomb, originally set for Saturday, December 30, 2023, will now tip off at 12:00 Noon (ET).

This change comes in light of our Seminole football team's scheduled Orange Bowl clash against Georgia later that day at 4:00 p.m.

Remember our last game against Lipscomb? We clinched a resounding 97-60 victory back on December 15, 2021, in Tallahassee.

With a 2-1 lead in the all-time series against Lipscomb, spanning the 1949-50, 1950-51, and 2021-22 seasons, our team is gearing up to extend this winning streak.

Let's get ready to cheer on our Seminoles in both basketball and football on this action-packed day!

🏈 FSU Stars Heading to Prestigious NFL Draft Showcases

Exciting news for our Florida State football program! After a fantastic 13-0 season in 2023, several of our talented Seminoles are set to showcase their skills in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft. It's a testament to the incredible talent we've cultivated on both sides of the ball.

With the recent rule change allowing underclassmen to participate in college all-star games, we can expect a strong FSU presence in the Reese's Senior Bowl and the East-West Shrine Bowl – two key events partnered with the NFL for annual college showcases.

🏈 The 99th East-West Shrine Bowl is scheduled for February 1 in Frisco, Texas. Catch the action live on NFL Network at 8:00 p.m. ET. Representing FSU in this prestigious game will be DB Renardo Green and DB Jarrian Jones. Their participation is a great opportunity to demonstrate their prowess on a national stage.

🏈 As for the Reese's Senior Bowl, slated for February 3 in Mobile, Alabama, and airing at 1:00 p.m. ET on NFL Network, we'll be cheering for DL Braden Fiske, TE Jaheim Bell, and WR Johnny Wilson. Their inclusion in this elite bowl game is a nod to their outstanding contributions to our unbeaten season.

These showcases offer our Seminoles a fantastic platform to impress NFL scouts and coaches. Let's root for our players as they step onto these national stages, ready to make their mark and continue the FSU legacy in the NFL! 🌟🏉

🏈 FSU Ramps Up Pursuit of SEC Edge Defender Fadil Diggs

Exciting developments are unfolding in Florida State's football recruiting, as the Seminoles intensify their efforts to strengthen the defensive edge. FSU's radar is firmly set on Texas A&M EDGE Fadil Diggs, a standout performer in the SEC.

Defensive coordinator Adam Fuller's recent in-home visit with Diggs signals FSU's heightened interest.

Diggs, who impressively racked up 36 tackles, 11 TFL, and 4.0 sacks in his junior year, is now in serious talks with FSU. This visit, especially during a critical time in the recruiting calendar, indicates FSU's commitment to bolstering its edge defense.

Sources close to the situation hint at the possibility of an official visit, a crucial next step in FSU's recruitment strategy. This move would mark a significant progression in our pursuit of Diggs.

EDGE is a critical position for the Seminoles this cycle, given the likely departure of Jared Verse to the NFL Draft and ongoing negotiations to retain starter Patrick Payton.

While there's confidence in the development of players like Gilber Edmond and Byron Turner, securing a potential starter to replace Verse and possibly Payton is a priority for FSU.

This weekend, FSU also hosted official visits from Georgia Tech EDGE Kyle Kennard and Pittsburgh DE Samuel Okunlola, demonstrating our proactive approach to building a strong defensive lineup.

The expansion of FSU's EDGE board, particularly with the focus on Diggs, reflects our strategic commitment to enhancing the team's defensive capabilities.

Diggs, a New Jersey native, is also being closely watched by industry experts, who anticipate his potential move to Syracuse following Elijah Robinson.

However, FSU's dedicated efforts might just sway the talented defender our way. Let's keep an eye on this evolving recruitment as FSU looks to secure top talent for our defensive edge. 🏈🌟

That wraps up this edition of The Chief Brief!

Thank you for tuning in and staying up-to-date with all things FSU. Your support and passion fuel the Seminole spirit.

Remember, every game, every play, every moment, we're all in this together.

Go 'Noles! 🍢🏈🏀🏈🏀