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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Saturday Seminole!

Before you head out for your Fourth (or Fifth) of July Saturday festivities, here’s a star-spangled edition of The Chief Brief loaded with explosive recruiting updates, national draft buzz, and big-time schedule moves.

📅 FSU locks in ETSU for its 2027 home finale, rounding out a non-conference slate that starts with Georgia and ends with Florida.

🌟 2027 ATH Kamauri Whitfield lands a dream offer from Florida State — and it’s clear the ‘Noles just jumped to the top of his list.

🛠️ 5⭐ OT Mark Matthews continues to eye Tallahassee — and his Week 1 visit for FSU-Bama could prove pivotal in landing one of the top linemen in America.

⚾ Jamie Arnold climbs mock draft boards, now projected No. 8 overall in 2025. He’s one of six FSU stars in MLB’s Top 250 prospects.

🏈🏀 Two-sport dynamo Calvin Russell makes his college decision this weekend. FSU remains in striking distance for the five-star wideout and shooting guard.

So whether you’re watching fireworks or watching tape, we’ve got the updates that matter — because in Tallahassee, the real sparks are flying on the recruiting trail.

Let’s dive in.

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📅 FSU Adds ETSU to 2027 Football Schedule 📅

Florida State has finalized its 2027 non-conference slate with the addition of East Tennessee State University, an FCS program coached by Will Healy.

🗓️ Game Details:
• Date: Saturday, November 20, 2027
• Location: Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, FL
• First-ever meeting between FSU and ETSU
• Payout: $525,000 guarantee to ETSU (via open records request)

🏈 Non-Conference Slate for 2027:
• vs. Georgia (Sept. 4, season opener)
• vs. TBD
• vs. ETSU (Nov. 20, final home game)
• at Florida (Nov. 27, season finale)

🔑 Bottom Line:
FSU wraps its home schedule in 2027 with a tune-up against ETSU — sandwiched between a heavyweight opener (Georgia) and a rivalry finale (Florida).

👉 Full 2027 schedule outlook here.

🌟 Dream Offer: 2027 ATH Kamauri Whitfield Lands FSU 🌟

Florida State has officially entered the mix for one of Florida’s fastest-rising 2027 prospects — and this one hits different. Kamauri Whitfield, a dynamic two-way standout from Orlando First Academy, landed a dream offer after working out in Tallahassee on June 15.

📍 Player Snapshot:
• 2027 ATH | Orlando (FL) First Academy
• More than 25 new offers in 2024
• Projects as a DB at the next level

🗣️ Whitfield on FSU:
• “Way different... FSU is my dream school.”
• “From going to games as a kid to watching them last year — they’ve always been my favorite.”
• Offer came directly from Mike Norvell

🔭 What’s Next:
• Florida and Nebraska had early traction, but FSU will now “vault up” his list
• No timeline for a decision — visits and offers still piling up

🔑 Bottom Line:
FSU is in prime position with Whitfield — a passionate, versatile athlete whose admiration for the ‘Noles goes back to childhood. If the staff stays engaged, this one could trend Garnet and Gold down the line.

👉 More on Whitfield’s offer and recruitment here.

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🛠️ 5⭐ OT Mark Matthews High on FSU Early 🛠️

One of the crown jewels of the 2027 class is already watching Florida State closely. Five-star offensive tackle Mark Matthews (St. Thomas Aquinas) is rated the No. 15 overall player and No. 3 OT nationally by 247Sports — and FSU is firmly in the mix.

