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Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Tuesday, Seminole!

Today’s lineup is packed with big updates from Doak to the NBA Summer League to the recruiting trail—plus some exciting news for FSU Track & Field. Here’s what’s inside:

🏃‍♀️ Academic Excellence on the Track 🏃‍♂️
FSU’s Track & Field and XC squads proved they’re elite in more ways than one—earning USTFCCCA Academic Team honors with standout GPAs and multiple All-Academic selections.

🏃‍♂️ A Rising Star Joins the Coaching Staff 🏃‍♂️
FSU adds Ryan Murphy, a distance coach from Arkansas who’s developed All-Americans and SEC champions. He’ll now lead the Seminoles’ men’s distance group.

🏀 M.J. Walker Wins NBA Summer League Title 🏀
Former Seminole M.J. Walker helped the Charlotte Hornets secure their first Summer League Championship—with top pick Kon Knueppel taking MVP honors.

🏟️ Doak Gets a $265M Upgrade 🏟️
The massive renovation of Doak Campbell Stadium is nearly complete, bringing premium seating, ADA upgrades, huge new video boards, and modernized amenities—but with a 12,000-seat capacity reduction.

🏈 Edge Rusher Andrew Rogers Reclassifies 🏈
Elite EDGE prospect Andrew Rogers reclassifies to 2026 and locks in an FSU visit this October as part of a jam-packed fall schedule before his Aug. 22 commitment.

🏈 Da’Ron Parks Nears Decision Day 🏈
Four-star OL Da’Ron Parks will announce his commitment July 26. FSU and Auburn are neck-and-neck, with Ohio State still lurking as a late threat.

👉 Plus: Full breakdowns on every recruit, visit, and roster move—inside!

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🏃‍♀️📚 FSU Track & Field & XC Earn USTFCCCA Academic Honors 📚🏃‍♂️

Florida State’s track & field and cross country programs scored big in the classroom, earning USTFCCCA Academic Team honors for the 2025 indoor and outdoor seasons.

✅ Men’s Team
• Posted a 3.056 GPA after the spring semester
• 6 All-Academic Athletes: Zach Cloud, Andre Korbmacher, Zach Leachman, Durian Moss, Amare Williams, Tyson Williams

✅ Women’s Team
• Earned a 3.188 GPA
• 10 All-Academic Athletes: Suus Altorf, Kaelyaah Liburd, Joella Lloyd, Takiyah Ferguson, Brooke Mullins, Kayla Pinkard, Bieke Schipperen, Lucy May Sleeman, Oludoyin Soremi & Oluwadara Soremi

✅ Cross Country
• Added 6 All-Academic honorees during the XC season

🎯 Big Picture
From the track to the classroom, the Seminoles continue to excel on all fronts, showing balance in athletic and academic performance.

👉 Full list of FSU’s USTFCCCA All-Academic honorees here.

🏃‍♂️✨ FSU Adds Ryan Murphy to Track & Field Staff ✨🏃‍♂️

Florida State is bolstering its distance program with the addition of Ryan Murphy to Matt Kane’s coaching staff for the 2025-26 season.

💥 What Murphy Brings
• Will lead the men’s distance group and serve as director of operations
• Comes from Arkansas, where he was mentored by legendary coach Chris Bucknam
• Helped Razorbacks athletes earn 7 All-American honors, 6 individual conference titles, 5 team championships & 3 school indoor records

💥 Athletes He Developed
• Reuben Reina – Program record holder in the indoor mile (3:53), Indoor Mile Champion, 2x NCAA Nationals qualifier
• Patrick Kiprop – 5x SEC Champion, All-American, program record in 5,000m, top-25 XC Nationals finisher
• Ben Shearer – 7x SEC medalist, 2x All-American, key piece on Razorbacks’ 2024 NCAA XC 3rd-place team

💥 Coach Kane’s Take
“I wanted a young coach with ties to elite distance programs—Ryan is exactly that. His SEC championship experience and NCAA top-10 blueprint will elevate our distance group.”

🎯 Big Picture
With Murphy’s proven track record of developing All-Americans and record-setters, FSU’s distance program is primed for a major step forward in 2026.

👉 Full breakdown of Murphy’s hire & his impact on FSU distance running here.

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🏀🏆 M.J. Walker Wins NBA Summer League Title with Hornets 🏆🏀

Former Seminole M.J. Walker capped off his NBA Summer League run as the Charlotte Hornets claimed the championship, defeating the Sacramento Kings 83–78 in Las Vegas.

