Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

The Seminoles are staying busy across the board, with big recruiting moves, exciting action on the courts, and draft buzz heating up. Here’s what’s in today’s edition:

🛡️ No. 1 CB Chauncey Kennon: Florida State solidifies its spot in the top three for the nation’s top-ranked cornerback after a successful Junior Day visit.

🔼 4-Star WR Somourian Wingo: The Seminoles are quickly emerging as a serious contender for the elite pass-catcher from St. Augustine.

🎾 Women’s Tennis Splits Doubleheader: FSU battled No. 23 UCF and dominated Bethune-Cookman, improving to 3-1 on the season.

🏈 Amari Clemons Brings Family to FSU: One of the Seminoles’ top running back targets brought his loved ones for an in-depth look at Tallahassee.

👀 4-Star LB TJ White Impressed: The versatile linebacker came away with high praise for FSU’s defensive scheme after his Junior Day visit.

📈 Azareye’h Thomas Draft Buzz: The standout cornerback is drawing first-round NFL projections ahead of his Senior Bowl appearance.

🏀 Men’s Basketball Falls at Stanford: Despite a late rally, the Seminoles couldn’t complete the comeback, dropping to 13-7 on the season.

🏀 Women’s Hoops vs. UNC: The No. 15 Seminoles hit the road for a Sunday showdown with No. 13 North Carolina.

🛡️ FSU Solidifies Spot with No. 1 CB Chauncey Kennon

Four-star cornerback Chauncey Kennon (Sarasota, Fla.)—ranked as the nation’s No. 1 cornerback by 247Sports—is quickly becoming one of Florida State’s top priorities. After a Junior Day visit to Tallahassee this past weekend, FSU has cemented its place in Kennon’s top three, alongside Georgia and Florida.

🌟 What Kennon Had to Say:

• On FSU’s culture and coaching staff: “It’s just a good culture, good energy. I love Florida State. … I love the staff, that’s the biggest thing. Coach Surtain, coach Moss, everybody, Norvell — I got to sit down one-on-one with him again.”

• On Patrick Surtain’s NFL pedigree: “Knowing that it’s definitely possible to go to the next level. You know that’s the end goal at the end of the day.”

• On FSU’s defensive scheme under Tony White: “They’re changing it up to [run] more zone [coverages] … they want for me to be an athlete, be in zone, and play the ball.”

🔜 What’s Next for Kennon?

• Kennon has locked in an official visit to FSU from June 13-16.

• He also plans official visits to Miami and Georgia earlier in June.

• FSU is “definitely in the top three” for Kennon, who is ranked as the No. 31 overall player in the 2026 class and the No. 6 prospect in Florida.

The Seminoles are making a strong push to keep this elite defensive back in-state.

👉 Check out more about Kennon’s recruitment here

🔼 FSU Making Big Moves with 4-Star WR Somourian Wingo

Four-star wide receiver Somourian Wingo (St. Augustine, Fla.) is quickly emerging as a key target for Florida State after receiving an offer just weeks ago. Following an in-school visit from Mike Norvell on Friday and a trip to Tallahassee for Junior Day on Saturday, FSU is poised to break into Wingo’s Top 5 schools.

🌟 What Wingo Had to Say:

• On his visit to FSU: “It went amazing. It’s always a good time to see Coach Harris and Coach Malzahn. … It was just great to be on [Norvell’s] turf and see him. He’s a great coach, and I’m just excited for this process.”

• On his relationships with FSU coaches: “Coach Harris was the coach who offered me at UCF. Our relationship just got bigger and stronger, and it adds on to Florida State.”

• On FSU’s recruiting pitch: “They’re really interested and willing to do whatever they can to get me here. … They showed me a lot — not just by saying it, but showing it face-to-face.”

🔜 What’s Next for Wingo?

• Plans to return for spring practice and schedule an official visit this summer.

• Currently lists Florida as a top contender, but FSU’s quick progress with Tim Harris Jr. and Gus Malzahn in his corner makes the Seminoles a real factor.

