šŸ¹ July 28th - The Chief Brief šŸ¹

Woad’s Historic Win, Fall Camp Watchlist & Recruiting Pulse Check

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šŸ¹ Welcome to The Chief Brief! šŸ¹

Happy Monday, Seminole!

Seminole fans, buckle up—this week’s headlines are packed with wins, leaders emerging, and fall camp storylines that could define 2025.

Here’s what’s inside:

⛳ History in the making: Lottie Woad shines in her pro debut with a statement win at the Women’s Scottish Open.

šŸ›”ļø Defensive tone-setter: Earl Little Jr. is stepping into the spotlight as a leader in FSU’s revamped secondary.

šŸŖ– In the trenches: A reshuffled defensive line loaded with talent, transfers, and questions—can they find the right mix?

šŸ“Š Recruiting pulse check: After landing 4⭐ OL Da’Ron Parks, where does FSU’s 2026 class really stand—locked, firm, or still in play?

šŸ”„ Camp watchlist: Ten players who could flip the script this fall, from true freshman breakout candidates to position battles with major stakes.

All this as the countdown to Bama at Doak hits the final month. Let’s dive in. šŸ‘‡

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⛳ FSU’s Lottie Woad Wins Women’s Scottish Open in Pro Debut ⛳

Ice-cold nerves. Birdies on demand. History made.

Former Florida State star Lottie Woad capped a dominant week at Dundonald Links with a final-round 68, clinching a three-shot victory at the Women’s Scottish Open in her first-ever professional event.

šŸ† How She Did It

  • Finished 21-under 267, staying composed even as Hyo Joo Kim tied her mid-round.

  • Fired clutch birdies on 13 & 14 to pull away before a smooth wedge to 2 feet on 18 sealed the win.

  • Becomes just the second player in three years (after Rose Zhang in 2023) to win an LPGA event in her pro debut.

šŸ”„ What’s Next for Woad

  • Riding a red-hot summer with back-to-back wins (Scottish & Irish Opens) plus a near-playoff finish at the Evian Championship.

  • Skipping her senior year at FSU paid off—she now carries huge momentum into next week’s AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl.

šŸ’¬ Woad on the Win

ā€œEveryone was chasing me today, but I maintained the lead and played really nicely down the stretch.ā€

šŸŽÆ Big Picture
Already an Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion and former No. 1 amateur, Woad is officially the story in women’s golf this summer—cementing her name among rising global stars.

šŸ›”ļø Earl Little Jr. Emerging as Key Defensive Leader for 2025 šŸ›”ļø

If there was any doubt about how much Mike Norvell values Earl Little Jr., it was erased when the second-year Alabama transfer joined FSU’s most experienced players at ACC Kickoff in Charlotte—despite having zero career starts.

šŸ’„ Why Little’s Presence Matters

  • Travels with QB Tommy Castellanos, OL Richie Leonard, & DL Darrell Jackson—proven veterans with multiple years of starting experience.

  • Signals Little is expected to play a major role in 2025, likely starting at Rover safety in Tony White’s 3-3-5 defense.

šŸ’„ What Little Brings

  • Relentless physicality—made a statement with 6 tackles vs. Miami last season.

  • Versatility at Rover: blitzing off the edge, dropping deep, flying around the intermediate level.

  • Described as ā€œHimā€ by new DC Tony White, who raves about his instincts & edge.

šŸ’¬ Little on the 3-3-5 Defense
ā€œIt lets us show our versatility… we’re going to wreak havoc for opposing offenses. We’ll be physical, dominant, relentless.ā€

šŸ”„ Why This Is a Turning Point

  • FSU’s defense lacked identity & toughness in 2024.

  • Little’s mentalityā€”ā€œdesperate to win, desperate to succeedā€ā€”fits the new standard Norvell & White are trying to build.

  • As a redshirt sophomore, he has time to grow into a true leader and help turn this program back around.

šŸŽÆ Big Picture
Little might not have the rƩsumƩ yet, but his mindset, talent, and growing leadership make him one of the most important pieces for a defense that desperately needs playmakers. Expect his role to be front-and-center when FSU opens preseason camp Wednesday, July 30.

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šŸŖ– Defensive Line Reset: Depth, Variety & Big Unknowns šŸŖ–

Florida State’s defensive front is about to look very different in 2025. With seven returners, 10 newcomers, a new coordinator (Tony White) and a new DL coach (Terrance Knighton), the group is loaded with pieces but short on clear answers—at least for now.

✨ The Core Pieces

  • Darrell Jackson is the tone-setter. If the massive interior lineman finally hits his ceiling, he can anchor the entire unit.

  • James Williams, a Nebraska transfer familiar with White’s scheme, looks like a lock for heavy snaps—whether at end or even the hybrid Jack role.

🧩 Who Fits Where?

  • Veterans Daniel Lyons & KJ Sampson bring size and versatility for the big end/DT roles.

  • Amaree Williams has pure edge-rush juice—he’s a candidate for the Jack spot or field DE.

🚨 New Faces to Watch

  • Jayson Jenkins (Tennessee transfer) could start anywhere outside nose tackle once fully healthy.

  • Deante McCray profiles as a steady rotation piece who might push for a starting job.

  • Deamontae Diggs is valued for his speed off the edge.

  • Elijah Herring, while listed as a linebacker, may see Jack reps depending on matchups.

  • Tyeland Coleman (JUCO) is more of a depth wildcard after a quiet spring.

🌱 Freshman Impact

  • Kevin Wynn is a promising backup behind Jackson.

