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🌟 Florida State Lands Four-Star WR Daylan McCutcheon 🌟
Florida State secures a commitment from four-star wide receiver Daylan McCutcheon, who chose FSU over USC, Texas, Ohio State, and SMU, citing the family atmosphere and strong coaching relationships.

⚾ Outlook for Florida State's Baseball Prospects in MLB Draft Today ⚾
James Tibbs and Cam Smith are projected as first-round picks in today’s 2024 MLB Draft, with Tibbs noted for his power potential and Smith for his impressive performance and physical attributes.

📢 Seminoles Eyeing Big Commitments: Key Recruits Set to Decide Soon 📢
Florida State is in a strong position for several top recruits, with key decisions from prospects like 4-star DB Jaboree Antoine, 4-star WR Vernell Brown, and 5-star OT Ty Haywood coming up soon.

📈 From Underdog to Star: Ricky Knight III’s Unlikely Rise 📈
A look at Ricky Knight III’s origin story - from an unknown prep receiver to a four-star cornerback and freshman at FSU, choosing the Seminoles for their family feel and the chance to learn from former NFL All-Pro Patrick Surtain.

🌟 Florida State Lands Four-Star WR Daylan McCutcheon 🌟

Florida State has made a significant addition to its 2025 recruiting class by securing a commitment from Lovejoy (Tex.) four-star wide receiver Daylan McCutcheon. McCutcheon chose the Seminoles over prominent programs such as USC, Texas, Ohio State, and SMU.

Recruitment Highlights

McCutcheon's decision came after a series of official visits to his top five schools between May and June. Florida State received his final official visit from June 21-23, giving him ample time to connect with the team and coaching staff.

"Main highlights for me was being able to hang out with the players, the people and the staff. They really showed great hospitality and I really enjoyed my time with them," McCutcheon shared after his visit to FSU.

The Decision

In an emotional moment, McCutcheon made his final decision just minutes before announcing it publicly. He credited his choice to the strong family atmosphere and the genuine relationships he formed with the coaching staff, particularly head coach Mike Norvell, wide receivers coach Ron Dugans, and tight ends coach Chris Thomsen.

"The biggest aspect is just the family-oriented team — just the way Coach Norvell is and Coach [Ron] Dugans is," McCutcheon said. "That just pulled the most out of me as a person. … I know Coach Norvell will be able to push me each and every day. Just with everybody there, the coaches that believe in me."

Player Profile

• Name: Daylan McCutcheon

• Position: Wide Receiver

• Height/Weight: 5'11", 175 lbs

• High School: Lovejoy (Tex.)

• Ranking:

  • No. 93 overall player (Composite Rankings)

  • No. 14 wide receiver (Composite Rankings)

In 2023, McCutcheon demonstrated his prowess on the field with 92 receptions for 1,430 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Impact and Future Goals

McCutcheon is the 12th addition to FSU's 2025 recruiting class, which now ranks from No. 7 to no. 22 according to the major 3 recruiting outlets. He joins Milton (Ga.) four-star wideout CJ Wiley as the second wide receiver in the class. McCutcheon aims to contribute significantly to the Seminoles' success and help recruit other top prospects, such as four-star linebacker Riley Pettijohn and five-star wide receiver Kaliq Lockett.

“You’ve got big dreams ahead,” McCutcheon said. “Just be able to put your head down, be able to work hard by going to Florida State. Obviously, the sky’s the limit. You’re gonna be able to accomplish many things at Florida State.”

Check out the full details here, here, and here.

⚾️ Outlook for Florida State's Baseball Prospects in MLB Draft Today ⚾️

The 2024 MLB Draft is set to be an exciting event for the Noles, with several standout players and prospects drawing significant attention from top teams. The draft begins today at 7 PM ET for picks 1-74. Day 2 of the draft will be on Monday afternoon.

FSU Headliners

James Tibbs

Position: Outfielder

Projected Draft Position: As high as No. 9 (CBSSports.com)

Stats: .363 batting average, 28 home runs, 95 RBIs

Analysis:

• Mike Axisa (CBSSports.com): "Tibbs offers Grade A power potential and could help whichever team selects him in short order."

• Kiley McDaniel (ESPN.com): Projects Tibbs to Washington at No. 10.

• Jordan Shusterman (Yahoo Sports): "For a guy projected as more of a second- or third-round talent coming into his junior year, the fact that Tibbs could go just a few picks after Kurtz — or even ahead of him — is an astounding achievement."

• Keith Law (The Athletic): Projects Tibbs at No. 13 to San Francisco.

Cam Smith

Position: Third Baseman

Projected Draft Position: As high as No. 14 (ESPN.com)

Stats: .387 batting average, 16 home runs, 22 doubles, 57 RBIs

Analysis:

• Kiley McDaniel (ESPN.com): "The Cubs appear to be hunting for upside here and Smith fits the description."

• Jordan Shusterman (Yahoo Sports): "His muscular, 6-foot-3 frame already resembles that of a big leaguer, and the rate at which he has improved the past two seasons has teams very excited about his potential."

• Keith Law (The Athletic): Projects Smith at No. 16 to Miami.

Other eligible players to keep an eye on include: Jaime Ferrer, Daniel Cantu, Marco Dinges, Brennen Oxford, Carson Dorsey, Conner Whittaker

High School and JUCO Commitments

• Hunter Carns (Catcher): No. 1 catcher in the 2024 class (Perfect Game)

• Blaydon Plain (First Baseman): .375 batting average, .509 on-base percentage, 26 home runs (Pensacola State College)

• Myles Bailey (Infielder): .325 batting average senior season, 23 home runs in 94 games (Lincoln High)

• Carter McCauley (Infielder): Junior-college transfer providing infield depth (Pensacola State)

• Freshman Infielders: Noah Sheffield, Adonys Velez, Jack Lines, Jace Estes

• Chase Mobley (RHP): Ranked No. 79 in MLB Pipeline, fastball up to 99 mph (Durant High)

• Dylan Jordan (RHP): 1.32 ERA, 103 strikeouts (Viera High)

• Mack Estrada (RHP): 9-1 record, 4.20 ERA, 94 strikeouts (Northwest Florida State College)

Check out the full details here.

