Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Tuesday, Seminole!

Florida State is on the warpath on the course, in the pool, and on the diamond as postseason races and rankings heat up!

⛳ FSU Men's Golf (-10) holds a three-stroke lead at the Watersound Invitational, with Gray Albright and Michael Mays tied for first place individually.
⛳ FSU Women’s Golf extended its seven-stroke lead at the Moon Invitational, with Lottie Woad leading the field as she chases her fifth career title.
🏊‍♂️ FSU Swimming & Diving is set to compete at the ACC Championships, with the toughest field in conference history.
⚾ FSU Baseball moved up to No. 5 in Baseball America’s rankings after sweeping James Madison and outscoring the Dukes 25-2.
🏈 FSU Recruiting continues to heat up, with key prospects like Kevin Ford Jr., Tamarion Watkins, and Landen Miree keeping the Seminoles in the mix.
🔴 FSU CB Charles Lester III was arrested for DUI on Monday, with the program stating the situation will be addressed internally.

Let’s dive in! ⬇️

⛳ No. 4 FSU Men’s Golf Leads Watersound Invitational After Round 1

Florida State men's golf opened the Watersound Invitational in dominant fashion, finishing the first round 10-under par to claim the top spot on the leaderboard at Shark’s Tooth Golf Course in Panama City Beach.

🔥 Team Standings (After Round 1):
🏆 1st – Florida State (-10, 278)
🥈 2nd – No. 12 UCLA (-7, 281)

💪 Key Performances

✅ Gray Albright (-5, T-1st) – 7 birdies, co-leader after a stellar opening round
✅ Michael Mays (-5, T-1st) – Eagle on 15, 2 birdies down the stretch
✅ Jack Bigham (-1, T-13th) – Even through the front nine, solid start
✅ Wilmer Edero (E, T-18th) – 16 pars, steady play as an individual
✅ Andrew McLauchlan (E, T-18th) – 4 birdies in a consistent round

🔹 Tyler Weaver & Luke Clanton – T-28th (+1, 73)
🔹 Carson Brewer (+2, 74), Patrick McCann (+5, 77)

🚨 Schedule Update: Due to expected inclement weather on Wednesday, teams will play 36 holes on Tuesday to complete the tournament.

📅 What’s Next?
🏌️‍♂️ Rounds 2 & 3 – Tuesday (Final Day of Play)

🔗 More on FSU’s strong start here.

⛳ No. 7 FSU Women’s Golf Extends Lead at Moon Invitational

Florida State remains in first place after the second round of the Moon Invitational, building a seven-stroke advantage over Texas A&M as the Seminoles chase a program-record third consecutive tournament victory.

🔥 Leaderboard (After Round 2):
🏆 1st – Florida State (-3, 573)
🥈 2nd – Texas A&M (+4, 580)
🥉 3rd – South Carolina (+6, 582)

💪 Key Performances

✅ Lottie Woad (-4, 1st) – 3-under 69, 5 birdies, aiming for 5th career title
✅ Alexandra Gazzoli (E, T-15th) – Career-best 70, jumped 32 spots in standings
✅ Layla Pedrique (E, T-8th) – 2-over 73, steady finish
✅ Mirabel Ting (+3, T-21st) & Sophia Fullbrook (+3, T-21st) – 75 in Round 2

💬 Coach Amy Bond on FSU’s Play:
"It was another windy day, but all five girls made the adjustments and played really well. They played solid golf, made pars, and were comfortable throughout the round."

📅 What’s Next?
🏌️‍♀️ Final Round – FSU tees off Tuesday at 9:40 AM alongside Texas A&M and South Carolina.

🔗 More on FSU’s pursuit of history here.

🏊‍♂️ FSU Swimming & Diving Prepares for ACC Championships

No. 18/25 Florida State Swimming & Diving is set to compete in the 2025 ACC Championships, running Feb. 18-22 at the Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, NC.

🔥 Championship Schedule Highlights:
📅 Tuesday (Opening Day) – Women's 1M diving (10 AM), Men's 3M diving (1:30 PM), Finals (5:30 PM)
🏊 Tuesday Finals Events – 200 Medley Relay, 800 Free Relay
📅 Wednesday-Saturday – Individual swimming & diving prelims at 9:30 AM, Finals at 5:30 PM

💬 Coach Neal Studd on the Competition:
"With the additional teams, this is now the strongest swimming and diving conference in the country. Our athletes will see what NCAA postseason looks like this week, and we’re ready to compete at the highest level."

📺 How to Watch:
📡 Live Stream: ACC Network Extra
📊 Live Results & Updates: Follow FSU Swimming & Diving on Twitter/X, Instagram & Facebook

🔗 More on FSU’s ACC Championship journey here.

⚾ Florida State Moves Up in Rankings After Opening Series Sweep

After a dominant sweep of James Madison, where No. 9 Florida State outscored the Dukes 25-2, the Seminoles have climbed in the latest top-25 rankings.