Wingo, a 6’3”, 180-pound wideout, is ranked among the nation’s top receivers for the 2026 class. With plenty of time left before his decision, FSU is in a strong position to chip away at this key recruit.

👉 Check out more about Wingo's visit here

🎾 No. 24 FSU Women’s Tennis Splits Doubleheader in Orlando

The No. 24 Florida State women’s tennis team (3-1) split a doubleheader on Saturday, falling 4-3 to No. 23 UCF before rebounding with a dominant 4-0 victory over Bethune-Cookman.

🌟 Match 1 Highlights vs. UCF:

• Doubles Success:

  • Maria Juliana Parra Romero/Eva Shaw won 6-3 on Court 1.

  • Laura Putz/Millie Bissett defeated UCF’s No. 65-ranked duo, 6-4, to secure the doubles point.

• Singles Standouts:

  • Tina Li: Earned a straight-set win on Court 6 (6-2, 6-2).

  • Mary Boyce Deatherage: Notched her first collegiate ranked win by defeating No. 85 Sophia Biolay (6-4, 6-3).

Despite jumping to a 3-0 lead, FSU fell short as UCF claimed victories on Courts 1, 2, and 4 to seal the match.

🌟 Match 2 Highlights vs. Bethune-Cookman:

• FSU cruised past Bethune-Cookman, going straight to singles and winning on all active courts:

  • Tina Li: Continued her strong form with a 6-0, 6-0 win on Court 3.

  • Cade Cricchio: Dominated with a 6-0, 6-0 win on Court 5.

  • Maelie Monfils: Clinched the match on Court 4 with a 6-0, 6-1 victory.

🗓️ What’s Next:
The Seminoles return home for another doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 9, facing Georgia State and Mercer starting at 11:00 a.m.

👉 Check out more from FSU’s doubleheader here

🏈 4-Star RB Amari Clemons Brings Family to FSU for Junior Day

For the second straight week, four-star running back Amari Clemons visited Florida State, but this time the Marianna standout brought his mom and siblings along for the experience. The family-oriented visit left a strong impression on both Clemons and his loved ones.

🌟 Clemons on the Visit:

• On showing his family around: “This visit wasn’t all about me. It was about my mom, my siblings, and getting them here to see what I see. They liked it, they loved it.”

• On his mom meeting Mike Norvell: “They had a good little talk in the office.”

🔜 Why FSU Stands Out:

• Proximity to home: “Playing in your own backyard is not a bad idea. … She can see me when she wants to see me.”

• Comfort level: “Every time I come to Florida State, it doesn’t feel like a recruiting process here. It feels like I’m comfortable.”

• RB Coach David Johnson: “‘Coach YAC’ keeps it real with me, tells me the truth, and sends running backs to the league.”

Where Does FSU Stand?
While Clemons stopped short of naming FSU his top school, he emphasized, “I love Florida State. … FSU is one of the schools I can see myself playing at.”

The Seminoles are in a strong position to continue building their relationship with the No. 24 RB nationally in the 2026 class.

👉 Learn more about Clemons’ latest visit here

👀 4-Star LB TJ White Impressed by FSU’s Defensive Vision

Florida State made a strong impression on four-star linebacker TJ White (Jackson, Miss.) during his Junior Day visit on Saturday. The Seminoles see White as a versatile piece for Tony White’s new defensive scheme, and the staff provided an in-depth explanation of how he’d fit into their plans.

🌟 What Stood Out to White:

• On the coaching staff’s approach: “Just how real they were. … I haven’t had that much of a detailed feel on what I would do here.”

• On his fit in FSU’s scheme: “I can play pretty much any linebacker position they put me at — rush [end], off the edge, or in the box.”

• On Mike Norvell: “You can look in his eyes and tell he’s telling the truth with every word he’s saying.”

🔜 What’s Next for White?

• White plans to return to Tallahassee and says FSU will definitely be one of his official visit destinations.

• Competing programs include Tennessee, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Auburn, and Wisconsin.

🌟 Junior Season Stats:
White dominated in 2024, recording 102 total tackles, 21.5 TFLs, 11 sacks, and 4 passes defended.

