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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Sunday, Seminole!

Big recruiting wins. Fresh faces in leadership. And a clear tone of resilience as Florida State pushes toward a pivotal fall. Here’s what’s making headlines this week in Tallahassee:

✅ In the Trenches – Four-star OL Da’Ron Parks commits to FSU, giving the ‘Noles a major boost to their 2026 class and locking down a high-upside talent in the offensive line rebuild.

🏀 On the Hardwood – New men’s basketball coach Luke Loucks already has his first Seminole squad gelling, with vets and freshmen meshing ahead of a brutal non-conference slate.

⚡ Offensive Spark – Squirrel White is officially full speed, earning QB Tommy Castellanos’ stamp of approval as a true game-breaking weapon in Gus Malzahn’s new-look attack.

📜 Recruiting Resilience – FSU held onto 4⭐ ATH Efrem White through coaching chaos and a rough 2024 season, thanks to timely staff moves that reconnected trust in the program.

🎙️ Locker Room Leadership – OL vet Richie Leonard IV speaks on loyalty, fresh energy in the offensive line room, and why this 2025 squad feels like a brand-new team with sky-high goals.

👇 Dive in for all the stories shaping FSU right now—on the field, on the trail, and on the hardwood.

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✍️🏈 Four-Star OL Da’Ron Parks Commits to Florida State 🏈✍️

The Seminoles scored a major recruiting win on Saturday as Da’Ron Parks, a four-star offensive lineman, committed to FSU over Auburn, Kentucky, and a late push from Ohio State.

✅ Why He Chose FSU

• Official visit in June “blew him away,” especially the Seminoles’ culture & new-look offensive line under Coach Herb Hand.

• Saw clear development and a path to early playing time in Tallahassee.

📊 Recruiting Profile

• 6’4”, ranked No. 37 interior OL nationally (Rivals Industry Ranking).

• Top 400 overall prospect.

• Transferring from Sarasota (Fla.) to a new high school in West Virginia this fall.

🚨 What This Means for FSU

• Parks is the 22nd commitment for the Seminoles’ 2026 class, now ranked Top 15 nationally.

• Internally, FSU views him as one of their most ready-made OL prospects—potentially the earliest contributor among this cycle’s offensive line pledges.

🛠️ Building the Trenches

• Joins OL commitments Luke Francis, Mike Ionata & Jakobe Green.

• Parks adds depth & versatility at tackle while the staff continues to target 1–2 more linemen for the class.

🎯 Big Picture
While some recruiting networks list him as a 3⭐, Parks is considered an underrated gem by FSU’s staff—an impact pickup who fills a major need in the trenches and strengthens the program’s future up front.

👉 Full analysis on Parks’ commitment + why he could be a fast riser in Tallahassee here.

🎙️ Luke Loucks’ First FSU Hoops Squad Already Showing Chemistry 🎙️

It’s only been a couple of months, but new Florida State men’s basketball coach Luke Loucks is liking what he’s seeing so far from his first Seminole squad.

💥 Early Takeaways

• Team bonding has been way ahead of schedule, with players gelling on and off the court.

• Six veteran transfers headline the roster, including PG Robert McCray (Jacksonville), wing Lajae Jones (St. Bonaventure), SG Kobe Magee (Drexel), and F Chauncey Wiggins (Clemson).

• Freshmen Cam Miles and Thomas Bassong have impressed with their competitiveness and skill.

• Perimeter shooting and overall toughness are already standing out.

💥 What’s Next

• 6’11” Russian center Egor Ryzhov will join the team soon.

• Loucks is just beginning to install his up-tempo offensive and defensive systems.

• After another week of summer workouts, the team will return in the fall to prep for a brutal non-conference slate vs. Houston, Texas A&M, Florida, Georgia, Dayton—and a preseason exhibition vs. Alabama.

💬 Loucks’ Mindset
“If you want to be the best, you’ve got to play the best… Even if we lose all five of those big games, it gives us a barometer for where we need to go heading into ACC play.”

🎯 Big Picture
With a mix of proven vets and hungry freshmen, plus one of the toughest schedules in the country, Loucks is setting an early tone of competition and accountability as he begins his first season at the helm.

👉 Full summer practice recap + what Loucks’ first year could look like here.

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🏈⚡ Squirrel White Back to Full Speed, Earns QB’s Seal of Approval ⚡🏈

Florida State wide receiver Squirrel White is officially full throttle. After rehabbing a knee injury all spring, the Tennessee transfer has been flying in summer workouts—and QB Tommy Castellanos confirmed it at ACC Kickoff.

💥 Castellanos on White

• “Amazing. He’s fast. He’s really fast.”

• The two have been sharpening timing and trust on routes throughout the summer.

• Castellanos says White is “moving really well” and looks ready to make an impact.