📈 FSU’s Updated National Rankings:
🔺 Baseball America: No. 5 (⬆️ from No. 6)
🔺 Perfect Game: No. 6 (➡️ No change)
🔺 D1Baseball: No. 9 (➡️ No change)
🔹 NCBWA & Coaches Poll: TBA (Preseason: No. 6)

🔥 Opening Weekend Dominance:
✅ Two shutouts & just one earned run allowed in 26 innings
✅ Pitching Staff: 23 Ks, 2 BBs, 5 hits allowed by weekend starters
✅ Offense: 25 runs scored & aggressive baserunning with 8 stolen bases

📅 What’s Next?
🏆 FSU at USF (Tuesday, 5:00 PM ET)
📺 Watch: ESPN+

🔗 More on FSU’s rankings & upcoming matchup here.

🔥 Four-Star Edge Kevin Ford Jr. Keeping Florida State in the Mix

Duncanville (Texas) four-star edge rusher Kevin Ford Jr. continues to be one of the most sought-after defensive prospects in the 2026 class. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound defender, ranked No. 111 overall and No. 11 at his position, holds over 30 offers, including one from Florida State in early January.

📍 Official Visits Locked In:
🔺 Alabama: May 30
🔺 Texas A&M: June 13
🔺 Oklahoma: June 20
🔺 USC: Likely June 6

🏈 Where Does FSU Stand?
FSU is in contact with Ford Jr., and while he hasn’t set an official visit yet, he plans to visit Tallahassee in March. He’s been in regular talks with DC Tony White and DL coach Terrance Knighton about the Seminoles’ new defensive system.

💬 Ford Jr. on FSU:
"I like their coaches that they just got from Nebraska. They have an opportunity to be a good team this year and build something."

📅 Decision Timeline:
Ford is debating between an early commitment before his senior season or waiting until September 16 to announce on his brother’s birthday.

🔗 More on Ford Jr.’s recruitment here.

🔎 Four-Star Safety Tamarion Watkins Holds FSU Offer, Sets Official Visits

Rock Hill (S.C.) four-star safety Tamarion Watkins is one of the top defensive backs in the 2026 class and has locked in official visits with South Carolina (June 20) and Georgia (May 30 & June 6).

📌 Watkins' Profile:
🔺 Height/Weight: 6’3.5”, 200 lbs
🔺 Ranking: No. 21 safety, No. 4 prospect in South Carolina (247Sports Composite)
🔺 Strengths: Versatile free safety with elite range, sideline-to-sideline coverage ability, and physicality in run support

🏈 Where Does FSU Stand?
Florida State is among the top programs to have offered Watkins, but South Carolina appears to be in a strong position to keep him in-state.

🔗 More on Watkins’ recruitment here.

🔴 Four-Star TE Landen Miree Locks in Florida State Official Visit

Cincinnati Princeton tight end Landen Miree has scheduled his official visit to Florida State from June 13-15, as he evaluates his top college options.

📌 Miree’s Official Visit Schedule:
🔹 Washington – May 29 - June 1
🔹 Cincinnati – June 6 - June 8
🔹 Florida State – June 13 - June 15
🔹 SMU – June 20 - June 22
🔹 North Carolina – TBA

🏈 Why Florida State?
Miree cites a strong bond with FSU tight ends coach Chris Thomsen and a deep appreciation for Florida. He also plans to visit Tallahassee unofficially on April 1 before making his decision.

💡 Junior Season Stats:
✅ 56 receptions | ✅ 714 yards | ✅ 10 TDs

🔗 More on Miree’s recruitment here.

🔴 Four-Star Edge Jabarrius Garror Keeping Close Eye on Florida State

Alabama commit Jabarrius Garror is locked in with the Crimson Tide for now, but Florida State and Auburn are making strong pushes to flip the elite 2027 edge rusher out of Mobile, Ala.

🔥 Why FSU is a Factor:
🔹 Garror visited FSU’s Junior Day and connected with new DL coach Terrance Knighton & HC Mike Norvell
🔹 He likes FSU’s family feel & coaching staff from Nebraska
🔹 FSU envisions him playing JACK linebacker in Tony White’s 3-3-5 defense

💪 Dominant Junior Season (MaxPreps):
✅ 104 tackles | ✅ 56 TFLs | ✅ 21.5 sacks

📊 Rankings:
🏆 No. 40 overall prospect (2027)
🏆 No. 6 EDGE nationally
🏆 No. 1 player in Alabama

🚨 Will the ‘Noles flip him from Bama? Stay tuned.

🔗 More on Garror’s recruitment here.

🔴 FSU CB Charles Lester III Arrested for DUI

Florida State redshirt freshman cornerback Charles Lester III was arrested in Manatee County on Monday, February 17th, for DUI, with bond set at $500.

🔹 FSU’s Response:
🗣️ "We are aware of the situation and are gathering all information. We will be addressing it internally." – FSU Spokesperson

🔹 About Lester III:
✅ 6’1”, 210 lbs | Sarasota, Fla.
✅ Four-Star Recruit | No. 3 CB in 2023 Class
✅ Appeared in 4 games as a freshman (3 tackles, 1 PBU)

🚨 No further details or official comment from Lester at this time.

🔗 More on the situation here.

And that’s a wrap!

From the fairways to the recruiting trail, Florida State continues to build momentum. Can the ‘Noles bring home more hardware this week? Stay locked in for all the latest updates!

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Until next time,
The Chief Brief Team