Forwarded this email from a friend? Subscribe at the button below

Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Sunday, Seminole!

Here’s what’s packed inside today’s edition:

🏈 🔥 LSU Commit DeAnthony Lafayette Reacts to FSU Offer 🔥
The Seminoles are expanding their EDGE board and got a reaction from LSU commit DeAnthony Lafayette that might give them a chance. He’s “locked in” with the Tigers but admits the FSU offer moves the needle. Find out why the ‘Noles think he’s a perfect JACK fit and when he’ll visit Tallahassee.

🎤 🔥 Norvell & Seminoles Set for ACC Kickoff – 10 Players to Watch 🔥
Mike Norvell and four key players are headed to Charlotte for ACC Kickoff. But the real intrigue? Updates on 10 Seminoles who could shape the season—like Tennessee transfer WR Squirrel White, new QB Tommy Castellanos, and rising DT KJ Sampson. Who’s healthy, who’s ready, and who still has questions to answer?

🏈 🎤 5 Burning Questions for FSU Ahead of ACC Kickoff 🎤
From the post-lawsuit relationship with the ACC, to whether Castellanos is the right QB, to how Tony White’s new-look defense will perform—here are five storylines FSU can’t avoid in Charlotte.

⚾ 📋 FSU Baseball Offseason Tracker: Draft Picks & New Faces 📋
FSU’s roster shuffle is in full swing after falling just short of another CWS trip. MLB Draft departures, big portal additions like Trey Beard and Brodie Purcell, and a wave of JUCO/HS recruits are reshaping the 2026 squad.

🇸🇪 FSU Offers Swedish EDGE Prospect Gustaf Henriks Ras 🇸🇪
The ‘Noles went international with a new EDGE offer—find out who else is after Gustaf Henriks Ras and why his name is heating up across Power Four recruiting boards.

⚾ 🌊 FSU Standouts Shine in Cape Cod League, Offering 2026 Preview 🌊
Want a glimpse of the 2026 baseball team? Hunter Carns and Cal Fisher are mashing in the Cape Cod League, while transfer Trey Beard is showing weekend starter potential. Early signs point to even more depth next season.

Let’s dive in 👇️ 

Kick back and relax with Cornbread’s premium, legal, THC products

Cornbread Hemp crafts all-natural THC-infused products that address the full scope of Americans’ wellness needs: relief when they need it, relaxation when they crave it, and revelry when the moment is right. Speaking of revelry, their newest product, THC Seltzers are the perfect low-calorie, fast-acting, and guilt-free way to laugh louder, dance longer, and savor good company. They're perfect for parties or porch hangs—a feel-good celebration to be shared. Looking for products you can consume discreetly? Try their fan-favorite gummies.

🏈🔥 LSU Commit DeAnthony Lafayette Reacts to FSU Offer 🔥🏈

Florida State is keeping the pressure on its EDGE recruiting board, and LSU commit DeAnthony Lafayette is at least listening.

💥 Big Offer Moves the Needle
• Lafayette called the FSU offer “big” despite being “locked in” with LSU
• Grew up a fan of the Seminoles and wants to see what they can offer
• Plans to visit Tallahassee Sept. 1, right after the dead period ends

💨 Why FSU Wants Him
• 6’1”, 230 lbs with elite burst off the edge
• Ideal fit as a JACK linebacker in FSU’s multiple-front defense
• Knighton pitched him as a versatile pass rusher who can disrupt from anywhere

📊 The Numbers
• 73 tackles, 40 QB hurries, 17.5 sacks as a junior at Lake Nona HS
• Ranked No. 33 EDGE in the country (89 grade, high three-star)
• Still hearing from Oklahoma and Georgia Tech despite LSU pledge

🎯 Big Picture
FSU missed on several JACK targets this summer but isn’t backing down, expanding the board with high-upside rushers who can flip late.

👉 Full story on Lafayette’s recruitment and visit plans here.

🎤🔥 Norvell & Seminoles Set for ACC Kickoff – 10 Players to Watch 🔥🎤

Mike Norvell and four Seminoles—QB Tommy Castellanos, OL Richie Leonard, DL Darrell Jackson, DB Earl Little Jr.—head to ACC Kickoff on Wednesday, where they’ll talk offseason workouts, team mindset, and the 2025 season ahead. But the real intrigue? The Warchant.com team wants updates on 10 key players whose development could define FSU’s fall.

