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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy hump day, Seminole!

Here’s what’s cooking in Tallahassee:

🏀 FSU vs. Florida Set for Nov. 11 Showdown
Luke Loucks’ first crack at the Gators is officially on the calendar. The ‘Noles head to Gainesville this fall in one of college basketball’s fiercest rivalries.

💥 Myles Bailey Goes 3-for-3 on Freshman All-America Teams
The slugging first baseman adds another accolade to his stellar debut season — Bailey is now a consensus Freshman All-American.

🌀 Duke Reliever Gabe Nard Joins FSU Bullpen
A ground-ball machine with three years of ACC experience, Nard brings serious late-inning potential to Link Jarrett’s staff.

🧱 4⭐ DL Earnest Rankins Trending FSU Ahead of Decision
The 6’6”, 285-pound Georgia product announces his commitment July 2 — and the Seminoles are in pole position.

🦅 FSU Flips 2027 Tight End Connor Winn from Rutgers
The Jacksonville native gives the ‘Noles an early head start at a crucial position — with serious upside in the passing game.

🧠 Deep Dive: What to Expect from FSU’s 2025 Offense
A full breakdown of the revamped attack — from Castellanos’ ceiling to Kromah’s upside and everything in between. Floor: raised. Ceiling: tbd.

Let’s get into it.

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🏀 FSU Hoops to Face Florida in Gainesville on Nov. 11 🏀

The Seminoles will head to enemy territory this fall as part of their non-conference schedule — FSU men’s basketball is set to play Florida at the O’Connell Center on November 11, 2025.

🔍 Series Snapshot:
• FSU has won 7 of the last 11 vs. UF
• 3 of the last 5 wins have come in Gainesville
• First matchup under new head coach Luke Loucks

🗓️ More Details:
• Tipoff time and TV info still TBD
• Rivalry dates back to 1951 and has been played annually since 1978

🔑 Bottom Line:
Coach Loucks’ first rivalry game comes early — and on the road. The Seminoles will look to regain momentum in one of college basketball’s most heated in-state battles.

👉 Full non-conference schedule coming soon.

💥 Myles Bailey Named Freshman All-American (x3) 💥

Florida State first baseman Myles Bailey has officially been named a Freshman First Team All-American by D1Baseball, joining previous honors from Perfect Game and Baseball America — a clean sweep of first-team recognition.

📈 Bailey’s Accolades:
• First FSU Freshman All-American since 2022
• First with 3+ first-team honors since Cal Raleigh (2016)
• Also named to the ACC All-Freshman & All-Tournament Teams

📊 Season Stats:
• .327 AVG | 19 HR (No. 2 in ACC) | .663 SLG | 56 RBI | .990 FLD%
• Started 56 games at 1B | Selected for USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Training Camp

🔑 Bottom Line:
Bailey’s breakout campaign helped power FSU to its best season in over a decade — and he’s just getting started.

👉 Full list of postseason honors and stats here.

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🌀 Duke Transfer Gabe Nard Commits to FSU 🌀

Florida State continues to reinforce its bullpen through the portal, landing veteran Duke reliever Gabe Nard — one of the most experienced arms in the ACC.

📍 Player Profile:
• 5’11”, 190 lbs | RHP | Shaker Heights, OH
• 3 seasons at Duke | 80 career appearances (77 in relief)
• 120.2 career IP | 4.10 ERA | 103 Ks

📈 Year-by-Year Snapshot:
• 2023: 25 IP | 5.76 ERA
• 2024: 45 IP | 2.60 ERA | .253 OBA | 34 Ks
• 2025: 50.2 IP | 4.62 ERA | 45 Ks | 1.30 WHIP

⚾ Pitch Arsenal:
• Sinker: Up to 95 MPH with heavy downward action
• Slider: Sweeper in low 80s
• Changeup: Used sparingly to keep hitters honest
• Elite ground ball specialist — 61.5% GB rate in career (70.7% as a freshman)

🔑 Bottom Line:
Nard brings reliability, high-leverage experience, and a ground-ball machine profile to Link Jarrett’s bullpen. If he can tighten command, he could be a valuable late-inning weapon in 2025.

👉 Full transfer profile and advanced metrics here.

🧱 4⭐ DL Earnest Rankins Trending Toward FSU Ahead of Decision 🧱

Florida State could be closing in on a major trench addition. Four-star defensive lineman Earnest Rankins is set to announce his commitment on Wednesday, July 2 — and the Seminoles are trending in a big way.

