🏹 January 24th - The Chief Brief 🏹

From the Diamond to the Gridiron: FSU's Stars Shine Bright

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The Chief
January 24, 2025

Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

Which FSU storyline are you most excited about today?

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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Friday, Noles fans! We’ve got a packed edition today, covering everything from preseason honors in softball to a big matchup with Alabama to kick off the 2025 football season. Recruiting is heating up, with FSU coaches making moves across the country and locking in on key prospects. Plus, we’re diving into tennis, golf, swimming, and even professional lacrosse updates.

Here’s what’s on deck today:

  • 🏆 Softball Shines: Three Seminoles named to the Preseason All-ACC Team.

  • 🎾 Tennis Preview: ITA Kickoff Weekend at the Speicher Center.

  • 🏑 Lacrosse Spotlight: Megan Carney makes WLL debut.

  • 🏈 Football Recruiting: Updates on 4-star targets and key commitments.

Sit back, grab your garnet and gold, and let’s dive into everything happening with the Noles. As always, let us know your thoughts in today’s poll!

🏆 Noles Softball Shine in Preseason Honors

Three FSU softball stars – Jaysoni Beachum, Michaela Edenfield, and Jahni Kerr – were named to the 14-player Preseason All-ACC Team. The Seminoles tied Duke for the most selections in the league and were picked to finish second in the ACC, earning four first-place votes.

💥 Beachum: A Historic Freshman Year

The reigning ACC Freshman of the Year, Beachum set FSU freshman records in batting average (.417), home runs (16), and RBI (66). She’ll look to build on her breakout season as a sophomore.

🔥 Edenfield & Kerr Lead the Way

  • Edenfield (5th-year senior): Career-high .381 average last season, 15 HRs, and a team-best .806 SLG.

  • Kerr (senior): Back-to-back All-ACC nods, hitting .332 over the past two seasons. She struck out just 11 times in 159 at-bats in 2024.

🎯 Pitching Depth Returns

Key arms are back:

  • Ashtyn Danley: FSU’s innings leader in 2024, Second Team All-ACC.

  • Makenna Reid: All-ACC in 2023, healthy again for 2025.

  • Mimi Gooden: Showed late-season promise as a freshman.

🚀 Fresh Talent & Transfers

The Noles added serious reinforcements:

  • Transfers Julia Apsel (Hofstra) and Annabelle Widra (Auburn) bring over 567 collegiate innings.

  • Jazzy Francik: A top-10 freshman pitcher (Softball America).

  • No. 5 recruiting class features Francik, Addie DeLong, Shelby McKenzie, and Isabella Ruggiero.

🌟 Big Year Ahead

With two returning All-Americans (Beachum, Edenfield), FSU is loaded for 2025. The last time the Noles had this much star power returning? 2018, when they won it all.

🎾 Noles Gear Up for ITA Kickoff Weekend

The No. 10 Florida State men’s tennis team will host No. 16 South Carolina, No. 15 San Diego, and North Florida in the 2025 ITA Kickoff Weekend at the Scott Speicher Memorial Tennis Center starting Friday.

📅 Match Schedule:

  • Friday: South Carolina vs. San Diego (2 p.m.), FSU vs. North Florida (5 p.m.)

  • Saturday: Consolation Match (2 p.m.), Championship Match (5 p.m.)

The winner of the weekend advances to the 2025 ITA National Team Indoor Championship in Texas (Feb. 14-18).

🔥 Players to Watch:

  • Jamie Connel: 4-1 in singles, named inaugural 2025 ACC Player of the Week.

  • Corey Craig: Undefeated in 2025, part of a top-ranked singles duo.

  • Bulte/Rihane Doubles Team: 4-0 on Court 1, earning the inaugural 2025 ACC Doubles Team of the Week.

FSU enters the weekend at 5-1, riding a dominant streak with three home sweeps and a perfect 7-0 win over Georgia State.

🌟 Did You Know?
The Seminoles are unbeaten in 14 straight meetings with North Florida since 1986 and have three preseason ITA-ranked doubles pairings.

🏆 Can the Noles keep the momentum alive? Let us know your predictions!

⛳ Noles Golf to Face Illinois in Exhibition

The Florida State men’s golf team will take on No. 11 Illinois in a one-day exhibition match at Camp Creek Golf Club on February 1.

The Seminoles and Fighting Illini have a history of postseason battles, with FSU last topping Illinois in the 2023 NCAA quarterfinals. Both teams finished in the top eight in 2024, with the Noles reaching the Championship Match.

🏑 FSU’s Megan Carney Joins Women’s Lacrosse League

Florida State assistant coach Megan Carney has been named to the New York Charging roster for the inaugural season of the Women’s Lacrosse League (WLL).

Carney, a four-time All-American and former Syracuse star, called it “an incredible opportunity to elevate the game and inspire the next generation.”

The Charging face the Maryland Charm in the first game of the WLL Championship Series on February 11, with all games broadcast on ESPN.

🌟 Fun Fact: Carney tallied 303 points at Syracuse and helped the Orange share the 2023 ACC regular season title.

