Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

The Seminoles are surging across multiple sports, with championship expectations, major recruiting wins, and legendary moments on the horizon.

⚾ FSU Baseball enters 2025 as a top-10 team, with ace Jamie Arnold leading the way in preseason honors.
🏈 Homecoming & Special Games Announced—mark your calendars for key matchups, including Seminole Heritage Night vs. Wake Forest.
🏀 Sue Semrau Night this Thursday will celebrate the legendary coach as FSU faces Louisville.
🏐 Beach Volleyball’s Garnet & Gold Scrimmage provided a thrilling preview of the season, showcasing rising stars and new faces.
🏀 FSU Hoops Recruiting Update—Dwayne Wimbley Jr. remains locked in despite Leonard Hamilton’s resignation, while international signee Nico Onyekwere brings size and long-term potential.
🏈 Football Recruiting Battles Heat Up—FSU is pushing for top talent, locking in official visits with blue-chip prospects, including OL Brandon Anderson, ATH Heze Kent, and QB Landon Duckworth.
🏈 FSU Expands QB Search—After losing Brady Smigiel, the ‘Noles are making a strong push for 4⭐ QB Landon Duckworth, who has FSU among his official visit plans.
🏈 Elite EDGE Target on the Radar—FSU remains in the mix for 3⭐ pass-rusher Keysaun Eleazer, with four official visits already set.

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⚾ FSU Baseball Enters 2025 Season as Top-10 Team, Jamie Arnold Headlines Preseason Honors

With Opening Day just around the corner, Florida State baseball is set to begin the 2025 season ranked inside the top-10 in every major poll—setting the stage for another championship push.

🏆 National Rankings:

🔺 No. 6 – Baseball America, NCBWA, USA Today Coaches Poll, Perfect Game, Baseball Central
🔺 No. 7 – The Athletic
🔺 No. 9 – D1Baseball

🔥 Jamie Arnold: The Ace & The Awards

The junior left-hander is one of the most decorated pitchers in college baseball heading into the season:
✅ Golden Spikes Award Watch List (USA Baseball) – Given to the top amateur player in the nation.
✅ Preseason National Pitcher of the Year (Baseball America, Perfect Game).
✅ Unanimous Preseason First Team All-American (Baseball America, D1Baseball, NCBWA, Perfect Game, The Athletic).
✅ Preseason ACC Pitcher of the Year (Baseball America, D1Baseball, Perfect Game).

📊 Other Key Preseason Recognitions

🔹 Cam Leiter (RHP) – Preseason Third Team All-American (Baseball America).
🔹 Hunter Carns (Catcher) – Preseason ACC Freshman of the Year (Baseball America, Perfect Game).
🔹 FSU Picked to Finish 2nd in ACC (ACC Coaches, Baseball America).
🔹 D1Baseball’s No. 1 Pitcher in College Baseball – Jamie Arnold leads the list of top 50 pitchers.

🔍 FSU’s Top-50 Ranked Players at Each Position

FSU is loaded with talent, boasting multiple players ranked among the nation’s best:
🔹 Catcher: Jaxson West (#19), Hunter Carns (#38)
🔹 Middle Infield: Drew Faurot (#27, 2B), Alex Lodise (#27, SS)
🔹 Outfield: Max Williams (#29)
🔹 First Base: Myles Bailey (#32)
🔹 Third Base: Cal Fisher (#34)
🔹 Pitchers: Arnold (#1), Prescott (#41, RP), Volini (#48, SP), Hults (#88, RP), Abraham (#96, RP), Mendes (#144, SP)

⏭️ What’s Next?

FSU begins its 2025 campaign this Friday, Feb. 14, at home vs. James Madison. Fans can purchase tickets for Opening Day and beyond at Seminoles.com/Tickets or by calling 850-644-1830.

🔗 More on FSU’s preseason honors and expectations here.

🏈 FSU Announces Homecoming & Featured Games for 2025 Season!

Florida State has revealed key dates for the 2025 football season, including Homecoming, Family Weekend, and other special game-day events.

📅 Mark Your Calendars!

🔹 Sept. 20 vs. Kent State – Family Weekend
🔹 Oct. 11 vs. Pitt – Cancer Awareness Game
🔹 Nov. 1 vs. Wake Forest – Homecoming & Seminole Heritage Game
🔹 Nov. 15 vs. Virginia Tech – Senior Day & Military Appreciation

🔥 Homecoming Dominance

🏆 FSU is 62-12-1 all-time on Homecoming, including an 11-game win streak after last year’s 41-7 win over Charleston Southern.
🏆 The ‘Noles are 7-0-1 on Homecoming vs. Wake Forest, including a 4-0 record in ACC play.