💥 Walker’s Final Line
• 27 minutes played
• 3 points (1-of-5 FG, 1-of-4 from deep)
• 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal

💥 Championship Recap
• The Hornets were led by No. 4 overall pick Kon Knueppel, who dropped 21 points and was named Summer League MVP
• This marks the Hornets’ first Summer League Championship

🎯 Big Picture
Walker, who plays for the Hornets’ G League affiliate Greensboro Swarm, added valuable minutes and veteran presence during the title run—even if it wasn’t a stat-stuffing night.

👉 Full Summer League championship recap + what’s next for Walker here.

🏟️✨ Doak Campbell Stadium Renovations Cut Capacity by 12K ✨🏟️

Doak Campbell Stadium will look and feel a lot different in 2025—starting with a new capacity of 67,277 seats, down from its previous 79,560. That’s a 12,283-seat reduction as part of FSU’s massive $265M renovation project.

💥 What’s Changing?
• Revamped premium seating – Dunlap Champions Club, Founders Suites, Loge Boxes & West Sideline Club
• Chairback seating added to the East side
• Upgraded concourses & signage throughout
• New concession options + improved restroom access
• ADA enhancements for better accessibility
• Massive video boards in the North (57×120 ft) & South (35×75 ft) end zones, plus new ribbon boards

💥 Timeline & Soft Opening
• Renovations are expected to be ready for the Aug. 30 home opener vs. Alabama
• FSU plans to host soft-opening events in August, including select practices for fans with new seating access

🎯 Big Picture
While Doak’s capacity is smaller, the gameday experience is getting a premium upgrade—bringing modern amenities and an elevated atmosphere. FSU’s all-time record inside Doak: 322-109-4 (.747 win%)

👉 Full breakdown of Doak’s $265M facelift here.

🏈🔥 4⭐ Edge Andrew Rogers Reclassifies to 2026, Sets FSU Visit 🔥🏈

Greensboro (N.C.) Grimsley standout Andrew Rogers is accelerating his timeline. The 6’6”, 240-pound edge rusher has officially reclassified to the 2026 class, making him one of the cycle’s most coveted rising seniors.

💥 Why It Matters
• Former 2027 prospect now among the top uncommitted edge rushers in 2026
• Ranked No. 28 EDGE & No. 9 in NC with an 89 rating in the ’27 class
• Mid-State 3A Conference Defensive Player of the Year last season

💥 Commitment Timeline
• Public commitment date: Aug. 22
• Official visit locked: Tennessee on Nov. 29 (Vols vs. Vanderbilt)
• Game day visits planned:
 – Virginia Tech (Aug. 31 vs. South Carolina)
 – Virginia Tech (Sept. 6 vs. Vanderbilt)
 – Tennessee (Sept. 13 vs. Georgia)
 – Florida State (Oct. 11 vs. Pitt)

💥 Top Five Finalists
• Auburn, Florida State, LSU, Michigan State, Virginia Tech

Rogers has raved about Virginia Tech’s family atmosphere, but FSU is still firmly in the mix with a fall visit on the books. His rare size + production combo makes him a priority target as FSU reshapes its EDGE board.

👉 Full breakdown of Rogers’ recruitment & FSU’s chances here.

🏈🔥 4⭐ OL Da’Ron Parks Sets July 26 Commitment Date 🔥🏈

The finish line is in sight for Da’Ron Parks, the highly coveted 6’5”, 300-pound OL out of Sarasota (Fla.) Cardinal Mooney. Parks will announce his commitment on Saturday, July 26 at ~4:30 p.m. ET, wrapping up a recruitment that’s stayed wide open until the very end.

💥 The Finalists
• Florida State – Offered over two years ago and has stayed consistent throughout
• Auburn – Entered the mix in early 2025 and quickly built strong ties
• Ohio State – Defending national champs still lurking late, with team chemistry & pedigree leaving a lasting impression
• Kentucky – A dark horse still in the running

💥 What Parks Values
• Strong relationships with head coaches Mike Norvell & Hugh Freeze
• Player development & competition level in the trenches
• NIL? Not a big factor – “Money isn’t going to be a big factor for me.”

💥 Recruitment Snapshot
• Took official visits to all finalists between mid-May and late June
• Has accumulated 40+ offers
• Still admits he’s “torn” days before the decision—each school “feels like a great fit”

🎯 Big Picture
FSU and Auburn seem neck-and-neck with Ohio State still hanging around late. Parks’ decision could swing momentum for either program’s 2025 offensive line haul.

👉 Full breakdown of Parks’ finalists + what’s next here.

And that’s a wrap!

And that’s it for today’s Chief Brief!

From Doak’s premium upgrades to big NBA Summer League moments and a flurry of recruiting news, it’s clear FSU is making moves on and off the field.

We’ll keep tracking Da’Ron Parks’ July 26 decision, Andrew Rogers’ October visit, and all the latest as fall camp draws closer.

Until next time—stay sharp, Noles fans! 🍢