🏊‍♂️ FSU Hosts Senior Day Meet vs. Tampa

The No. 21/25 Florida State swimming and diving team will celebrate Senior Day today, with a meet against Tampa at 2 p.m. ET at the Morcom Aquatics Center. Senior recognition begins at 1:30 p.m.

Admission is free, and live updates will be available via Meet Mobile and the FSU YouTube channel.

🗣 Coach Neal Studd: "Tampa’s men are the defending D-II national champs, and we’re excited to honor our seniors in what will be a great test for us!"

🌟 Quick Notes:

  • Tampa men are ranked No. 2 (D-II) and unbeaten in 2025.

  • FSU men moved up to No. 21, and the women remain in the Top 25 in the CSCAA Coaches Poll.

  • Next up: FSU hosts Miami on Monday, January 27, at 2 p.m

🏈 FSU to Open 2025 Season vs. Alabama

Florida State will kick off the 2025 football season against Alabama on August 30 in the first game at the renovated Doak Campbell Stadium, the ACC confirmed Thursday.

This matchup marks the first time the Crimson Tide will play in Tallahassee. The game is part of a home-and-home series, with FSU traveling to Tuscaloosa in 2026.

The full 2025 football schedule will be revealed Monday at 9 p.m. on ACC Network and ESPN2.

🏈 FSU Coaches Hit the Road in January Recruiting Push

Florida State’s coaching staff, led by Mike Norvell, has been busy visiting top recruits across the country this month. From Dallas to Fort Myers, the Seminoles are locking in on some of the nation’s best talent.

🌟 Key Visits:

  • 4-Star OT Felix Ojo (TX): OL coach Herb Hand visited Ojo, who said he already feels like a top priority despite Hand being new to the staff.

  • 4-Star S Jordan Smith (GA): Norvell met with Smith this week, following an earlier visit from DB coach Patrick Surtain. Smith praised Norvell’s honesty, calling him “nothing short of the truth.”

  • 4-Star DL James Johnson (FL): Fresh off a Junior Day visit, Johnson was impressed by Norvell’s message, saying the ‘Noles are “pursuing” him, not just recruiting him.

  • 4-Star WR Jayden Petit (FL): FSU offered Petit this week and visited him in Naples. The 6’4” wideout said he’s excited about the plan for WRs and plans to visit Tallahassee soon.

🏈 FSU Continues to Lead for 4-Star Edge Rusher Zahir Mathis

Florida State remains the frontrunner for 4-star edge rusher Zahir Mathis, following his official visit earlier this month.

🌟 Why FSU Stands Out:

  • Coach Norvell made Mathis a priority, visiting him in Philadelphia after his trip to Tallahassee.

  • Imhotep coach Cyril Woodland noted FSU’s focus on early competition opportunities and the strength of the new staff.

🔜 What’s Next for Mathis:

  • Scheduled visits to Michigan (this weekend) and Maryland (next weekend).

  • Virginia Tech and Penn State remain potential challengers, with Penn State head coach James Franklin expected to visit soon.

Mathis, a 6’6”, 230-pound standout, is ranked as the No. 3 player in Pennsylvania and the No. 17 edge rusher nationally by On3.

🏈 FSU Working to Lock In DB Commit Tedarius Hughes

Florida State is fighting to keep three-star DB Tedarius Hughes committed as Miami and Syracuse ramp up their recruiting efforts.

🌟 Why Miami is Pushing Hard:

  • Proximity to Coral Gables and a new defensive coordinator make the Hurricanes a strong contender.

  • Head coach Mario Cristobal has made Hughes a priority, frequently visiting and staying in contact.

🔗 Why Hughes Stays Loyal to FSU:

  • Strong relationships with Coach Patrick Surtain and Coach Mike Norvell, who believed in him early.

  • Connection with new safeties coach Evan Cooper, who recruited him at Nebraska and has visited Hughes recently.

Hughes, a standout at the recent Battle 7-on-7 tournament, impressed with his length, multiple pass breakups, and interceptions. Ranked as the No. 47 safety nationally, FSU continues to emphasize its loyalty and vision for him in Tallahassee.

🏈 FSU Building Momentum with 4-Star LB Rodney Colton Jr.

Linebacker is a priority for FSU’s 2026 recruiting class, and the Seminoles are making a strong push for Rodney Colton Jr., a 4-star prospect from Newnan, Ga., who recently decommitted from South Carolina.

🌟 Why FSU Stands Out:

  • Colton has been talking with Coach John Papuchis since his sophomore year and calls him “a great guy” with a clear focus on developing top linebackers for the league.

  • He’s impressed by FSU’s defensive vision under new DC Tony White and is eager to see how he fits into the system.

🔜 What’s Next for Colton:

  • Plans spring visits to FSU in March and April, with additional trips for games later this year.

  • Will visit Tennessee this weekend and Ole Miss next week, with Georgia and Ohio State potentially entering the mix.

Ranked as the No. 7 linebacker nationally, Colton is focused on finding a program where he can develop and make an early impact as a freshman.

And that’s a wrap!

Thanks for spending part of your day with The Chief Brief! Whether it’s preseason accolades, recruiting buzz, or major matchups on the horizon, there’s no offseason for the Seminoles. Let us know what you think about today’s updates in the poll below, and we’ll catch you again soon. Go Noles!

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