🌊 Seminole Heritage Game Returns

For the third straight year, FSU will honor its relationship with the Seminole Tribe of Florida by featuring turquoise accents, a color symbolizing harmony and friendship in Native American culture.

📊 FSU is 2-0 in Seminole Heritage Games, with wins over No. 16 Duke (38-20, 2023) and Charleston Southern (2024).

🔗 More on FSU’s featured games & traditions here.

🏀 FSU to Honor Legendary Coach Sue Semrau on Thursday vs. Louisville

Florida State women’s basketball (No. 23, 19-5, 9-3 ACC) will celebrate Sue Semrau, the winningest coach in program history, during Thursday’s game against Louisville at 6 PM at the Donald L. Tucker Center.

🎟️ Special Ticket Offer

Single-game tickets are available for just $4.70 at Seminoles.com in honor of Semrau’s 470 career wins.

🏆 Coach Sue’s Legacy

🔥 470-271 career record (1997-2022)
🔥 16 NCAA Tournament appearances
🔥 5 Sweet 16s, 3 Elite Eights
🔥 2 ACC regular season titles
🔥 2015 National Coach of the Year (AP, WBCA, ESPNW)
🔥 FSU Athletics Hall of Fame inductee (2023)

⏳ Halftime Tribute

Semrau will be honored at halftime as the Seminoles recognize her incredible contributions to FSU women’s basketball.

📺 Watch: ACC Network Extra
🎟️ Be there for this special moment! Grab your $4.70 tickets here.

🏐 FSU Beach Volleyball Opens 2025 with High-Level Garnet & Gold Scrimmage

Florida State Beach Volleyball gave fans a thrilling preview of the 2025 season at the annual Garnet & Gold Scrimmage, with Gold edging Garnet 3-2 in a hard-fought battle that came down to a decisive third set.

🔥 Final Match Thriller
Juniors Alexis Durish & Audrey Koenig (Gold) secured the win in a 15-7 third-set victory over freshmen Gella Andrew & Kenzie Hultquist (Garnet), capping off an intense evening of competition.

🏐 Key Takeaways from the Scrimmage

🔹 New Faces, Same High Standards – With a major roster overhaul after 2024, young players like Andrew, Hultquist, Myriah Massey, and Skylar Skrabanek made immediate impacts.
🔹 Clutch Comebacks – Junior Madison Binkley & Skrabanek battled back after dropping the first set to win in a 15-13 tiebreaker.
🔹 Chemistry on Display – The pairing of Maddie Trusty & Makenna Wolfe delivered the most dominant win of the night (21-17, 21-14).
🔹 Strong Individual Performances – McKenna Flaherty (5 aces), Anna Long (returning from two surgeries), Carra Sassack & Bailey Higgins (dynamic offense) all turned heads.

🏆 Coaches' Reactions
💬 Asst. Coach Nick Lucena: "I was really impressed with how our young players stepped up and competed."
💬 Head Coach Brooke Niles: "All the matches were so close, and it was great to see how each of our players responded in those moments."

FSU Beach Volleyball has long been a perennial powerhouse, and if this scrimmage was any indication, 2025 could be another special year.

🔗 More insights from the Garnet & Gold Scrimmage here.

🏀 Four-Star PF Dwayne Wimbley Jr. Reaffirms Commitment to FSU Despite Coaching Change

Even after Leonard Hamilton’s resignation, four-star power forward Dwayne Wimbley Jr. remains locked in with Florida State.

💬 Wimbley Jr. on His Commitment:
"I definitely plan on staying committed and still going to Florida State. Hopefully, that works out as planned."

🔹 Legacy Connection – His father played for Hamilton at Miami.
🔹 High School Success – Surpassed 1,500 career points & won MVP at the Kingdom of the Sun Tournament in December.
🔹 Recruiting Ranking – No. 147 overall prospect (2025 class, per 247Sports).

🛡️ What About FSU’s Other Signee?
The Seminoles’ two-man 2025 class also includes international big man Nico Onyekwere (Long Island Lutheran, NY). While still unranked, Onyekwere brings size and long-term upside but will need time to develop.

📊 FSU’s 2025 Class National Ranking: No. 93

🔗 More on FSU’s recruiting outlook & next coaching hire here.

🏈 Four-Star ATH Heze Kent Sets Official Visit to FSU

Brunswick (Ga.) jumbo athlete Heze Kent is one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2026 class, and Florida State is officially in the mix.

