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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Saturday, Seminole!

Keeping an eye on the recruiting trail:

🏀 FSU Alumni Wrap Up NBA Summer League – Walker Advances to Playoffs 🏀
Former ‘Noles John Butler Jr., Jaylan Gainey, and M.J. Walker close out Summer League action, with Walker’s Hornets heading to the four-team playoff.

⚾ FSU Lands USC RHP Transfer Brodie Purcell ⚾
The Seminoles add an All-Big Ten right-hander to bolster their bullpen for 2026.

🏈 4⭐ RB Amari Thomas Decommits from FSU, Trending to South Carolina 🏈
The Seminoles lose their lone 2026 RB pledge as Thomas looks poised to flip to the Gamecocks.

🏈 FSU to Host OT Target Bear Fretwell for Bama Opener Visit 🏈
Georgia Tech commit Bear Fretwell will visit Tallahassee for the Alabama game after receiving a late FSU offer.

🏈 FSU Offers LSU EDGE Commit DeAnthony Lafayette as JACK Board Expands 🏈
The ‘Noles move on another edge rusher, offering LSU pledge Lafayette after missing summer JACK targets.

🏈 Ranking the QBs on FSU’s 2025 Schedule 🏈
From Clemson’s Cade Klubnik to Alabama’s Ty Simpson, here’s how the Seminoles’ QB slate stacks up—and where Thomas Castellanos fits in.

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🏀 FSU Alumni Wrap Up NBA Summer League – Walker Advances to Playoffs 🏀

A few former ‘Noles closed out their NBA Summer League stints with solid performances, while one remains in the hunt for a title.

• John Butler Jr. started for the Bucks, logging 23 minutes with 5 points (2-4 FG, 1-2 3PT), 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal.

• Jaylan Gainey started for the Jazz, scoring 4 points (2-4 FG) with 5 boards, 1 assist, and a block in 20 minutes.

• M.J. Walker shined for the Hornets, dropping 13 points (4-12 FG, 4-11 3PT) with 3 rebounds and 3 assists in a big win over the Spurs.

Walker and the Hornets qualified for the four-team playoff, facing Oklahoma City in the semifinals Saturday, July 19 at 6 p.m. ET (ESPN).

Remaining Summer League action features Butler Jr. (Bucks), Gainey (Jazz), and Jamir Watkins (Wizards) before the weekend wraps.

👉 Read more

⚾ FSU Lands USC RHP Transfer Brodie Purcell ⚾

Florida State baseball continues to reload through the portal, adding USC transfer Brodie Purcell, a 6’3”, 200-pound right-hander with two years of eligibility remaining.

• Purcell posted a 2.11 ERA over 42.2 innings this past season, earning All-Big Ten second team honors with 51 strikeouts and 4 saves.

• In two seasons with the Trojans, he’s compiled a 2.89 ERA across 71.2 innings, holding opponents to a .177 average in 2025.

• He becomes FSU’s ninth portal addition this cycle—seven of them pitchers, five right-handed.

The California native joins a growing list of arms bolstering the Seminoles’ bullpen for 2026.

👉 Read more

Apple Is Coming for the Smart Home — And Fast

Apple’s rumored Face-ID door lock and smart display hub are more than just new products. It’s a clear signal: they’re going all-in on smart home automation.

The tech giant is doubling down on the smart home, the $158B industry that’s growing 23% annually.

And with Apple’s entry, investors are looking for the next breakout company - and potential acquisition target.

They’re chasing Google (acquired Nest, $3.2B) and Amazon (acquired Ring, $1.2B).

History shows: when Apple plays catch-up, they go big.

And there’s one startup perfectly positioned to benefit.

With 10+ patents, distribution in over 100 Best Buy stores, and revenue growth that doubled year-over-year, they’re built for a huge breakout.

Early investors in Ring and Nest saw life-changing returns.

🏈 4⭐ RB Amari Thomas Decommits from FSU, Trending to South Carolina 🏈

Florida State lost a key pledge Friday as Amari Thomas, a four-star RB from Blountstown, decommitted from the Seminoles and is now widely expected to land at South Carolina.

• Thomas committed to FSU back in January but had shown signs of wavering in recent months, even wearing South Carolina gloves at an FSU 7-on-7 camp in June.

• He rushed for 1,880 yards and 34 TDs as a junior, adding 247 yards and 3 scores as a receiver.

• Rated a Composite four-star (0.8996), Thomas was FSU’s only RB commit in the 2026 class.

This sets up a likely pledge to Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks in the coming days.

👉 Read more

🏈 FSU to Host OT Target Bear Fretwell for Bama Opener Visit 🏈

Florida State is moving quickly with newly offered Bear Fretwell, a 6’7” Georgia Tech commit and high three-star OT in the 2026 class.

• Fretwell confirmed he’ll take an unofficial visit to Tallahassee for FSU’s season opener vs. Alabama.

• The Seminoles extended his offer just after top OT target Wilson Zierer committed to Auburn.

• Alabama also recently jumped into the mix for Fretwell after hosting him for a summer workout.

Originally in the 2027 class, Fretwell reclassified to 2026 and ranks as the No. 61 OT nationally.

👉 Read more

🏈 FSU Offers LSU EDGE Commit DeAnthony Lafayette as JACK Board Expands 🏈

Florida State is widening its JACK linebacker/edge rusher board, offering DeAnthony Lafayette, an LSU commit out of Orlando (Lake Nona).

• Lafayette, 6’1”, 230 pounds, pledged to the Tigers over Oklahoma and Miami earlier this month.

• He’s a high three-star (No. 33 EDGE) per 247Sports, coming off a monster junior season with 73 tackles, 40 QB hurries, and 17.5 sacks in 11 games.

• DL coach Terrance Knighton is reloading after missing several summer JACK targets, adding Lafayette to the mix.

Scouting reports highlight Lafayette’s explosive first step, violent hands, and relentless motor, projecting him as an impact rotational rusher at the Power Four level.

👉 Read more

🏈 Ranking the QBs on FSU’s 2025 Schedule 🏈

With the season just over a month away, how does Florida State’s new QB Thomas Castellanos stack up against the signal callers he’ll face this year? Here’s a quick look at the top threats on the schedule:

• Cade Klubnik, Clemson – The clear No. 1 after throwing for 3,639 yards, 36 TD, 6 INT in a breakout junior season.

• DJ Lagway, Florida – True freshman phenom with absurd upside despite some inconsistency.

• Carson Beck, Miami – Georgia transfer rehabbing from elbow surgery but brings big-game experience.

• CJ Bailey, NC State – Quietly efficient as a freshman and now stepping into a bigger role.

• Ty Simpson, Alabama – Former five-star talent, likely the Tide’s new starter.

The rest of the schedule features a mix of unproven and up-and-down QBs (Virginia’s Chandler Morris, Pitt’s Eli Holstein, Virginia Tech’s Kyron Drones, Wake’s Robby Ashford).

So where would Castellanos rank among this group? That’s the fun question heading into Week 1.

👉 Read more

And that’s a wrap!

And that’s today’s Brief! From M.J. Walker keeping FSU hoops alive in Summer League to the football staff reshuffling the recruiting board after Amari Thomas’ decommitment, it’s clear the Seminoles are staying aggressive as the season nears.

Week 1 vs. Alabama is inching closer—buckle up, it’s about to get fun.

See you tomorrow, Chief.