Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy humpday, Seminole!

Here’s what we’ve got for you today:

🎾 Tennis Triumphs: Florida State men’s tennis started the season strong with multiple ACC weekly honors and looks ahead to a top-10 showdown against Arizona.
🏈 Freshman All-American: Kick returner Samuel Singleton Jr. shines as FSU’s latest FWAA Freshman All-American.
🏐 Volleyball Boost: Middle blocker Delaney Ewing joins the Seminoles, adding height and passion to FSU’s front line.
🏀 Hoops Update: FSU basketball gears up for a key ACC clash against Pitt, aiming to maintain their home-court advantage.
🏃‍♂️ Track Stars Recognized: Three Seminoles earn ACC Performer of the Week honors after standout performances at the Clemson Invitational.
🏈 Recruiting Buzz: Junior Day excitement builds as FSU hosts five-star linebacker Xavier Griffin and eyes key additions to the 2025 class.
🚧 Spring Showcase Canceled: Construction at Doak Campbell Stadium means no spring showcase, but all 15 spring practices will proceed.

🎾 Seminoles Sweep ACC Weekly Honors to Open the Season 🎾

The No. 9 Florida State men’s tennis team started the 2025 season with a bang, earning ACC Player of the Week and ACC Doubles Team of the Week honors.

🌟 Jamie Connel Shines in Singles Play

• Connel swept all seven completed sets in singles matches, including a win over the No. 77 player nationally.

• This marks Connel’s first career ACC Player of the Week honor in his three years with FSU.

🌟 Rihane & Bulte Dominate in Doubles

• The No. 6-ranked pairing of Youcef Rihane and Alex Bulte cruised to three victories, including a commanding 6-1 win over the No. 54 duo from Georgia Southern.

• This is their second ACC Doubles Team of the Week honor as a pair.

📅 What’s Next:
Florida State hosts Georgia State on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. before a top-10 clash with No. 6 Arizona on Saturday at 1 p.m.

👉 Read more here

🏈 Samuel Singleton Jr. Named FWAA Freshman All-American 🏈

Florida State kick returner Samuel Singleton Jr. earned FWAA Freshman All-American honors, becoming the first Seminole to receive the accolade since Brian Burns in 2016.

🌟 Singleton’s Standout Season:

• Returned 15 kickoffs for 373 yards, including a 95-yard touchdown at Duke, his first career score.

• Led all Power Five freshmen in kickoff return yards for 2024.

• His 95-yard return ranks 19th-longest in FSU history, and his 165 return yards against Duke are tied for fifth-most in a game nationally last season.

🌟 FSU’s Special Teams Excellence:

• Florida State is one of two programs with a kickoff return touchdown in each of the last three seasons.

• Singleton joins punter Alex Mastromanno and kicker Ryan Fitzgerald as FSU special teams All-Americans in recent years.

👉 Read more here

🏐 Seminoles Add Transfer Middle Blocker Delaney Ewing 🏐

Florida State volleyball bolstered its roster with the addition of 6-2 middle blocker Delaney Ewing, a transfer from San Francisco.

🌟 Why Ewing Stands Out:

• Recorded 155 kills and hit .309 in her freshman season across 110 sets and 30 matches.

• Tallied 83 blocks, showcasing her strong net presence.

• Named WCC Freshman of the Week on Oct. 7 after a standout performance against Saint Mary’s and LMU.

🌟 Coach Poole’s Take:
"Delaney is very aggressive on the court and plays with a lot of passion in the middle blocker position. We are excited to have her here at FSU this spring," Poole shared.

🌟 High School Pedigree:
A Fort Collins, Colorado native, Ewing was the 2023 5A Front Range Conference Player of the Year and helped Fossil Ridge High School reach the CHSAA 5A State Championship match.

👉 Read more here

🏀 Seminoles Prepare for Key ACC Matchup Against Pitt 🏀

Florida State men’s basketball returns to action on Wednesday night, hosting Pittsburgh at the Donald L. Tucker Center for a 9 p.m. tip-off. The game will air on ESPNU and stream live on the Legends Radio Network.

🌟 Matchup Highlights:

• FSU (11-5, 2-3 ACC): The Seminoles aim to bounce back after a road loss to Clemson. They boast a 6-2 home record this season.

• Pitt (12-4, 3-2 ACC): The Panthers enter on a two-game skid but lead the ACC in field goal percentage and rank third in scoring with 81.4 points per game.

• Key Pitt Players: Guard duo Ishmael Leggett and Jaland Lowe combine for 33.9 points, 8.7 assists, and 3.5 steals per game.

🌟 Seminoles to Watch:

• Jamir Watkins: Leading FSU in scoring with 18.2 points per game.

• Malique Ewin: Averaging 13.8 points and 7.6 rebounds in his debut season.

📅 What’s Next:
The Seminoles remain at home to host Georgia Tech on Saturday at noon, continuing their ACC slate on ESPNU.

👉 Read more here

🏃‍♂️ FSU Track Athletes Shine with ACC Weekly Honors 🏃‍♀️

Florida State men’s track and field athletes Kyvon Tatham, Tyler Azcano, and Micahi Danzy earned ACC Performer of the Week honors after standout performances at the Clemson Invitational.