💥 Why It Matters

• White’s 2024 season was derailed by injuries (381 yards, 2 TDs).

• In 2023, he was a dangerous deep threat (803 yards, 2 TDs) with elite speed to stretch defenses.

• He’ll start as FSU’s 2-WR, the motion-heavy role in Gus Malzahn’s offense that creates mismatches and opens up the vertical passing game.

💥 The Big Picture
Pairing White’s jet-motion speed opposite Duce Robinson’s size at the 9-WR spot gives FSU’s new offense a true balance of explosiveness and physicality. If White stays healthy, he could be the X-factor that unlocks the Seminoles’ passing attack in 2025.

👉 Full breakdown on White’s return + what his role means for Malzahn’s scheme here.

🏈📜 How FSU Landed & Kept 4⭐ ATH Efrem White Through Coaching Chaos 📜🏈

In the latest How the Class Was Built series, Noles247 spotlighted the winding journey of Efrem White—Florida State’s second-longest 2026 commit—whose pledge has endured coaching turnover, a brutal season, and heavy outside pressure.

💥 How It Started

• FSU’s connection to Vero Beach HS began with 2023 WR signee Vandrevius Jacobs.

• Former FSU staffers Ryan Bartow & Ron Dugans built trust with Vero coach Lenny Jankowski, paving the way for White’s early commitment in Dec. 2023.

• At the time, FSU was fresh off a 13-win, ACC title season—momentum was sky-high.

🔄 The Turbulence

• A disastrous 2–10 season in 2024 shook the program.

• Both Bartow & Dugans, White’s main recruiters, were gone.

• White admits, “At first, it was like everybody left… I didn’t really know where I wanted to go.”

• Meanwhile, UCF (with Gus Malzahn) and NC State turned up the pressure.

🚨 The Turning Point

• Enter Gus Malzahn—ironically the same coach White liked at UCF—now hired as FSU’s OC.

• Malzahn brought WRs coach Tim Harris Jr. with him to Tallahassee.

• Harris immediately visited White’s family and built a steady two-day communication rhythm.

✅ Where It Stands

• White remains locked in with FSU despite a strong NC State push.

• He calls the program “home” after multiple visits and feels the new offensive staff is the right fit.

• NC State still lurks, but for now, White isn’t entertaining other suitors.

🎯 Big Picture
FSU held on to one of its top 2026 athletes by stabilizing relationships with a fresh coaching hire—showing how important staff connections remain even in today’s volatile recruiting world.

🎙️ Richie Leonard Talks Loyalty, New OL Leadership & 2025 Confidence 🎙️ 

Veteran offensive lineman Richie Leonard IV made it clear at ACC Kickoff—he never wavered on returning to Florida State despite last year’s adversity. From a 2–10 season to coaching changes and injury rehab, Leonard says his commitment to FSU never shook.

✨ Why He Stayed

• “Absolutely not. No place I’d rather be. I love Florida State. It’s an honor to wear this logo.”

• Despite an early-season injury in 2024 that sidelined him, Leonard said it grew his appreciation for the game: “It means everything to be back.”

🔄 New Faces, Same Standards

• Praised new OL coach Herb Hand for creating a seamless blend of transfers, freshmen & returners:
  “He won’t bring someone in who doesn’t fit this room.”

• Highlighted the long-term chemistry between Hand & Gus Malzahn: “You can just tell they’ve coached together forever.”

🏈 Key OL Room Takeaways

• OT Gunnar Hansen: “Extremely twitchy… hard worker… his Alabama game experience is invaluable.”

• OG Adrian Medley: A quiet leader who knows Malzahn’s offense inside & out.

• C Luke Petitbon: “The kind of guy you’d want your sister to marry—consistent, vocal, and a true leader.”

• OT Micah Pettus: “Huge dude, bigger personality. Funniest guy I’ve ever met.”

🔥 Young Players Turning Heads

• Andre Otto: Leonard’s “little brother” in the OL room, soaking up advice daily.

• Sandman Thompson: Hometown freshman standout—“I wish I had it figured out like he does this early.”

⚡ Confidence in QB Tommy Castellanos

• “Tommy’s attitude, energy, effort—you never question it. He’s confident, and we love that.”

🎯 2025 Goals

• A new season, a new team, and a simple mission:
  “We want to be the best offensive line in the country. That’s the goal for this 2025 season—be our best.”

👉 Full transcript of Leonard’s ACC Kickoff comments + his outlook for FSU’s rebuilt OL here.

And that’s a wrap!

Next week, the spotlight shifts fully to preseason camp as the ‘Noles officially hit the practice fields and prep for the Alabama showdown at Doak. Expect more insider buzz, injury updates, and recruiting dominoes to drop in the days ahead.

Until then, stay locked in. One month out from kickoff—let’s make it count.

— The Chief Brief Team