🏹 July 8th - The Chief Brief 🏹

On-Campus Excellence, Off-Field Moves, and a Video Game Victory Lap

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The Chief
July 08, 2025

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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Tuesday, Seminole!

Here’s what’s in store for you on the day of the long-awaited CFB 26 video game release:

📚 Academic Standouts, Recruiting Races, and Digital Dominance 📚
A look at Florida State’s brightest in the classroom, boldest on the recruiting trail, and best bets in EA Sports’ College Football 26.

🎾 FSU Tennis Earns High Marks
Eleven Seminoles — five women, six men — earned All-ACC Academic honors, with some pairing it with standout seasons on the court.

🏈 Commitments on the Clock
Four-star OT Wilson Zierer and EDGE Katrell Webb are closing in on decisions, with Florida State in the thick of both races.

🎮 Video Game Glory?
CFB 26 player ratings are out — and Jeremiah Wilson headlines a roster built for speed. One simulated season even ends with a 10-win campaign.

Let’s dive in.

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🎓🎾 5 Noles Named to All-ACC Academic Team 🎾🎓

Florida State Women’s Tennis continues to shine both on and off the court — five Seminoles were named to the 2025 All-ACC Academic Team on Monday.

🏅 Honorees:
• Millie Bissett (Jr.) – 3rd career All-ACC Academic honor; CSC Academic All-District
• Tina Li (Jr.) – 1st All-ACC Academic honor; CSC Academic All-District
• Laura Putz (So.) – 2nd straight All-ACC Academic honor; CSC Academic All-District
• Eva Shaw (So.) – 1st Academic nod; also earned All-ACC in singles/doubles + ITA Most Improved
• Mary Boyce Deatherage (Fr.) – 1st career All-ACC Academic honor

📚 Criteria:
• 3.0 GPA last semester & cumulative
• Must compete in 50% of matches

🔑 Bottom Line:
Bissett becomes just the 7th Nole to earn All-ACC Academic honors three times — and Shaw’s all-around rise makes her one to watch heading into 2025.

📚🎾 6 FSU Men’s Tennis Players Earn All-ACC Academic Honors 🎾📚

Florida State men’s tennis continues to lead in the classroom — six Seminoles were named to the 2025 All-ACC Academic Team, announced Monday.

🏅 Honorees:
• Alex Bulte (Sr.) – All-ACC Academic + Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award
• Corey Craig (So.) – All-ACC Academic + ITA National Most Improved Player
• Azariah Rusher (So.) – All-ACC Academic + CSC Academic All-District
• Erik Schiessl (So.) – First-time All-ACC Academic; 7–1 in ACC play
• Jan Sebesta (Fr.) – All-ACC Academic in collegiate debut
• Youcef Rihane (Sr.) – 2× All-ACC Academic; finished No. 18 in doubles rankings with Bulte

📚 Criteria:
• 3.0 GPA (semester + cumulative)
• Must play in at least 50% of matches

🔑 Bottom Line:
With standout student-athletes and leaders like Craig, Bulte, and Rihane, FSU’s men’s tennis program is setting a standard on the court and in the classroom.

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⏳ OT Target Wilson Zierer Nearing Commitment — But Still Weighing Options ⏳

Four-star offensive tackle Wilson Zierer is back home in Germany mulling one of the biggest decisions of his life — and FSU remains firmly in the mix.

🧠 Decision Timeline:
• Could commit this week or wait up to four more weeks
• Finalists: Florida State, Alabama, Auburn
• Back in the U.S. on July 23 — no set commitment date

📍 FSU Pitch:
• Gus Malzahn recruited his brother to Auburn — strong family ties
• Offered by FSU just days after Malzahn’s hiring
• Building a tight relationship with Malzahn, OL coach Herb Hand, and Mike Norvell

🧱 Zierer Snapshot:
• 6’6”, 280 lbs | Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School (GA)
• No. 2 OT target on FSU’s board
• Known for polished footwork, agility, and upside as a blindside protector

💬 Zierer on FSU:

“We have a special connection because of my brother... I really like the staff and the culture at Florida State.”

🔑 Bottom Line:
FSU has done everything right — now it’s a waiting game. With Auburn’s family ties and Bama’s pedigree also in play, Zierer’s decision will come down to feel, fit, and trust.

🧨 EDGE Target Katrell Webb Sets Commitment Date for This Weekend 🧨

Three-star JACK linebacker Katrell Webb is closing in on a decision — with Florida State, Indiana, and Purdue still in the running.

📆 Decision Details:
• Date: Saturday, July 12 or Sunday, July 13
• Finalists: Florida State, Indiana, Purdue
• Delayed original July 4 decision to weigh fit, relationships, and system match

🧠 Why FSU’s in a Strong Spot:
• Longest-standing relationship: “I’ve been rocking with them for a minute.”
• Recruited since his sophomore year by Mike Norvell
• Ties to Herb Hand and Gus Malzahn, who recruited him as early as 8th grade
• Feels most comfortable with FSU staff: “That’s the best relationship out of those three.”

