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Yesterday’s Poll Results
Today’s Poll
Which FSU athlete from 2025-26 was the most fun to watch?
🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹
Happy Friday, Seminole! And Happy Fourth of July weekend!
Ta'Shawn Poole has a date: July 17. Xavier Chaplin comes in at No. 4 on the most important players list, and the questions around him are real. Two FSU players made the national breakout radar. And tonight, Lajae Jones takes the floor for the Warriors in the California Classic against the Lakers. A lot to cover before you head into the holiday weekend. Let's get into it.
📋 In Today's Chief Brief:
🏈 Poole Sets July 17 Date: FSU, Georgia, Tennessee 🏈 — The four-star safety finally has a date on the calendar. Both Crystal Ball predictions favor the Seminoles. Georgia is the real competition.
🏈 Chaplin at No. 4: The Most Expensive Wildcard on the Roster 🏈 — FSU's left tackle investment carries enormous weight. The PFF numbers tell a complicated story heading into fall camp.
🏈 Two FSU Players on the National Breakout Radar 🏈 — Chris Jones and Ousmane Kromah both made 247Sports' 100 lesser-known players to watch. Here's what sources inside the program said.
📊 How FSU Stacks Up: The Big 3 Recruiting Class Breakdown 📊 — Florida at No. 7, Miami at No. 3, FSU at No. 51. An honest look at where things stand and why the gap exists.
🏀 Your NBA Noles Summer League Guide 🏀 — Jones tips off TONIGHT against the Lakers. Full schedule for Jones, McCray, Wiggins, and John Butler Jr.
🏅 Looking Back: The Best of FSU's 2025-26 + Six Times Norvell Got It Right 🏅 — Before the next chapter begins, a look back at what made this year worth watching and the high school recruiting wins hiding in plain sight.
Let's dive in. 🍢
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Four-star safety Ta'Shawn Poole will announce his college decision on July 17 at 6 p.m. His finalists are Florida State, Georgia, and Tennessee. Two Crystal Ball predictions already favor the Seminoles, but Georgia's late entry into the official visit window has made this a genuine three-team race entering the final stretch.
🗣️ What Each School Has Going For It
FSU: Poole's own words: "They have done a great job of building a real relationship with me and my family. They have made me feel like a priority since day one." He came out of his June 12 official visit with the Seminoles trending clearly ahead of Tennessee. Two Crystal Ball predictions from Brendan Sonnone (who covers FSU) and Benjamin Wolk (who covers Georgia) both favor the Noles.
Georgia: The home-state pull. UGA safeties coach Travaris Robinson is an elite recruiter with a strong reputation for developing defensive backs into NFL talent. Poole said: "The best stay home. The standard is the standard, Coach T. Rob has done a phenomenal job on showing me how I fit into their system." Georgia got the final official visit window. That matters.
Tennessee: Poole was considered a Vols lean for most of the recruitment before FSU's official visit surge. "Poindexter is a great DB coach and has the pedigree of developing next-level DB." Tennessee hasn't been eliminated, but is viewed as the distant third entering the final two weeks.
📊 Why This Matters So Much
Poole is rated 93 by 247Sports and ranked No. 85 nationally. He's the No. 5 safety in the country and No. 5 overall in Georgia. He's the highest-rated prospect currently targeting FSU and would be the defining commitment of the 2027 class if he chooses the Seminoles.
FSU has no other defensive backs committed beyond Jemari Foreman. The secondary is the biggest positional gap in the class. A Poole commitment would change the entire complexion of the recruiting cycle heading into the fall.
Two weeks. July 17. Circle it.
Recruiting Reality: The Crystal Ball is pointed the right way. The relationship is real. But this is Georgia at home versus FSU after two losing seasons. The NIL package has to be competitive and the close has to be strong. If Norvell and his staff can win this one, it's the signature recruiting moment of the summer. 🍢
247Sports' most important players countdown reached No. 4 on Thursday: left tackle Xavier Chaplin. At 6-foot-8, 346 pounds, he's the anchor of the offensive line. He's also one of the most difficult players on the roster to project.
📊 The Two Versions of Chaplin
At Virginia Tech from 2023 to 2024, Chaplin grew year over year. His average PFF grade went from 65.1 to 72.6. That improvement made him one of the most coveted offensive tackles in the transfer portal and NFL teams took notice when he landed at Auburn.
At Auburn in 2025, the production slipped. His overall PFF grade dropped to 62.6. His run-blocking grade, previously a strength, fell to 56.4. Whether that was a transition to SEC-level defenders, a health issue after adding 25 pounds between 2024 and 2025, or something else isn't entirely clear.
One important detail: Chaplin's three highest-graded games of the Auburn season all came at the end of the year, when Ashton Daniels was his quarterback. That's the same Daniels who is now FSU's QB1. That's not nothing.