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📢 Seminoles Eyeing Big Commitments: Key Recruits Set to Decide Soon 📢 

Florida State has been on a tear on this summer’s recruiting trail. Is there more to come? Here’s a look according to Noles247’s Zach Bolstein at the remaining key prospects and their decision timelines:

4-Star DB Jaboree Antoine

• Decision Date: July 20

• Finalists: Florida State, Miami, LSU

• Current Read: Leaning towards Miami, but FSU remains in contention.

4-Star WR Vernell Brown

• Decision Date: July 21

• Finalists: Florida State, Miami, Florida, Ohio State

• Current Read: Likely to commit to Florida, his legacy school.

4-Star DB Ladarian Clardy

• Decision Date: August 3

• Finalists: Florida State, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Washington, UCF

• Current Read: Close race between Florida State and Ole Miss. An upcoming visit to FSU could be crucial.

4-Star DB Bryce Fitzgerald

• Decision Date: August 16

• Finalists: Florida State, Florida, Miami, LSU

• Current Read: Tight contest between Florida State and Florida. Miami also remains a contender.

4-Star WR Malik Clark

• Decision Timeline: Next month

• Finalists: Florida State, South Carolina, North Carolina

• Current Read: South Carolina currently leads, but FSU could be a dark horse.

5-Star OT Ty Haywood

• Decision Timeline: This summer

• Finalists: Florida State, Alabama, Oklahoma

• Current Read: Alabama, his childhood favorite, is the frontrunner.

5-Star Edge Jared Smith

• Decision Date: August 3

• Finalists: Florida State, South Carolina, Auburn, Tennessee

• Current Read: Auburn is expected to win out for the Alabama native.

5-Star WR Kaliq Lockett

• Decision Date: August 7

• Finalists: Florida State, Texas, Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M

• Current Read: Texas or Alabama are the likely destinations. FSU is a long shot.

5-Star OT Josh Petty

• Decision Date: August 12

• Finalists: Florida State, Stanford, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Ohio State

• Current Read: Florida State is well-positioned to secure his commitment.

4-Star DB Onis Konanbanny

• Decision Timeline: August

• Finalists: Florida State, Tennessee, LSU, North Carolina

• Current Read: Tennessee is the current leader, but FSU is in close contention.

4-Star RB Ousmane Kromah

• Decision Timeline: Before senior season

• Finalists: Florida State, Georgia, Auburn

• Current Read: Florida State has gained significant momentum and is currently favored.

4-Star S Jordan Young

• Decision Date: October 12

• Finalists: Florida State, Clemson, NC State, Michigan

• Current Read: Clemson is the favorite to land Young.

4-Star RB Byron Louis

• Decision Date: September 17 (tentative)

• Finalists: Florida State, Miami, Georgia, Wisconsin

• Current Read: Florida State is leading, but Miami could make a strong push.

You can check out all of the details here.

📈 From Underdog to Star: Ricky Knight III’s Unlikely Rise 📈 

From Unknown Receiver to Promising Cornerback

Ricky Knight III’s journey to becoming a proud Florida State Seminole is far from typical. Unlike many of his teammates, Knight’s path to being a high-level Division-I football player wasn’t paved with early recognition. In fact, he didn’t start receiving college offers until after his junior season.

First Offer: A Game Changer

Knight’s first offer came from none other than Mike Norvell and Florida State, marking a significant turning point in his football career.

"My ninth- through 11th-grade year, I didn’t see an offer," Knight shared. "So, when I first got that offer it felt amazing to me. It felt like I finally accomplished things. Because I’m not going to lie: There were definitely some nights where I was breaking down, like trying to figure out if this doesn’t work out, what’s going to be next?"

Transitioning to Cornerback

Originally, Knight envisioned himself as a receiver. He played the position in his freshman and sophomore years before transitioning to safety. It was his step-father who suggested a switch to cornerback, believing it would provide more opportunities.

“It really wasn’t my decision, honestly,” Knight said. “My step-dad felt as though it was important for me to move to corner. Because he felt I would get a lot more looks (from) it. … He wanted me to showcase my skills a little more. So, I ended up making the transition to corner. And honestly, it was one of the best decisions that I’ve made.”

Breakout Moment

Knight’s recruitment took off after he attended the National Combine in San Antonio. There, he collected nine interceptions and was voted the second-best player in the camp, leading to multiple offers in a single day.

Choosing Florida State

Knight chose Florida State because it felt like family. The opportunity to learn from position coach Patrick Surtain, a former NFL All-Pro cornerback, also played a crucial role in his decision.

Looking Ahead

While Knight acknowledges that cornerback is one of the toughest positions to play, he is eager to learn and contribute. With a strong secondary already in place, Knight is prepared to make his impact primarily on the practice field and special teams as he acclimates to college football.

Knight’s journey from an unknown prep receiver to a four-star cornerback and now a freshman at FSU is a testament to his resilience and determination. His story is just beginning, and the Seminoles are excited to see what the future holds for this promising talent.

You can check out the full details here.

And that’s a wrap!

Thank you for joining us in this edition of The Chief Brief!

We've covered exciting recruiting news, previewed our MLB draft prospects, and shared the inspiring journey of Ricky Knight III.

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