  • Twins Mandrell & Darryll Desir have earned praise for maturity and could crack the rotation early.

  • Tylon Lee reshaped his body this year and is fighting for a depth role.

šŸŒ€ Two Big Variables
1ļøāƒ£ Can Jackson be that guy? He’s flashed dominance before—2025 is the year FSU needs it every snap.
2ļøāƒ£ What is the Jack role, really? It could be a true edge rusher, a hybrid LB/DE, or even a rotating assignment. The answer changes the entire rotation.

šŸŽÆ Bottom Line
This defensive front will evolve week by week. What FSU shows vs. Alabama might look nothing like the lineup they roll out vs. Virginia or Miami. There’s talent. There’s variety. Now it’s on Tony White & Knighton to find the best combinations to create havoc.

šŸ“Š FSU’s 2026 Class Update: Firm, Locked, or Still in Play? šŸ“Š

After landing four-star OL Da’Ron Parks this weekend, Florida State’s 2026 recruiting class now sits at No. 14 nationally with 22 commitments. But how stable are those pledges heading into preseason camp? Here’s the confidence meter on each headliner:

āœ… Locked In (no movement expected)

  • QB Jaden O’Neal – Flipped from Oklahoma and hasn’t looked back. Also one of FSU’s most vocal peer recruiters.

  • WR Devin Carter – A legacy recruit who’s recruiting harder than anyone else in the class. Will be in Tallahassee for the Bama game.

  • TE Xavier Tiller – Sold on FSU’s offensive vision and actively building the class.

  • DB Chauncey Kennon – Has an FSU tattoo, gives off ā€œDerwin James vibesā€ with how solid he is.

  • DB Jay Timmons – Late flip from Indiana who’s equally locked in.

🟔 Very Firm (strong but worth watching)

  • WR Jasen Lopez – Listening to other schools but still actively recruiting for FSU.

  • DL Earnest Rankins – Great relationship with DL coach Terrance Knighton; Auburn & OSU might still test this one.

  • DB Darryl Bell – Likes the attention from Auburn but plans to be in Tallahassee for multiple games.

  • DB Tedarius Hughes – Other schools have tried, but he’s leaning all-in on FSU.

🟠 Firm (solid for now, but door not shut)

  • WR Darryon Williams – Shut it down after his OV, but Florida could circle back after missing on other WR targets.

  • LB Karon Maycock – Says he’s all Noles, but hasn’t fully ended his recruitment—could tighten up with a strong FSU season.

šŸŽÆ Big Picture
This is a deep and well-connected class, with several leaders (Carter, O’Neal) helping lock others in. A few names—Williams, Bell, Rankins—may see late pushes from SEC powers, but the Seminoles are trending toward closing this cycle strong if they start 2025 fast on the field.

šŸ”„ 10 Seminoles to Watch Closely in Fall Camp šŸ”„

With practice kicking off Wednesday, these are the players who could swing Florida State’s 2025 season if they make a statement in the next month:

1ļøāƒ£ RB Ousmane Kromah
The No. 3 RB in the 2025 class and a Georgia flip, Kromah has impressed in summer workouts. If he adjusts quickly, Gus Malzahn could hand him the feature back role as a true freshman.

2ļøāƒ£ WR Lawayne McCoy
Missed most of spring with injury, but FSU needs a second-year WR to step up. McCoy looks like the best bet to seize a bigger role opposite the transfer additions.

3ļøāƒ£ S Edwin Joseph
Flashed in limited 2024 snaps. Coaches love his instincts—fall camp will determine if he locks down a starting safety spot in Tony White’s versatile scheme.

4ļøāƒ£ DE Amaree Williams
Converted from TE to DE this offseason, Williams might be the ā€œX-factorā€ for pass rush depth behind James Williams. Can he create pressure early in camp?

5ļøāƒ£ CB Shamar Arnoux
One of the most talented DBs on the roster but still finding his maturity as a true freshman. Does he earn coaches’ trust to crack the rotation this fall?

6ļøāƒ£ TE Chase Loftin
Highly touted freshman who kept his FSU commitment intact despite last year’s struggles. Already a spring standout—can he carve out a hybrid weapon role in Malzahn’s offense?

7ļøāƒ£ CB Jeremiah Wilson
The top spring portal pickup is expected to compete for a starting spot. Can he outshine veterans like Quindarrius Jones and Ja’Bril Rawls?

8ļøāƒ£ OL Gunnar Hansen
Vandy transfer expected to anchor left tackle but missed spring with a shoulder injury. Fall camp is the first real look at whether he can stabilize the blindside.

9ļøāƒ£ DL Kevin Wynn
Highest-ranked signee in the 2025 class. Shed weight, improved his quickness, and finished spring strong. Can he earn meaningful snaps as a true freshman?

šŸ”Ÿ LB Elijah Herring
Steady portal addition who already knows this level of competition. Could be the glue for an LB room still searching for consistency.

šŸŽÆ Big Picture
Camp will answer two big questions:

  • Which newcomers can contribute immediately?

  • Who steps into leadership roles after last year’s struggles?

And that’s a wrap!

From Lottie Woad dominating the LPGA in her very first pro start to Earl Little Jr. emerging as a defensive cornerstone, the future feels bright. Add in a reshaped D-line, a rock-solid recruiting class, and the final countdown to camp—it’s clear the energy in Tallahassee is building.

Next stop? Fall camp begins Wednesday. Expect insider updates on rotations, standout freshmen, and injury reports as the Seminoles gear up for Alabama.

Until then—keep the faith, keep the fire, and stay locked in.

Go Noles,
The Chief Brief Team

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