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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Thursday, Seminole!

It’s a good day to be a Nole — from landing the top commit in the 2026 class to MLB All-Star recognition and ACC breakout buzz, the summer heat isn’t slowing FSU’s momentum one bit.

🧱 Trenches Reloaded — Four-star DL Earnest Rankins commits to Florida State, becoming the crown jewel of the 2026 class (for now).

⚾ Portal Plug-In — Former Arkansas infielder Gabe Fraser brings pop, pedigree, and three years of eligibility to FSU Baseball.

🏀 Recruiting Momentum — FSU enters the mix for rising Sunshine State wing Herly Brutus, who’s drawing attention with his length and motor.

🌟 Cal Club — Former Seminole slugger Cal Raleigh is officially an All-Star Game starter and home run derby participant — while chasing records only Griffey and Bonds have touched.

🚀 Breakout Watch — Jaylin Lucas lands on 247Sports’ ACC Breakout Player list. If he stays healthy, defenses won’t.

🛡️ Defensive Wild Card — Tony White’s 2025 defense could be great, chaotic, or both. A full position-by-position breakdown awaits.

Let’s get into it.

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🧱 FSU Lands 4⭐ DL Earnest Rankins — Now No. 1 in 2026 Class 🧱

Florida State just added serious firepower to its future defensive front. Four-star lineman Earnest Rankins has officially committed to the Seminoles, choosing FSU over Auburn, Ohio State, Georgia, and Purdue.

📍 Commitment Snapshot:
• 6’6”, 285 lbs | Decatur (GA) Southwest DeKalb
• No. 111 overall | No. 17 DL nationally (247Sports)
• Becomes FSU’s highest-rated commit in the 2026 class

🗣️ Why FSU?
• “It gave me that feeling… a team that comes from the bottom. I want to be part of that story.”
• Cited strong bonds with Mike Norvell, Terrance Knighton, and the full D-line staff

🎯 Scheme Fit:
• Expected to play between the 3-tech and 5-tech spots
• Has the size for the interior and the burst to set the edge — a true chess piece on the line

🔑 Bottom Line:
FSU’s red-hot June recruiting run rolls into July — and Rankins’ commitment is a tone-setter. The staff sees him as a foundational piece in the trenches, and now the rest of the 2026 board builds around him.

👉 Full commitment Q&A and scouting profile here.

⚾ Arkansas INF Transfer Gabe Fraser Commits to FSU ⚾

Florida State Baseball has landed another promising young piece from the portal — Arkansas infielder Gabe Fraser is headed to Tallahassee.

📍 Player Snapshot:
• 6’2”, 190 lbs | LHH | Westminster, CA (Orange Lutheran)
• No. 144 overall recruit in 2024 (Perfect Game)
• 28 games, 13 starts as a true freshman at Arkansas (2024 CWS Final Four)

📊 2024 Stats:
• .250 AVG | .704 OPS | 1 HR (grand slam) | 12 RBI | 14 R | 2 SB
• .950 fielding % across 40 chances | Played 2B and 3B

⏳ Looking Ahead:
• 3 years of eligibility remaining
• Not draft-eligible until 2027

🔑 Bottom Line:
Fraser brings lefty pop, high-level experience, and infield versatility. With elite prep pedigree and three full seasons ahead, he’s a long-term piece with breakout potential for Link Jarrett’s squad.

👉 More on Fraser’s transfer and 2024 CWS experience here.

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🏀 FSU Enters Mix for 4⭐ SF Herly Brutus 🏀

Florida State men’s basketball is making moves on the recruiting trail — and Sunshine State wing Herly Brutus is firmly on the radar. The 6’5”, 185-pound small forward from The Villages Charter is the No. 118 overall prospect in the country, per 247Sports.

📍 Recruitment Snapshot:
• Offered by FSU this summer under new HC Luke Loucks
• Also considering Mississippi State and South Florida
• Known for elite length, motor, and two-way upside

🗣️ Brutus on FSU:
• “It felt really good coming from Coach Fly… they’ve been doing a good job of recruiting me. Being in-state is really good.”

🔜 What’s Next:
• Could visit Tallahassee as early as this week (unofficial)
• No set timeline for a decision — academics will play a big role

🔑 Bottom Line:
Brutus is a high-upside, in-state prospect — and FSU’s timely offer may have shaken up his recruitment. If the ‘Noles can build on early momentum, they could become serious contenders.

👉 More on Brutus’ recruitment and visit plans here.

🌟 Cal Raleigh Named AL All-Star Game Starter 🌟

Former Seminole great Cal Raleigh is headed to the Midsummer Classic — and not just as a participant. The Seattle Mariners slugger has been named the starting catcher for the American League, his first career All-Star selection.