📍 Recruitment Snapshot:
• 6’6”, 285 lbs | Southwest DeKalb (GA)
• No. 111 overall | No. 17 DL in 2026 (247Sports)
• Official Visits: FSU, Auburn, Purdue
• Finalists: FSU vs. Auburn — with Georgia and Ohio State lurking early

🗣️ Rankins on FSU:
• “Very eye-opening... Florida State is very high-energy. I like it.”
• Praised the team chemistry and culture during June 6–8 official visit

🎯 Fit & Impact:
• DL coach Terrance Knighton leading the charge
• Seen as a versatile piece who can play across the front
• Would join 3 current DL commits in 2026 class (Crittendon, Carrington, Cadeau)

🔑 Bottom Line:
Rankins’ blend of size, motor, and versatility makes him a major target — and FSU is in a strong spot heading into decision day. A commitment would further cement the ‘Noles’ momentum on the defensive front.

👉 Live commitment tracker and 247 Crystal Ball prediction here.

🦅 2027 3⭐ TE Connor Winn Commits to Florida State 🦅

Florida State has landed its first tight end commitment in the 2027 cycle — flipping in-state prospect Connor Winn from Rutgers.

📍 Prospect Snapshot:
• 6’3”, 235 lbs | Bartram Trail HS (Jacksonville, FL)
• No. 34 TE in 2027 class (247Sports)
• Previously committed to Rutgers (July 2024–June 2025)

🗣️ Why FSU:
• Earned offer after June camp visit
• “After some conversation about how they planned to use me, the decision was made pretty quickly.”
• Also visited for spring practice in April

📈 On the Field:
• Missed 2024 season due to a foot injury
• Returned this spring with 8 catches, 136 yards, 1 TD
• Averaged 37 yards per catch as a freshman

🔑 Bottom Line:
Winn’s upside is real — a local playmaker with size and athleticism. The ‘Noles get ahead of the 2027 cycle by securing a versatile weapon who could thrive in FSU’s evolving TE room.

👉 More on Winn’s commitment and highlights here.

🧠 Deep Dive: How FSU’s 2025 Offense Is (and Isn’t) Built to Work 🧠

We’re 60 days out from kickoff, and while there’s still a ton of mystery surrounding FSU’s 2025 squad, one thing is clear: the offense is a total reset. Two new coordinators, six new assistants, nearly 50 new players — and the pressure’s on to prove it was all worth it.

🏈 QB: Confidence & Concern
• Tommy Castellanos is the likely starter — a creative athlete with big-play ability and big accuracy questions (lowest Power 4 accuracy rate over past two seasons at 49.9%).
• Backup Brock Glenn hasn’t progressed much. Freshman Kevin Sperry could be the surprise here — he’s got more tools than expected and could push for reps.

🧪 RB: Kromah or Committee?
• 5⭐ freshman Ousmane Kromah is “the guy” if ready — freakish athlete with elite upside.
• Veterans Roydell Williams and Gavin Sawchuk offer experience but come with durability and production questions.
• Kam Davis, Samuel Singleton, and Jaylin Lucas round out a crowded room that needs a pecking order ASAP.

📡 WR: Two Dangerous Weapons, Then What?
• Duce Robinson (19.2 YPR) and Squirrel White (elite speed, strong YAC numbers) are your top threats — both capable of breaking games open.
• Freshman Jayvan Boggs is steady but limited physically. Gavin Blackwell and Lawayne McCoy round out a group that’s high on potential but short on proven depth.

🧱 TE: Pittman the Anchor, Loftin the Sleeper
• Randy Pittman Jr. is the clear TE1 — physical, efficient, and dangerous after the catch.
• Markeston Douglas is back but needs to prove he can block consistently.
• Freshman Chase Loftin has flashed in camp and could be a matchup problem by midseason.

🛠️ OL: From Atrocious to Acceptable?
• Four transfers with starting experience (Hansen, Pettus, Medley, Petitbon) give this group a new look and much-needed heft (average 320 lbs).
• Depth, cohesion, and injury concerns remain — but it can’t get worse than last year, right?

🔑 Bottom Line:
FSU’s 2025 offense isn’t built to be elite — but it could be functional. If Castellanos limits mistakes and Kromah pops, this team could sneak into the top 40 offensively. The floor is raised, the ceiling is capped… and the countdown is officially on.

👉 Full position-by-position outlook and stat breakdowns here.

And that’s a wrap!

Thanks for riding with us today. Between Myles Bailey’s historic freshman campaign, key portal pickups, and the countdown to Bama now under 60 days, the vibes are building.

We’ll be tracking every commitment, camp standout, and roster shakeup all summer long — so keep checking in.

Until next time,
— Chief