📍 Recruitment Snapshot:
• 6’6”, 300 lbs | Fort Lauderdale (FL) | 2027
• No. 3 OT | No. 15 overall (247 Composite)
• FSU and Florida leading early communication since June 15

🗣️ On FSU:
• “Coach Hand’s a good coach… I could see him coaching me one day.”
• Attended spring practice, plans to visit for FSU vs. Alabama in Week 1
• Interested in seeing how FSU’s transfer-heavy OL holds up vs. Bama

🔬 Scouting Report (via 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins):
• Long, athletic frame with elite twitch and body control
• Still raw technically, but shows rare foot speed and balance
• High ceiling: “Could emerge as one of the top OL prospects to ever come out of South Florida”

📆 Decision Timeline:
• Official visits planned to FSU, UF, Miami, Tennessee, Nebraska, and Oregon
• Targeting a commitment by mid-2025

🔑 Bottom Line:
FSU has a legit shot to land one of the most physically gifted tackles in the country. If Coach Hand’s line performs well this fall — especially in Week 1 — the ‘Noles could be setting the stage for a blue-chip offensive haul.

👉 Full scouting report and visit schedule here.

⚾ Jamie Arnold Projected Top 10 Pick in MLB Draft ⚾

Florida State ace Jamie Arnold is soaring up draft boards — the latest MLB.com mock has the All-American lefty going No. 8 overall to the Toronto Blue Jays.

🎯 Mock Draft Update:
• Projected No. 8 pick to Toronto (via Jim Callis, MLB.com)
• Ranked No. 4 overall draft prospect for 2025
• Would be FSU’s first 1st-round pitcher since Luke Weaver (2014)

📈 2025 Season by the Numbers:
• 8–2 | 2.98 ERA | 119 Ks in 84.2 IP | .208 BAA | 1.06 WHIP
• 6-time All-American | First Team All-ACC | Golden Spikes semifinalist

🏆 Awards & Recognition:
• ACC Pitcher of the Week (April 14)
• Southeast All-Region First Team (ABCA)
• National Pitcher of the Year Watch List
• Tallahassee Regional MOP

📚 Career Stats at FSU:
• 21–10 record | 3.61 ERA | 327 Ks in 234.1 IP | .227 career BAA

🧢 Other FSU Prospects in Top 250:
• SS Alex Lodise (No. 43)
• OF Max Williams (No. 81)
• RHP Cam Leiter (No. 114)
• 2B Drew Faurot (No. 158)
• LHP Joey Volini (No. 216)

🔑 Bottom Line:
Arnold’s rise caps one of the most decorated careers for an FSU pitcher in recent memory — and his top-10 stock confirms it. He’ll hear his name called early on July 13th during MLB All-Star Week in Atlanta.

👉 Full mock draft and prospect rankings here.

🏈🏀 5⭐ Two-Sport Star Calvin Russell Sets Commitment Date 🏀🏈

One of Florida’s top multi-sport athletes is set to make his college decision — five-star WR/SG Calvin Russell will announce his commitment on Saturday, his birthday.

📍 Final Four:

1. Michigan (favorite)

2. Florida State

3. Oregon

4. Syracuse

🔍 The Latest:
• Michigan leads due to strong ties in both football and basketball — especially with new hoops coach Dusty May.
• Russell’s agent (also repping 5⭐ QB Brady Smigiel) visited with him in Ann Arbor last month.
• FSU remains in striking distance — WR coach Tim Harris Jr. has done excellent work in South Florida and Tallahassee offers a more convenient in-state option.
• Oregon has hosted Russell three times but seems to be trailing due to NIL alignment and waning buzz.
• Syracuse has faded late in the cycle despite earlier momentum.

🎯 Why It Matters:
Russell wants to play both football and basketball at the next level — and FSU has proven it’s open to the two-sport path. Still, Michigan holds the edge heading into Saturday.

🔑 Bottom Line:
FSU is the dark horse here, and a surprise win would give the ‘Noles a dynamic playmaker with rare two-sport star power. Either way, Russell’s decision will shape the top of the 2026 recruiting class.

👉 Decision tracker and full scouting analysis here.

And that’s a wrap!

As the nation celebrates independence, FSU is lighting its own fuse — stacking blue-chip recruits, generating top-10 draft buzz, and building a roster that could erupt this fall. Whether you’re on a beach, at the grill, or checking your phone between fireworks bursts — remember: the real boom might come on Saturdays this season.

Stay safe, stay proud, and as always — Go ‘Noles!