📈 Historic Honors:
• First Mariners catcher named to ASG since 1996 (Dan Wilson)
• First Mariner to start since 2015 (Nelson Cruz)
• Will also compete in the 2025 Home Run Derby

🔥 By the Numbers:
• 33 HR (leads MLB) | 71 RBI | .272 AVG | 1.024 OPS
• 5.6 WAR (Fangraphs) — on pace for most ever by a catcher
• 3 HR shy of tying Ken Griffey Jr.’s Mariners record before ASB

🔁 FSU Legacy:
• 193 career starts in Garnet & Gold (2016–18)
• 32 career homers at FSU — just one shy of what he’s already hit this season

🔑 Bottom Line:
Raleigh’s breakout season has become one for the history books — and FSU fans can proudly claim one of MLB’s most powerful bats as their own.

👉 More records, highlights, and Derby coverage here.

🚀 Jaylin Lucas Named ACC Breakout Player for 2025 🚀

With the college football season around the corner, media across the country are spotlighting under-the-radar players set to explode — and Florida State's Jaylin Lucas just made that list.

🏃 Player Profile:
• 5'9", 175 lbs | Redshirt Sophomore
• Former All-American returner at Indiana
• Transferred to FSU in 2024 but suffered season-ending injury in Week 2

🎯 Why the Buzz:
• “Dynamic playmaker” per team sources
• Expected to be used all over the field: RB, slot receiver, return specialist
• 3 career kickoff return TDs and 101 touches in 2023 at Indiana

🔍 Insider Quote:

🔑 Bottom Line:
Lucas brings elite burst, versatility, and open-field electricity to the Seminoles’ offense. If he stays healthy, he could be one of the most exciting playmakers in the ACC this season.

👉 Full list of projected breakout players here.

🛡️ FSU's 2025 Defense: Chaos, Potential, and Tony White’s Wild Card 🛡️

We know what Florida State might be on offense. But on defense? It’s a swirling, shape-shifting experiment — and that’s exactly what makes it fun.

🏗️ Scheme Reset:
• Tony White’s 3-high safety scheme prioritizes tackling, gap control, and disguise
• Top 15 nationally in tackle grade, pressure with 4 or fewer, and YPC before contact at Nebraska
• Designed to limit big plays while staying unpredictable

🔍 Position-by-Position Highlights:

💪 Interior DL:
• Darrell Jackson Jr. anchors the unit — explosive strength with high potential in two-gap system
• Daniel Lyons, Deante McCray, and KJ Sampson all offer intrigue but need consistency
• Two freshmen (Wynn and Desir) could carve out early run-stopping roles

🔥 Edge:
• James Williams is the surefire starter — elite speed, but run defense is TBD
• Jayson Jenkins (if healthy) could be the every-down complement
• McCray and Diggs offer versatile depth; Amaree Williams could be a pass-rush specialist

♟️ Jack (Hybrid DE/LB):
• Will rotate heavily — includes players from Edge, LB, and even DB corps
• Names like Graham, Cryer, and Thompson all saw time there in spring

🎯 Linebacker:
• Deepest unit with Elijah Herring, Omar Graham Jr., Juice Cryer, Blake Nichelson
• Lacks star power, but high floor and reliability expected week to week

🧱 Cornerback:
• Syracuse transfer Jeremiah Wilson elevates the group as the likely CB1
• Ja’Bril Rawls emerged in spring as a potential starter
• Youth wave behind them (Lester, Howard, Bates, Knight) gives FSU long-term upside

🔒 Safety:
• Edwin Joseph, Shyheim Brown, and Earl Little Jr. are the projected leaders — all have talent, none are proven
• Behind them: rangy athletes like KJ Kirkland and Conrad Hussey pushing for roles
• Most volatile position in the system — could make or break the defense

🔑 Bottom Line:
There’s no other way to put it — FSU’s defense in 2025 is a fascinating gamble. If key athletes pop (Jackson, Williams, Joseph), this unit could quietly become one of the better ones in the ACC. If not? The variance is real. Either way, Tony White’s first season in Tallahassee will be a thrilling test of scheme, versatility, and personnel fit.

👉 Full breakdown and scheme analysis here.

And that’s a wrap!

That’s it for today — a four-star DL commitment, an MLB All-Star starter, and a defense full of boom-or-bust potential. July is off to a strong start. See you back here tomorrow as we creep one day closer to kickoff.

Go Noles. Stay sharp. And don’t bet against the chaos.

— Chief