Ranked as the No. 22 linebacker in the 2026 class, White’s versatility and elite production make him a highly coveted target in FSU’s recruiting efforts.

👉 Learn more about White’s visit to FSU here

📈 FSU’s Azareye’h Thomas Projected as First-Round Pick

Florida State cornerback Azareye’h Thomas is already drawing first-round buzz in the early stages of the 2025 NFL Draft process. In his Mock Draft 1.0, NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah projects Thomas to go 26th overall to the Baltimore Ravens.

Jeremiah’s Take:
“The Ravens double dip on drafting big, long corners after selecting Nate Wiggins last year. Thomas is a smooth, fluid athlete.”

🌟 Thomas’ FSU Career at a Glance:

• 2024 Stats: 52 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 4 pass breakups, and 1 interception.

• 2023 Highlights: 29 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 10 pass breakups, and allowed just four career TD receptions in three years.

• Teams rarely tested him this past season; Thomas allowed only 17 receptions with no touchdowns.

🔜 What’s Next for Thomas?
The 6’2”, 198-pound standout will compete in the Senior Bowl next week, where his performance against elite receivers could solidify his draft stock.

👉 Check out more on Thomas’ draft projection here

🏀 FSU Falls Short in Comeback Bid at Stanford

Despite a late rally, Florida State men’s basketball fell to Stanford, 78-71, on Saturday night at Maples Pavilion. The loss drops the Seminoles to 13-7 overall and 4-5 in ACC play, while the Cardinal improved to 14-6 (6-3 ACC) and remained dominant at home with an 11-1 record.

🌟 Game Highlights:

• Jamir Watkins: Led FSU with 20 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. Watkins has now scored in double figures in 17 consecutive games.

• Malique Ewin: Tallied 16 points (10-of-12 FT) and 7 rebounds, reaching double figures for the 17th straight game.

• Daquan Davis: Added 14 points, his sixth double-figure game this season.

• Christian Nitu: Played 9 valuable minutes, scoring a career-high 5 points and grabbing 5 rebounds, including an athletic tip-in.

Defensive Standouts:
The Seminoles held Stanford’s Maxime Raynaud, the ACC’s leading scorer and rebounder, to just 8 points and 14 rebounds, marking the first time this season he didn’t reach double figures.

Turning Point:
Stanford seized momentum with a 9-0 run midway through the first half and maintained control despite FSU’s defensive pressure and second-half rally.

Up Next:
Florida State returns home to host Virginia Tech at the Donald L. Tucker Center on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 7:00 p.m.

👉 Check out more from FSU’s battle with Stanford here

🏀 FSU Women’s Basketball Heads to Chapel Hill

The No. 15 Florida State women’s basketball team (15-4, 5-2 ACC) takes on No. 13 North Carolina (18-3, 6-2 ACC) at Carmichael Arena this Sunday at 12 p.m. on the ACC Network.

🌟 Players to Watch:

• Ta’Niya Latson: Leads the nation with 26.6 PPG and is fresh off earning AP and ACC Player of the Week honors. She dropped 30 points and went 5-of-5 from three in FSU’s record-setting win over Miami.

• Makayla Timpson: Set FSU’s all-time double-double record last weekend with her 42nd, posting 10 points and 13 rebounds against the Hurricanes. She leads the ACC with 11 double-doubles this season.

🌟 Last Meeting:
The Seminoles have won their last two games against ranked Tar Heel squads but trail in the all-time series, 18-34.

Can the Noles continue their momentum on the road? Tune in on ACC Network or catch the action via the Seminole Sports Network!

👉 Read more here

And that’s a wrap!

With big recruiting visits, top-ranked targets, and exciting action across all sports, it’s clear the Seminoles are firing on all cylinders. Whether it’s impressing future stars like Chauncey Kennon and Amari Clemons, battling on the courts in tennis and basketball, or seeing NFL dreams take shape for Azareye’h Thomas, FSU is setting the bar high.

Stay tuned for more updates, analysis, and highlights in the next edition. Go Noles! 🍢 🏹