🗓️ FSU Official Visit Date: June 15-17

🔹 Position Versatility: Some programs see him as a tight end, while others project him as an offensive tackle.
🔹 FSU Connection: The Seminoles were among his first four offers back in January 2023.
🔹 Recruiting Ranking: No. 118 overall | No. 11 OT (247Sports Composite).

📅 Kent’s Official Visit Schedule:
🏈 May 30 – Florida
🏈 June 6 – Miami
🏈 June 13 – Texas
🏈 June 15 – Florida State
🏈 June 20 – Alabama

Kent last visited FSU in October 2023 for a game and also took a trip in March 2023.

🚨 Recruiting Outlook:
There are no current Crystal Ball predictions, making Kent’s summer visits key in determining which schools gain the upper hand.

🔗 More on Kent’s recruitment & FSU’s push here.

🏈 Four-Star OL Brandon Anderson Sets FSU Official Visit Amid Recruitment Reset

Brandon Anderson, a four-star interior offensive lineman from North Cobb (Ga.), is back on the market after decommitting from Tennessee—and Florida State is making a push.

🗓️ FSU Official Visit Date: June 13

🔹 Recruiting Ranking: No. 295 overall | No. 21 IOL (2026 class, 247Sports Composite)
🔹 Why He Decommitted: Anderson wanted to keep his options open after Tennessee pushed for him to shut down his recruitment.
🔹 FSU Interest: The Seminoles hosted him on a visit just five days after his decommitment.

📅 Anderson’s Official Visit Schedule:
🏈 May 30 – Georgia
🏈 June 6 – Florida
🏈 June 13 – Florida State
🏈 June 20 – Tennessee

🚨 Recruiting Outlook:
Anderson still plans to visit Tennessee twice, but he admits he currently sees himself going elsewhere. He’ll announce his final decision on September 14 (his birthday).

🔗 More on Anderson’s recruitment & FSU’s push here.

🏈 4⭐ QB Landon Duckworth Keeping FSU in the Mix for Official Visits

After losing blue-chip QB Brady Smigiel, Florida State wasted no time expanding its quarterback search—one of the top targets? Landon Duckworth.

🔹 Recruiting Ranking: No. 66 overall | No. 5 QB (2026, 247Sports)
🔹 Size: 6’3, 190 lbs | Jackson (Ala.)

🚨 FSU’s Connection:
FSU OC Gus Malzahn has recruited Jackson (Ala.) well in the past, and his prior relationship with Duckworth from his UCF days has helped the ‘Noles surge into the mix.

💬 Duckworth on FSU QB Coach Tony Tokarz:
"We've been talking all the time. He’s been telling me how he can cook—he showed me a couple things. I think he's pretty cool."

📅 Planned Visits:
✅ Spring – Florida State & Ole Miss locked in.
✅ Officials – FSU, Georgia, South Carolina, and Ole Miss in the works.

🏆 Elite Camp Performance
At Under Armour Atlanta, Duckworth was named the top QB at the event, showcasing his arm strength, deep-ball accuracy, and improved mechanics.

🚨 Recruiting Outlook:
With Malzahn leading the charge, FSU is gaining momentum in Duckworth’s recruitment. Can they land a visit and solidify themselves as a serious contender?

🔗 More on Duckworth’s recruitment & FSU’s QB search here.

🏈 3⭐ EDGE Keysaun Eleazer Sets Official Visits, Keeps Options Open

Raleigh (N.C.) EDGE rusher Keysaun Eleazer is quickly becoming a sought-after pass-rushing prospect, boasting 20+ offers from major programs, including Florida State, Georgia, Ohio State, and Penn State.

🔹 Size: 6’5, 205 lbs
🔹 247Sports Rating: 88

📅 Official Visits Locked In:
✅ Georgia Tech – May 30
✅ Penn State – June 5
✅ Ohio State – June 13
✅ Virginia Tech – June 20

💬 Eleazer on FSU?
While he hasn't scheduled a visit yet, the Seminoles remain in the mix. Eleazer noted that he might add more official visits after the spring.

🚀 Recruiting Outlook:
With his length and athleticism, Eleazer has the tools to develop into a game-changing pass rusher at the next level. Will FSU push for an official visit?

🔗 More on Eleazer’s recruitment & FSU’s EDGE targets here.

And that’s a wrap!

With FSU Baseball kicking off a top-10 season, football locking in major recruits, and Seminole legends being honored, there’s plenty to celebrate in Tallahassee.

👀 What are you most excited about? Hit the poll below and let us know!

Stay tuned, stay loud, and as always—Go ‘Noles! 🔥⚡🐍