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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Thursday, Seminole!

ACC media kickoff is underway and the recruiting wheel is still turning:

🏈 Preseason Countdown Begins
Mike Norvell confirmed FSU opens camp July 30 as they prep for Alabama’s first-ever visit to Doak. Here’s how practices will be structured and why this opener is one of the most-watched Week 1 matchups.

🩹 Positive Injury News Before Camp
FSU enters fall healthier than expected. Tennessee transfer DL Jayson Jenkins is ahead of schedule and could be back by mid-camp to bolster a revamped defensive line.

🔥 QB Jayce Johnson Commitment Looms
One of the nation’s top 2027 QBs decides Aug. 3—and it’s down to FSU vs. Texas A&M. We’ll tell you why the Noles still have a real shot despite Aggie momentum.

✨ 5⭐ CB Joshua Dobson’s Heavy Recruitment
The elite 2027 corner is feeling the heat from Clemson & Tennessee—but FSU remains in the fight for one of the nation’s top defenders.

⚾ Seminoles Make MLB Draft History
A record 11 Noles drafted, with nearly all signed ahead of the July 28 deadline. We’ve got the full signing bonus tracker—including some big overslot deals.

💰 Inside the NIL Money Game
How much are recruits really getting paid? A dozen anonymous Power Four commits reveal deals up to $975K—and why most still choose development over the biggest bag.

👉 Let’s dive in!

Campus Course: Where Collegiate Pride Meets Everyday Style

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For a limited time, use promo code CHIEF20 at checkout for 20% off your first order.

🏈📅 FSU Preseason Practice Set to Kick Off July 30 📅🏈

Florida State will officially hit the practice fields for preseason camp on Wednesday, July 30, per Mike Norvell at ACC Kickoff. The team reports the day prior on July 29 as they begin the countdown to their Aug. 30 season opener vs. Alabama in the newly renovated Doak Campbell Stadium.

✅ Preseason Practice Rules
• 25 practices allowed over 29 days
• 8 full-pad practices, 8 in shells, 9 in helmets only
• Max of 2 straight contact days

📊 Series History vs. Bama
• FSU is 1-3-1 all-time
• Last meeting: 2017 in Atlanta (Alabama win)
• Only FSU win: 2007 in Jacksonville
• First time ever hosting the Tide in Tallahassee

🎯 Big Picture
The Seminoles and Crimson Tide both open camp July 30. Expect a month of intense prep leading into what will be one of the nation’s most-watched Week 1 matchups.

👉 Full preseason camp details + Alabama game preview here.

🏈🩹 Mike Norvell Shares Positive Injury Updates Before Fall Camp 🩹🏈

Mike Norvell gave a health status report on his team ahead of preseason camp during ACC Kickoff, with encouraging news on several players who missed spring ball.

✅ Key Update – Jayson Jenkins
• Tennessee transfer DL missed all spring with a lower-leg injury
• Progressing ahead of schedule and expected to ramp up by midway through fall camp
• If healthy, projects as a starting piece on FSU’s retooled defensive line

💬 Norvell’s Take
“We’re going to have a majority of the guys. There might be a couple one-offs limited early, but Jayson is farther ahead than expected. He’s moving well and in a great position heading into camp.”

🎯 Big Picture
After spring injuries and canceled practices, FSU enters camp healthier than expected. Jenkins’ return could be a huge boost for a defense that needs impact up front.

👉 Full injury update + what it means for fall camp here.

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🏈🔥 2027 QB Jayce Johnson Down to 5, FSU in Final Battle 🔥🏈

Top247 quarterback Jayce Johnson (Valdosta, Ga.)—ranked No. 63 overall, No. 6 QB nationally in 2027—is set to announce his commitment on August 3.

✅ Final Five
• Florida State
• Texas A&M
• Tennessee
• Mississippi State
• South Carolina

💥 Where It Stands
• Aggies have built late momentum
• FSU still firmly in the mix, with sources calling it much closer than outsiders think
• Volunteers, Bulldogs & Gamecocks trailing entering the final two weeks

📊 Sophomore Numbers
• 1,800 yards, 16 TD, 3 INT through the air
• 318 rushing yards, 3 rushing scores

🎯 Scouting Snapshot (via 247Sports’ Cooper Petagna)
• Physically advanced for his age—could play at 225–230 lbs in college
• Above-average athleticism with strong pocket movement
• Big-time arm strength, tight motion & quick release
• Needs continued technical development but has elite upside

👉 Full update on Johnson’s recruitment + why FSU still has a real shot here.

