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⚾️ FSU’s Tibbs and Smith Selected Back-to-Back in 1st Round ⚾️

FSU baseball stars James Tibbs and Cam Smith were selected back-to-back in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft. Tibbs went to the San Francisco Giants at No. 13, and Smith followed at No. 14 to the Chicago Cubs.

⛳️ FSU's Luke Clanton Shines on PGA Tour ⛳️

Luke Clanton finished tied for 37th in the ISCO Championship, capping an impressive three-week run on the PGA Tour. He averaged 67.42 strokes over 12 rounds and is set to compete in the 3M Open and US Amateur.

⚡️ FSU Freshman CB Ricky Knight Raves About Speedy WR Corps ⚡️

Freshman cornerback Ricky Knight III highlighted the speed and talent of FSU’s wide receivers, including transfers Malik Benson and Jalen Brown, and veterans Deuce Spann and Kentron Poitier.

🏈 FSU Summer Recruiting Report: Breaking Down the Numbers 🏈

FSU's summer recruiting under Mike Norvell is up, highlighted by an overall commitment rate of 48% from visits this summer with the blue-chip ratio for these commits standing at an impressive 74%.

⚾️ FSU’s Tibbs and Smith Selected Back-to-Back in 1st Round ⚾️

FSU baseball stars James Tibbs and Cam Smith made headlines by being selected back-to-back in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft. Tibbs was picked at No. 13 by the San Francisco Giants, and Smith followed at No. 14 by the Chicago Cubs.

James Tibbs: A Stellar Career

• Team: San Francisco Giants

• Pick: No. 13 overall

• Position: Outfielder

Tibbs is the highest Seminole drafted since Buster Posey in 2008. The 2024 ACC Player of the Year, Tibbs had an outstanding junior season, hitting .363 with 28 home runs and 95 RBIs. Over his FSU career, Tibbs played 176 games, with a .338 batting average and 55 home runs.

• Career Highlights:

  • 91 hits in his junior season

  • 1.265 OPS

  • 28 homers (5th most in a single season for FSU)

  • 58 walks to 37 strikeouts

  • .338 AVG with 208 career hits

Cam Smith: Rising Star

• Team: Chicago Cubs

• Pick: No. 14 overall

• Position: Third Baseman

Smith, draft-eligible as a sophomore, improved significantly in his second season at FSU. He hit .387, leading the team with 104 hits, 16 homers, and a .954 fielding percentage at third base. His draft pick is valued at $5,070,700.

• Career Highlights:

  • 104 hits in his sophomore season

  • 22 doubles and 16 homers

  • .400+ batting average for most of the season

  • 82 runs scored and 57 RBIs

Historic Picks

Tibbs and Smith are the first pair of Seminoles to be drafted in the first round of the same MLB draft since 1995, marking the third time in FSU history this has happened.

Check out the full details on Tibbs and Smith.

⛳️ FSU's Luke Clanton Shines on PGA Tour ⛳️

Florida State’s Luke Clanton wrapped up an impressive three-week run on the PGA Tour, finishing tied for 37th place in the ISCO Championship at Keene Trace Golf Club. Clanton carded a 1-under par 71, bringing his total to 13-under 275 in his third consecutive PGA Tour event.

Stellar Performance:

Clanton's recent performances have been remarkable. Over the last three events, he averaged 67.42 strokes in 12 rounds, with 10 rounds below par and 11 rounds at par or better. He closed his run with eight consecutive rounds scored below par.

• Rocket Mortgage Classic: T10, 69-68-75-72=274; Low Amateur

• John Deere Classic: T2, 63-67-67-63=260; Low Amateur

• ISCO Championship: T37, 70-65-69-71=275; Low Amateur

Upcoming Schedule:

• PGA Tour 3M Open: TPC Twin Cities, Blaine, Minn. (July 25-28)

• US Amateur: Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, Minn. (August 12-18)

Clanton, who will return to Florida State for his junior year, played in the ISCO Championship and will play in the upcoming 3M Open on sponsor's exemptions. His journey continues to captivate fans as he prepares for the challenges ahead.

Check out the full details here.

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⚡️ FSU Freshman CB Ricky Knight Raves About Speedy WR Corps ⚡️

Florida State freshman cornerback Ricky Knight III had some strong words of praise for FSU's wide receivers during his recent media interview. Here’s what he had to say about the Seminoles' speed and talent:

Unleashing the Speed:

When asked about practicing against FSU’s wideouts, Knight couldn’t hide his excitement. “We … have … speed,” Knight said with a smile. “Let’s just put that out there. I want everybody to know. We truly have speed. Those guys are running.”