🔍 Why He's No. 4
The simple answer: he's a competent left tackle with 37 consecutive starts, and FSU doesn't have a real alternative. Having a proven starter at the most important position on the offensive line provides a floor for this offense that the program badly needs.
The investment FSU made to bring him in was significant. He is expected to anchor the line and give Ashton Daniels a protected blind side. Much of FSU's offensive success will hinge on whether Chaplin can return to Virginia Tech form or land somewhere close to it.
His durability is real. 37 consecutive starts through two programs in two different conferences. That alone puts him ahead of most alternatives on this roster.
Why It Matters: If Chaplin is the 72.6-grade version, FSU has a legitimate offensive anchor. If he's the 62.6 version, the line has a liability at the most critical spot. The connection to Daniels from their Auburn overlap is the most encouraging sign available heading into August. 🍢
247Sports surveyed sources across the Power Four to identify 100 lesser-known players primed for breakout seasons. Two Florida State players made the list, and the quotes from inside the program are worth knowing.
🏃 Ousmane Kromah, RB
The quote: "He could have a big year. He's grown a lot just from the mental side of the game. You could always see the physical skills with him, but last year, he didn't arrive until the summer and didn't go through spring ball and it was just a lot on him mentally trying to understand stuff like protections. Now, having gone through a season and this offseason, you can see him a lot more consistently."
The context: Kromah posted 408 yards at 5.7 per carry as a true freshman despite arriving late and missing spring ball entirely. His 40.3 percent missed tackle rate doubled the national average for freshmen. If the mental game has caught up to the physical ability, the ceiling is significant in a Norvell-run offense.
🏈 Chris Jones, LB
The quote: "I could see him having a big year. He's a really good player."
The context: Jones led the Sun Belt with 135 tackles last season at Southern Miss. He's 6-foot-1, 230 pounds and transferred to FSU to be a plug-and-play starter. The linebacker group was an "absolute disaster" by some accounts last year. Jones is the single biggest upgrade at the position.
If Tony White's defense is going to take a step forward in 2026, Jones being what his résumé suggests he can be is one of the most important variables on that side of the ball.
Why It Matters: Two of FSU's most important players for 2026 are being cited by internal sources as potential breakout performers. That's encouraging. Whether the game confirms it starting August 29th is the only thing that actually matters. 🍢
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With the summer phase of recruiting largely settled, 247Sports' Zach Blostein published a side-by-side look at Florida, Miami, and FSU's 2027 classes. The contrast is stark, and worth understanding honestly.
🏆 The Three Classes
Florida (No. 7, 67% blue-chip ratio): New head coach Jon Sumrall is off to a fast start. The crown jewel is five-star OL Maxwell Hiller, the nation's No. 2 overall prospect, who chose the Gators over Ohio State, Tennessee, and Alabama. A first-year staff landing a player like that is a significant statement. Florida is also the favorite for four-star corners Raheem Floyd and Kamauri Whitfield. 24 commits, 16 blue-chip players.
Miami (No. 3, 75% blue-chip ratio): Mario Cristobal is operating in a different tier right now. The Hurricanes have the most five-star commits in the country for this cycle: CB Donte Wright (flipped from Georgia), QB Israel Abrams, WR Nick Lennear, and Edge Jaiden Bryant (flipped from LSU). Two statement flips over SEC programs is exactly the kind of national recruiting that changes a program's trajectory. 20 commits, 15 blue-chip players.
FSU (No. 51, 38% blue-chip ratio): 13 commits, 5 blue-chip players. The honest assessment from the article: "Recruits not knowing if Norvell will remain FSU's coach for another year has made it difficult for the 'Noles to sell the long-term vision of the program to top targets." LeJeune, Green, and Miles are legitimate pieces. The class needs more. FSU went into summer expecting to invest heavily at positions of need and the results were mixed.
🔍 The Structural Context
FSU's June recruiting grade from TomahawkNation painted an honest picture: strong at DL (B+), solid at LB (B), but an F at offensive line (zero commits, one OV), an F at defensive back, and an F at tight end. Yarborough on July 11 and Poole on July 17 could move the needle at two of those positions significantly.
The blue-chip ratio gap between FSU (38%) and Miami (75%) is the widest of any comparison in recent memory between these two programs. It reflects both the on-field success disparity and the financial resource gap that has been well-documented this week.
Reality Check: The numbers are what they are. The positive framing is that FSU is not done. July still has meaningful decisions pending and the fall season will reshape everything. The honest framing is that Miami is recruiting at a level this program should aspire to, and the gap is real. The path back starts on August 29th. 🍢
Lajae Jones tips off TONIGHT in the California Classic. Four former Seminoles are playing in either the California Classic or the Las Vegas Summer League this month. Here's everything you need to know to follow them.
🏀 Tonight: Jones vs. McCray, Warriors vs. Lakers
Lajae Jones (Golden State Warriors) faces Robert McCray V (Los Angeles Lakers) tonight at 10:30 p.m. ET on Prime Video and ESPNU. That's right: two FSU alumni on opposite benches in the same game. Warriors vs. Lakers in the California Classic at Chase Center in San Francisco.