🌟 Award Highlights:

• Kyvon Tatham: Named Field Performer of the Week after winning the triple jump with a personal best of 15.89m (52-1¾). His mark ranks 3rd in the NCAA and 1st in the ACC.

• Tyler Azcano: Took home Performer of the Week honors by winning the 60-meter with a lifetime best of 6.60 in prelims, the 4th-fastest time in the NCAA this season.

• Micahi Danzy: Earned Rookie of the Week for his stellar 45.11 split in the 4x400-meter relay, helping the team secure second place.

👏 Coaches’ Praise:

• Tatham: “He has a lot of passion for the sport and works tremendously hard,” said assistant coach Tim Cawley.

• Azcano: “Happy to have him healthy and executing,” said associate head coach Rick Argro.

• Danzy: “Balancing football and track takes great focus, and he has that,” Argro added.

👉 Read more here

🎾 Seminoles Host Georgia State and No. 6 Arizona in Top Matchups 🎾

The No. 9 Florida State men’s tennis team continues its homestand this week with matches against Georgia State on Thursday at 5:30 PM and No. 6 Arizona on Saturday at 1 PM. Both matches will take place outdoors at the Scott Speicher Memorial Tennis Center.

🌟 Match Previews:

• Georgia State: FSU has won 18 of 19 matches in the series, including the last three consecutive seasons.

• Arizona: This top-10 matchup marks the first meeting between the programs since 2004.

🌟 Player Highlights:

• Jamie Connel: Undefeated in singles and doubles this season, Connel recently earned his first ACC Player of the Week honor.

• Youcef Rihane & Alex Bulte: The No. 6 doubles team nationally, the pair earned ACC Doubles Team of the Week after a perfect weekend.

• Corey Craig: Made his Court 1 debut at home following an All-American fall season.

👉 Read more here

🏈 FSU to Host 5⭐ LB Xavier Griffin for Junior Day 🏈

Florida State’s first Junior Day event of 2025 just got even more exciting with the addition of five-star linebacker Xavier Griffin, the No. 1 linebacker in the nation per 247Sports.

🌟 Recruitment Highlights:

• Current Commitment: Griffin is committed to USC but remains a top flip target for FSU, Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama.

• FSU Connection: Head coach Mike Norvell personally offered Griffin a scholarship in June 2023, keeping the Seminoles in the mix.

• Crystal Ball Prediction: Georgia is currently favored to flip the Gainesville (Ga.) standout.

🌟 Scouting Report (via Andrew Ivins):

• A versatile defender with elite athleticism and a top-tier testing profile.

• Excels in pass rushing, run stopping, and coverage, with true sideline-to-sideline range.

• At 6'3" and 200 pounds, Griffin is expected to make significant physical gains in college, enhancing his impact potential.

• Projects as an impact player in the Big Ten or SEC with his flexibility and athleticism.

👉 Read more here

🏈 FSU Eyes Key Additions to 2025 Recruiting Class 🏈

Florida State is actively working to bolster its No. 20-ranked 2025 high school recruiting class, with a focus on offensive line prospects who did not sign during the early signing period.

🌟 Crystal Ball Predictions:

• Chastan Brown:

  • Position: Four-star offensive tackle.

  • Vitals: 6’7”, 270 lbs (Warner Robins, Ga.).

  • Recruitment: Former UCF commit with deep ties to FSU’s Gus Malzahn and Herb Hand. Brown is expected to visit FSU later this month and is likely to sign with the Seminoles in February.

  • Rankings: No. 226 overall, No. 21 offensive tackle (247Sports).

• Sandman Thompson:

  • Position: Three-star interior offensive lineman.

  • Vitals: 6’1”, 310 lbs (Cocoa, Fla.).

  • Recruitment: Former Oregon commit now leaning heavily toward FSU after a recent official visit. Thompson is expected to announce his decision this Wednesday.

  • Rankings: No. 1089 overall, No. 73 interior OL (247Sports Composite).

👉 Read more here

🚧 FSU Spring Showcase Canceled Due to Doak Campbell Construction 🚧

Florida State football’s annual spring showcase will not take place in 2025 due to ongoing construction at Doak Campbell Stadium.

🌟 Key Details:

• Announcement: Head coach Mike Norvell shared the news during the Vision of Excellence New Year's Presentation on Tuesday, alongside host Jeff Culhane.

• Reasoning: Logistical challenges and NCAA time constraints made moving the event off-campus unfeasible.

🌟 Norvell’s Perspective:

• Focus on Practices: "It’s in the best interest of our team to ensure we capitalize on each practice and meeting rather than face potential distractions," Norvell explained.

• Preparation for 2025: Despite the cancellation, the Seminoles will complete all 15 NCAA-allowed spring practices to gear up for the upcoming season.

👉 Read more here

And that’s a wrap!

Thanks for joining us for today’s edition of The Chief Brief! Whether it’s tennis aces, gridiron glory, or recruiting wins, the Seminoles are making waves across the board. Stay tuned for more updates as FSU gears up for another action-packed week.

📩 Have thoughts or questions? Hit reply to let us know—we’d love to hear from you!

🔥 Until next time, stay Garnet & Gold strong! 🔥