💥 WR Squirrel White
• Tennessee transfer missed spring with a knee injury
• Summer buzz says he’s fast & healthy—how’s his timing with Castellanos?
• 67 catches, 803 yards in 2023

💥 WR Lawayne McCoy
• Rising sophomore who flashed late last year
• Missed spring with a minor injury—did summer workouts get him back on track?

💥 RB Gavin Sawchuk
• Oklahoma transfer, 744 yards & 9 TDs in 2023
• Late arrival, so how much of Malzahn’s playbook has he learned?

💥 RB Ousmane Kromah
• 4⭐ freshman who rushed for 3,000+ yards in HS
• Physical tools look elite—can he pick up pass pro & the system quickly?

💥 DL Jayson Jenkins
• Tennessee transfer expected to start but missed spring with injury
• Will he be full-go for fall camp?

💥 DL KJ Sampson
• Flashed vs. Miami (6 tackles) but challenged by coaches this spring
• Is he ready to be a consistent force in Knighton’s multiple-front scheme?

💥 S Shyheim Brown
• Led team with 70 tackles but regressed in coverage in 2024
• How’s he responding after being left off the ACC Kickoff player list?

💥 CB Jeremiah Wilson
• Houston/Syracuse transfer with 4 INTs in 2024
• Instant starter? Or breakout star in Tony White’s system?

💥 OT Gunnar Hansen & Micah Pettus
• SEC veteran tackles (35 starts at Vandy, 29 at Ole Miss)
• Missed spring with injuries—are they healthy & gelling with the OL?

🎯 Big Picture
Plenty of storylines will unfold in Charlotte, but the updates on these players could shape FSU’s ceiling in 2025.

👉 Full ACC Kickoff preview & what to watch for here.

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.

🏈🎤 5 Burning Questions for FSU Ahead of ACC Kickoff 🎤🏈

More eyes on the ACC Kickoff media availability, the Noles247 staff has questions. With a new-look roster and fresh staff, here’s what they will be watching:

1️⃣ What’s the state of FSU–ACC relations?
After settling lawsuits with the league and Clemson, the ironclad agreement holding the ACC together looks very different than it did a year ago. Officially, we’ll hear unity speeches from Commissioner Jim Phillips. Privately? FSU and others now know exactly what it would cost to leave. Don’t expect Norvell to comment much—this is a topic for FSU’s administration.

2️⃣ What lessons did FSU learn from a 2–10 disaster?
The Seminoles hit reset hard after last season, overhauling the staff with Gus Malzahn (OC) and Tony White (DC) and flipping much of the roster. Only a handful of returning starters remain, with a mix of transfers and freshmen set to redefine the lineup. Can a rebuilt program rediscover respectability?

3️⃣ Is Tommy Castellanos the QB who changes the offense?
The former Boston College and UCF QB brings dual-threat ability and reunites with Malzahn. His legs should spark a run game that ranked 132nd nationally last season. But is his arm efficient enough to keep defenses honest? It’s the second straight year FSU has pinned hopes on a transfer QB—will this time be different?

4️⃣ Can Tony White’s defense create chaos?
Last year’s unit couldn’t stop the run and forced just six turnovers. White’s new scheme promises more pressure and playmaking, but with new faces everywhere—Nebraska transfer James Williams, a rebuilt linebacker corps, and fresh corners—how quickly can it click?

5️⃣ Where will FSU land in the preseason poll?
After finishing last in the ACC in 2024, media voters face a big question: is this year’s Seminoles team built for a turnaround, or will it be more of the same? Expect FSU to land somewhere in the middle—hopeful, but still proving itself.

👉 Full ACC Kickoff preview + what to watch for here.

⚾📋 FSU Baseball Offseason Tracker: Draft Picks & New Faces 📋⚾

Florida State wrapped up 2025 with a 42–16 record, falling one win shy of a second straight College World Series. Now the offseason roster shuffle is in full swing—here’s where things stand:

🎯 MLB Draft Picks & Signings
• Jamie Arnold – No. 11, Athletics (Slot: $5.99M)
• Alex Lodise – No. 60, Braves (Signed $1.3M)
• Cam Leiter – No. 65, Dodgers (Slot: $1.35M)
• Max Williams – No. 78, Marlins (Slot: $1.04M)
• Drew Faurot – No. 108, Marlins
• Peyton Prescott – No. 163, Mets
• Joey Volini – No. 168, Marlins
• Plus four more drafted in later rounds

🔄 Portal Additions
• INF Eli Putnam (Davidson) – .349 AVG, 19 HR, 62 RBI
• LHP Trey Beard (FAU) – 86 IP, 3.14 ERA, 118 Ks
• RHP Brodie Purcell (USC) – 42.2 IP, 2.11 ERA, 51 Ks
• Plus arms from Oregon, Virginia, Duke & Mississippi State

🌱 Incoming HS & JUCO Talent
• JUCO arms: Jake Echols, Jackson Peeler, Cooper Whited
• HS standouts: Kelvyn Paulino Jr. (IMG Academy), Mookie Rodriguez (Lakeland Christian), Charlie Buckles (Bethesda, MD)

🎯 Big Picture
Nine portal additions already—seven pitchers—plus a wave of JUCO and HS recruits. The roster will keep evolving as FSU retools for 2026.