📅 Full California Classic Schedule (July 3-6)
Jones/Warriors: vs. Lakers tonight (July 3, 10:30 ET), vs. Spurs July 5 (7 ET), vs. Heat July 6 (10 ET).
McCray/Lakers: vs. Warriors tonight (July 3, 10:30 ET), vs. Heat July 5 (4:30 ET), vs. Spurs July 6 (7:30 ET).
John Butler Jr. (Milwaukee Bucks): vs. Warriors July 4 (3 ET), vs. Nets July 5 (3 ET), vs. Kings July 6 (10 ET).
📅 Las Vegas Summer League (July 9-19)
Jones/Warriors: vs. Mavericks July 9 (7 ET, ESPN), vs. Thunder July 12 (6 ET), vs. Grizzlies July 14 (7 ET, ESPN), vs. Knicks July 16 (7 ET, ESPN2).
McCray/Lakers: vs. Thunder July 10 (10 ET), vs. Mavericks July 11 (10 ET, ESPN), vs. Clippers July 14 (10 ET), vs. Bulls July 16 (6 ET).
Chauncey Wiggins (Boston Celtics): vs. Raptors July 10 (9 ET, ESPN), vs. Hornets July 12 (5 ET), vs. Hawks July 13 (6 ET), vs. Kings July 15 (8 ET).
🏀 Also in the NBA: Isaac and Watkins
Jonathan Isaac was waived and re-signed by Orlando on a veteran's minimum deal as a cap-management move. He remains a Magic and enters his 10th NBA season having appeared in 52 games last year and averaging 2.6 points.
Jamir Watkins signed a two-way contract to remain with the Washington Wizards after they declined his option and extended a qualifying offer. He averaged 7.4 points and 3.9 rebounds in 50 games as a rookie.
On the Hardwood: Four Seminoles in summer league and two more in the regular NBA rotation. The pipeline is real. Set your reminders for tonight. 🍢
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🏅📺 Looking Back: The Best of FSU's 2025-26 + Six Times Norvell Got It Right 📺🏅
Before the next chapter begins, a look back at what made this year worth watching, and a reminder that some of the most important players on next year's roster are ones Norvell recruited himself out of high school.
Shenese Walker won two national championships, swept the 60 and 100-meter titles for the first time by any ACC women's sprinter, set school and ACC records at both, and walked across the stage with a public health degree. She is heading home to Jamaica and will pursue a pro career and the 2028 Olympics.
Duce Robinson turned in FSU's 14th 1,000-yard receiving season, then chose to return for his senior year. He's leading younger receivers and hunting back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, joining Ron Sellers, Rashad Greene, and E.G. Green if he gets there.
Wes Mendes went 9-3 with a 2.81 ERA and 125 strikeouts, threw the first nine-inning complete game since 2018, and earned five All-America honors and the ACC Pitcher of the Year award. And he did it with a 4.0 GPA. The draft begins July 11.
Ashtyn Danley went 13-1 with a 2.09 ERA while also hitting .353 with 12 home runs. The two-way excellence she showed this year was one of the more remarkable individual performances across FSU athletics all season.
Myles Bailey had a .582 on-base percentage and 13 home runs in 26 games before a season-ending ankle injury. The kind of stat line that doesn't show up often at any level. He's draft-eligible July 11.
The criticism of Norvell's recruiting is real. But a look back at his best one high school recruit from each class tells a different story than the headline numbers: Mandrell Desir (2025, Freshman All-American with 6.5 sacks), Micah Danzy (2024, 20.2 yards per touch), Ja'Bril Rawls (2023, top corner), Azareye'h Thomas (2022, third-round NFL pick), Joshua Farmer (2021, fourth-round NFL pick), and Ja'Khi Douglas (2020, the most reliable receiver on the 2024 team).
That's a first-round corner, two NFL draft picks, a Freshman All-American, and two players who defined the 2023 season. The hits are there. The question has always been volume and consistency, not existence.
Sam LeJeune and Jayden Miles are the 2027 bets. Whether they join this list in three or four years depends on what happens starting this fall.
The Bigger Conversation: FSU's 2025-26 sports year had more highs than a rough football season would suggest. Two national championships across soccer and track. An ACC softball title. A baseball program producing All-Americans. A basketball program sending three players to the NBA. The Seminoles are still producing. The question is always whether football gets back to that standard. That answer begins August 29th. Have a great Fourth of July. 🍢
And that’s a wrap!
As always, thank you for making The Chief Brief part of your Friday. Happy Fourth of July weekend to you and your family.
Poole on July 17. Yarborough on July 11. Kevin Savage announces tomorrow. Jones and McCray tip off tonight on the same court. There's a lot happening in a short window. Enjoy the holiday, and we'll be back on the other side of the weekend.
Go Noles,
– The Chief