🏈✨ 2027 5⭐ CB Joshua Dobson Talks FSU & Heavy Recruitment ✨🏈

One of the nation’s top 2027 prospects, Joshua Dobson (Fort Mill, S.C.)—ranked No. 7 overall nationally—is feeling the full-court press from powerhouse programs.

✅ Recent Visits
• Tennessee
• Georgia
• Florida
• Clemson
• Texas A&M (loved the visit)
• Texas (spring trip)

💥 Who’s Pushing Hardest?
Since mid-June, these schools have been most aggressive:
• Clemson, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, FSU, Texas, South Carolina
• Tennessee & Clemson currently leading the charge

📍 What’s Next?
• Plans to visit South Carolina this fall—only an hour from home
• Says Gamecocks remain an easy option to check out during the season

🎯 Big Picture
Dobson is one of the premier CBs in the 2027 cycle, and while Clemson & Tennessee have early momentum, Florida State remains in the hunt alongside other SEC/ACC heavyweights.

👉 Full breakdown of Dobson’s recruitment + where FSU stands here.

⚾💰 FSU Sets MLB Draft Record with 11 Players Selected + Signing Bonus Tracker 💰⚾

Florida State baseball just made history—11 Seminoles were drafted in 2025, plus 3 commits (HS, JUCO, portal). As of Wednesday, 12 of 14 draftees have signed, with MLB clubs having until July 28 at 5 p.m. ET to finalize deals.

✅ Top Seminole Signings
• Jamie Arnold – 1.11 (Athletics)
 $5.985M signing bonus (full slot)
• Alex Lodise – 2.60 (Braves)
 $1.297M bonus ($225K underslot)
• Cam Leiter – 2.65 (Dodgers)
 $1.349M bonus (full slot)
• Max Williams – 3.78 (Marlins)
 $897K bonus ($146K underslot)
• Drew Faurot – 4.108 (Marlins)
 $531K bonus ($177K underslot)

✅ Notable Notes
• HS commit Ty Harvey (Padres) hasn’t signed yet but is expected around $1.5M, well above slot.
• JUCO commit JC Vanek (Royals) signed $347K—$197K over slot.
• Portal commit Charlie Christensen (Tigers) signed at slot ($150K).
• Evan Chrest (Guardians) is the only other unsigned draftee.

🎯 Big Picture
FSU smashed its draft record with 11 players selected, continuing its development pipeline to the pros. With 12 already signed and a few big decisions pending, the Seminoles’ 2025 draft class is nearly complete.

👉 Full draft recap + complete signing bonus breakdown here.

💰🏈 NIL Reality Check: What Top Recruits Are Really Getting Paid 🏈💰

How much cash is actually being thrown at elite recruits in the NIL era? A dozen anonymous Power Four commitments from the 2026 class spilled the details—revealing just how wild (and uneven) the market has become.

✅ What’s on the Table?
• Offers ranged from $100K all the way to $975K + bonuses
• Miami led with 3 recruits saying the Canes made the top NIL offer
• Florida State was second, with 2 recruits saying FSU was their highest bidder
• Florida, Nebraska, Boston College, Indiana, Oklahoma & WVU each topped 1 recruit’s offer sheet

✅ Did the Money Win?
• 10 of 12 recruits said NO—they didn’t pick the school with the biggest bag
• Development, coaching relationships & long-term fit mattered more than a quick payday
• Only 2 recruits chose the highest offer, both citing massive differences compared to other schools

✅ Recruits’ Honest Takes
• “Money’s short-term… development & NFL money is long-term.”
• “Loyalty matters more than a bag up front.”
• “The team that just throws money is usually less invested in you as a person.”

🎯 Big Picture
Six- and even seven-figure NIL deals are real—but most top players aren’t choosing strictly on cash. Development, trust, and a clear path to the NFL still win out over the biggest bag.

👉 Full NIL breakdown + which schools are spending the most here.

And that’s a wrap!

From fall camp updates and recruiting battles to historic MLB Draft numbers and the real NIL market, there’s plenty to watch in the weeks ahead. The countdown to Bama at Doak is officially on—just over a month until the lights shine bright on Tallahassee.

📅 Tomorrow’s Brief will dive deeper into camp storylines, recruiting visits on deck, and which FSU players are primed for breakout seasons.

Until then, stay locked in and stay Gold & Garnet.