👉 Full roster tracker with all updates here.

🇸🇪 FSU Offers Swedish EDGE Prospect Gustaf Henriks Ras 🇸🇪 

Florida State’s EDGE board keeps expanding after summer misses, with the Seminoles now going international.

• Gustaf Henriks Ras, a 6’4”, 235-pound pass rusher from RIG Academy in Uppsala, Sweden, received an offer Saturday morning.

• Ras has quickly become a hot name among Power Four programs, recently landing offers from South Carolina, Georgia, Ole Miss, Maryland, and Boise State.

• Head coach Mike Norvell reached out last week, while DL coach Terrance Knighton officially extended the offer after reviewing his film.

Ras is rated a three-star prospect and the No. 69 EDGE in the 2026 class by 247Sports.

👉 Read more

⚾🌊 FSU Standouts Shine in Cape Cod League, Offering 2026 Preview 🌊⚾

The 2026 baseball season is still months away, but several Seminoles are giving an early glimpse of what’s to come with standout performances in the Cape Cod League, the nation’s premier summer circuit.

🔹 Hunter Carns – Catcher on the rise
Coming off a strong freshman season (.286 AVG, 6 HR, 8 2B, 15 RBI), Carns has been one of the best hitters in the Cape:

• .327 AVG (9th in league)

• .456 OBP (6th)

• .577 SLG (4th)

• 3 HR, 4 doubles, 7 extra-base hits
  Carns was named a Cape Cod All-Star and looks primed to be a middle-of-the-order cornerstone for FSU in 2026.

🔹 Cal Fisher – Versatile and steady
The rising junior, who hit .303 with 8 HR and 37 RBI as FSU’s starting third baseman in 2025, is proving he can handle multiple spots defensively. Playing mostly shortstop for the Brewster Whitecaps, Fisher is:

• .283 AVG, .394 OBP in 16 games

• 2 HR, 12 RBI

• Just 2 errors in 14 games at SS, none at 3B
  Another Cape Cod All-Star, Fisher looks like a key bat and defensive leader heading into 2026.

🔹 Myles Bailey – Limited action, big potential
After time with Team USA, the freshman All-American has struggled at the plate (.219 AVG in 9 games) but remains a major piece for FSU’s future lineup.

🔹 Eli Putnam – Transfer power boost
Davidson transfer Eli Putnam isn’t in the Cape this summer but tore it up there in 2024, posting a .530 SLG (2nd-best in the league) with 5 HR, 7 doubles, and 3 triples. He’s expected to add another big bat to the mix.

🎯 On the mound

• Trey Beard (transfer, FAU): Dominant in 2 Cape starts – 8 IP, 0 ER, 9 K, 4 H, 2 BB before joining Team USA.

• Payton Manca (SO): Cape All-Star with a 3.79 ERA over 19 innings.

• Hudson Rowan (JR): Flashes of progress – 3-1, 3.66 ERA in 19.2 IP with 20 K but 15 BB.

• Chris Knier (RP): 6.00 ERA in limited innings.

Add in a deep group of portal arms (Brodie Purcell, Gabe Nard, Bryson Moore, Cole Stokes, Cade O’Leary, Charlie Christensen, Kevin Mebil), and FSU’s 2026 pitching staff looks stacked with fresh talent.

Big Picture:
Carns, Fisher, Bailey, and Putnam are shaping up as the heart of next year’s lineup, while Beard and a revamped staff could headline the weekend rotation. Early signs? FSU could be even deeper in 2026.

👉 Full Cape Cod League recap + what it means for the 2026 roster here.

And that’s a wrap!

That’s a wrap for today’s Chief Brief!

From ACC Kickoff storylines to a pair of intriguing EDGE recruits and a Cape Cod preview of the 2026 baseball squad, it’s clear FSU is building for the future across every sport.

We’ll be back tomorrow with more on recruiting buzz, player updates from Charlotte, and a closer look at how the football roster is taking shape before fall camp.

Until then—Go Noles! 🌴⚡