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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

TGIF Seminole!

🏀 Four Seminoles Named to NABC Academic Honors Court 🏀
Jamir Watkins, Jesse Jones, Jason Simpson, and Alex Steen earn recognition for their excellence in the classroom.

🏈 FSU Offers 6’7 OT Bear Fretwell After Missing on Top Target 🏈
The ‘Noles pivot quickly with a new offer to the Georgia Tech commit as Alabama looms in his recruitment.

🏈 FSU Offers 2028 QB Jackson Stecher, Emerging Central Florida Star 🏈
After a 77% freshman season, the rising prospect lands offers from both FSU and Florida with the Seminoles already building an early lead.

🏈 FSU Commit Amari Thomas Nearing Final Decision Between ‘Noles & Gamecocks 🏈
The four-star RB will lock in his choice on August 9, with FSU still holding strong despite a push from South Carolina.

🏈🏀 Two-Sport Commit Jasen “JRoc” Lopez Reaffirms FSU Pledge 🏀🏈
After clarifying mixed comments, Lopez says he’s still locked in to play both football and basketball in Tallahassee.

🏈 FSU Emerging as Early Leader for 5⭐ OT Mark Matthews 🏈
The nation’s top offensive tackle raves about Mike Norvell’s hands-on approach as the ‘Noles gain early momentum.

🏀 Four Seminoles Named to NABC Academic Honors Court 🏀

Florida State men’s basketball continues to shine in the classroom as Jamir Watkins, Jesse Jones, Jason Simpson, and Alex Steen earned spots on the 2025 NABC Academic Honors Court.

• Watkins (Social Science), now with the Washington Wizards, graduates as a two-time All-ACC Academic Team honoree, 2025 Golden Nole winner, and Dean’s List standout.

• Jones (Finance) wrapped up both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at FSU, earning multiple academic awards including the 2024 Golden Torch.

• Simpson, a transfer from St. John’s, earns his first NABC academic recognition after two seasons in Garnet & Gold.

• Steen, a Florida Southern transfer for 2025-26, joins the Honors Court for the first time in his career.

The Honors Court recognizes juniors, seniors, and graduate students with a 3.2+ GPA for the academic year.

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🏈 FSU Offers 6’7 OT Bear Fretwell After Missing on Top Target 🏈

Florida State has expanded its offensive tackle board, extending a scholarship offer to Bear Fretwell, a 6’7, 296-pound lineman currently committed to Georgia Tech.

• The offer came just hours after top OT target Wilson Zierer committed to Auburn over FSU.

• Fretwell, from Brooklet (Ga.) Southwest Bulloch, also holds offers from Alabama, Cincinnati, and Northwestern, with the Tide pushing hard after hosting him for a workout this summer.

• Originally in the 2027 class, Fretwell reclassified to 2026 and is rated as a high three-star (No. 61 OT) by 247Sports.

He’s expected to take an official visit to Alabama this fall, but FSU’s late push could shake things up.

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🏈 FSU Offers 2028 QB Jackson Stecher, Emerging Central Florida Star 🏈

Florida State has jumped early on Jackson Stecher, a 6’1”, 185-pound 2028 quarterback from Lake Brantley (Fla.) who lit up his freshman season by completing 77% of his passes for 2,666 yards and 38 TDs.

• FSU and Florida both offered recently after seeing Stecher throw at a June camp in Tallahassee.

• The Seminoles have already built a strong relationship with Stecher, who visited for the FSU-Cal game last season and connected with coaches Tony Tokarz, Mike Norvell, and Brendan Bognar.

• He’s impressed by Gus Malzahn’s QB-friendly offense, calling it “very beneficial” for his style of play.

Stecher says he’d like to make his college decision as early as next summer, with FSU emerging as an early favorite.

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🏈 FSU Commit Amari Thomas Nearing Final Decision Between ‘Noles & Gamecocks 🏈

Blountstown (Fla.) four-star RB Amari Thomas has been committed to Florida State since January, but South Carolina remains in the mix heading into his final decision.

• Thomas plans to finalize his choice around August 9 before his senior season.

• He maintains a strong relationship with Mike Norvell and RB coach David Johnson, saying nothing has changed with FSU despite the Gamecocks’ push.

• South Carolina impressed him with its coaching staff and recent success, keeping them in contention.

Thomas is FSU’s only RB commit in the 2026 class, while South Carolina has yet to secure a back. No flip predictions have been logged on 247Sports.

👉 Read more

Big Tech Has Spent Billions Acquiring AI Smart Home Startups

The pattern is clear: when innovative companies successfully integrate AI into everyday products, tech giants pay billions to acquire them.

Google paid $3.2B for Nest.

Amazon spent $1.2B on Ring.

LG just acquired startup Homey, signaling their move into the smart home.

Now, a new AI-powered smart home company is following their exact path to acquisition—but is still available to everyday investors at just $2.00 per share.

With proprietary technology that connects smart shades to all major AI ecosystems, this startup has achieved what big tech wants most: seamless AI integration into daily home life.

Over 10 patents, 200% year-over-year growth, and a forecast to 5x revenue this year — this company is moving fast to seize the smart home opportunity.

The acquisition pattern is predictable. The opportunity to get in before it happens is not.

🏈🏀 Two-Sport Commit Jasen “JRoc” Lopez Reaffirms FSU Pledge 🏀🏈

After some mixed comments sparked speculation, Jasen Lopez, a four-star WR and basketball standout from Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, clarified he’s locked in with Florida State.

• Lopez initially said he’d “stay in contact” with Miami, Georgia Tech, NC State, and West Virginia but later explained it’s just occasional texts with no serious talks.

• FSU’s basketball staff—Luke Loucks & Michael Fly—played a major role in his decision, while Mike Norvell and the football staff were equally involved.

• Lopez is expected to play slot receiver for football and point guard for basketball when he arrives in Tallahassee.

“I just thought it was the best opportunity to play both sports. We’re very happy with the decision,” Lopez said.

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🏈 FSU Emerging as Early Leader for 5⭐ OT Mark Matthews 🏈

It’s still early for the 2027 class, but Florida State has made a major impression on Mark Matthews, the nation’s No. 1 offensive tackle and No. 2 overall prospect per Rivals.

• The 6’5”, 300-pound St. Thomas Aquinas star raved about Mike Norvell’s hands-on approach during a spring practice visit.

• Matthews has also visited Florida, Miami, Oregon, and Nebraska, with trips to Michigan, LSU, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Alabama, and Ohio State still on the horizon.

• He’s expected to attend the FSU-Alabama game or another early-season matchup in Tallahassee.

Landing Matthews would be huge for new OL coach Herb Hand and a massive statement for FSU’s national recruiting reach.

⭐ Bonus five-star note: FSU also impressed 2027 DB Joshua Dobson, the nation’s top cornerback, who could attend multiple Seminoles games this fall despite LSU and Clemson currently leading.

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And that’s a wrap!

And that’s today’s Brief! From five-star offensive linemen showing early interest to multi-sport stars reaffirming their commitments, the Seminoles are stacking wins in the classroom and on the recruiting trail.

Stay tuned—the road to the Bama opener is heating up fast.

See you tomorrow, Chief.