🧱 Player Profile:
• 6’3”, 235 lbs | Collins Hill (GA)
• Versatile EDGE with the athleticism to stand up or rush from a three-point stance
• No. 50 EDGE nationally (247 Composite)

🎯 What Matters Most to Webb:
• System fit and freedom to “be myself”
• NIL is equal across all three programs
• Wants a “non-recruiting relationship” that carries on post-commitment

🔑 Bottom Line:
This will come down to trust and scheme, and FSU checks both boxes. If the ‘Noles can seal the deal, they’ll land a much-needed JACK linebacker with strong upside and even stronger loyalty.

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🎮 CFB 26 Roster Revealed: Who’s Rated Highest on FSU’s Squad? 🎮

The official College Football 26 roster for Florida State has dropped — and there’s a lot to unpack.

🏆 Who Tops the Charts?
• CB Jeremiah Wilson — 90 overall (lone Seminole in the 90s)
• RT Micah Pettus — 89
• DT Darrell Jackson — 89
• S Shyheim Brown — 88
• C Luke Petitbon — 85
• WR Squirrel White — 85
• QB Tommy Castellanos — 83 (up 2 points from leaked build)

🔥 Other Notables:
• Duce Robinson, James Williams, Roydell Williams, and Elijah Herring all check in at 83
• Jaylin Lucas: 92 Speed, 93 Agility, 94 Acceleration — dynamite backfield weapon
• Caziah Holmes: Fastest back on the team at 94 Speed

🚨 Not Included:
• Freshman RB Ousmane Kromah surprisingly missing
• No Landen Thomas or Desir twins
• Camdon Frier: 94 Speed but just 66 overall — sneaky fun Dynasty pick

💡 Gameplay Highlights:
• Castellanos is a blast to run with: 90+ Speed/Agility/Acceleration, but Deep Accuracy is limited
• Squirrel White is the go-to WR — elite across all speed metrics
• Darrell Jackson will dominate as a pass rusher: 95 Strength, 91 Block Shed, 89 Power Moves
• Amaree Williams is fun on passing downs with 87 Finesse and 83 Change of Direction

⚠️ Position Struggles:
• LB group lacks speed (none over 84)
• TE options are slow (Randy Pittman tops at 82 speed)
• Secondary depth limited to Wilson, Bates, Little Jr., and Hussey for 90+ speed

🧱 Freshman Standouts:
• DT Kevin Wynn: 79 overall, early Dynasty cornerstone
• QB Kevin Sperry: 73 overall, 91 Throw Power
• Ethan Pritchard: 84 speed at LB — long-term upside
• CB Zae Thomas: 75 overall, might convert to safety

🔑 Bottom Line:
If you’re rolling with FSU in Dynasty Mode, you’ve got elite top-end talent, speed in the backfield, and a dynamic QB1 in Castellanos — but you’ll need to build up the linebackers and tight ends. Let the rebuild begin.

🎮 Sim Season Recap: FSU Goes 10–3 in CFB 26 Dynasty Mode 🎮

With College Football 26 finally here, one fan jumped into Dynasty Mode, simulated the entire 2025 season, and gave us a sneak peek at how the ‘Noles might fare this fall. Spoiler alert: it’s a rollercoaster.

🏈 Final Record: 10–3
🏆 Bowl Game: 38–37 win vs. Louisiana (Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl)
📊 Final Ranking: No. 24
📍 ACC Finish: 4th place (6–2 conference record)

🔥 Highlights:
• Biggest win: 40–37 over No. 10 Alabama to open the season
• Worst loss: 52–17 vs. Florida in the regular-season finale
• Top offensive star: Tommy Castellanos — over 3,500 yards passing & 28 total TDs
• Top defensive stars: James Williams (multiple multi-sack games), Omar Graham Jr. (14 tackles vs. VT), Darrell Jackson (dominant vs. Stanford)

💡 Breakout Names:
• Roydell Williams: 1,000+ yards and 10+ TDs on the ground
• Duce Robinson & Squirrel White: Reliable 1–2 punch in the passing game
• Randy Pittman Jr.: Finished 11th in Mackey Award voting
• Blake Nichelson & Edwin Joseph: Emerging defensive anchors

📉 Midseason Slump:
• After starting 8–0, FSU lost back-to-back games to Clemson and Virginia Tech
• Missed the ACC title game as Clemson topped Duke in the conference championship

🔑 Bottom Line:
It’s only a simulation — but a 10-win season, a win over Alabama, and a thrilling bowl victory feels like a version of the bounce-back Seminole fans are hoping for. The weapons are there. Now let’s see what real life brings.

And that’s a wrap!

Whether it’s five-star commits, perfect GPAs, or pixelated glory, FSU is stacking wins in every arena. With big recruiting decisions just days away, next week’s headlines could get even juicier.

Keep your eyes on the JACK spot, and maybe dust off that Dynasty Mode — the bounce-back energy is real.

— Chief

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