Filling Big Shoes:

Following the departures of NFL draft picks Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson, FSU’s wide receiver corps had some big shoes to fill. Coleman and Wilson combined for 91 receptions, 1,275 yards, and 13 touchdowns in 2023. Veteran Ja’Khi Douglas was the next most productive receiver with 14 receptions for 243 yards.

Impressive Newcomers:

Knight highlighted Alabama transfer Malik Benson and LSU transfer Jalen Brown as standout talents among the new additions to the receiving corps. “A lot of people think that’s our weakness, I don’t know why,” Knight said. “If you look at our receiver room, we really have some guys. … A lot of people are going to be awakened when they come out on the field.”

Veteran Presence:

Despite their relative under-the-radar status, Knight believes veterans Deuce Spann and Kentron Poitier will play crucial roles this season. Spann, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound athlete with exceptional speed, and Poitier, who dealt with an injury last fall, are both expected to make significant contributions.

Freshman Standouts:

Knight also praised the impressive group of freshman receivers, particularly four-star freshman Lawayne McCoy and Elijah Moore. Moore, standing at 6-foot-5, has challenged Knight in practice and helped him improve his technique.

Looking Ahead:

Florida State is set to open preseason practice on July 24 (yes, real live Seminoles football is almost back 🤯), gearing up for what promises to be an exciting season with a talented and speedy group of wide receivers.

You can catch all of the details here.

🏈 FSU Summer Recruiting Report: Breaking Down the Numbers 🏈

Noles247 recently took an in-depth look at how FSU's summer recruiting has performed under Mike Norvell. Here's the scoop on how the 2024 summer is shaping up so far compared to previous years:

First Weekend Magic ✨

• 2021-2023 Average: 9% success rate

• 2024: 50% success rate

• Undecided Recruits: Ousmane Kromah, Ladarian Clardy, Onis Konanbanny

Second Weekend Slump 😔

• 2021-2023 Average: 45% success rate

• 2024: 0% success rate

• Undecided Recruits: Justus Terry, Kaliq Lockett, Jordan Young

Third Weekend Triumph 💪

• 2021-2023 Average: 55% success rate

• 2024: 60% success rate

• Undecided Recruits: Josh Petty, Byron Louis, Ty Haywood

Midweek Struggles 🏋️‍♂️

• 2021-2023 Average: 25% success rate

• 2024: 0% success rate

• Undecied Recruits: Ben Hanks, Jared Smith

Overall Summer Hit-Rate 🌞

• 2024: 48%

• 2021-2023 Average: 43%

Blue-Chip Ratio Increase 📈

• 2024: 74%

• 2021-2023 Average: 42%

Analysis:

First Weekend Success: FSU's first weekend is shining bright this year, boasting a 50% hit rate compared to the mere 9% average of past summers. With key recruits like Ousmane Kromah, Ladarian Clardy, and Onis Konanbanny still in play, there's potential for even more success.

Second Weekend Challenges: The second weekend is looking tough for the Seminoles, currently at a 0% success rate. Big names like Justus Terry, Kaliq Lockett, and Jordan Young are likely to choose elsewhere, making it a challenging period for FSU.

Third Weekend Wins: The final weekend of June remains a strong point for FSU, with a 60% success rate. The Seminoles are leading for recruits like Josh Petty and Byron Louis, showing promise for closing the summer on a high note.

Midweek Visits: FSU continues to struggle with midweek official visits, currently sitting at a 0% success rate. With key targets like Ben Hanks and Jared Smith yet to commit, midweek recruiting might need a strategic rethink.

Blue-Chip Boost:

This summer has seen a significant increase in blue-chip recruits visiting FSU, with a 74% blue-chip ratio compared to the previous 42% average. This uptick aligns with FSU's recent on-field success and highlights the program's growing appeal to top-tier talent.

Final Thoughts:

FSU's summer recruiting under Mike Norvell is trending upward, with improved hit rates and a higher influx of blue-chip talent. While there are areas for improvement, especially with midweek visits, the overall picture is promising.

Check out the full details here.

And that’s a wrap!

Thank you for catching up with this edition of The Chief Brief!

From exciting MLB Draft picks to standout performances on the PGA Tour and promising updates on our recruiting front, it's been another thrilling weekend for Florida State.

Go Noles! 🏹