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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Thursday, Seminole!
Big honors, bigger questions, and a few sneak peeks into fall Saturdays. Here’s what’s coming your way:

⚾ Arnold & Lodise Make More History
FSU’s pitching and slugging stars just doubled their All-America accolades — and locked in legendary seasons.

⛳ Weaver Heads to Oakmont with Koepka & Berger
A rising star joins two Nole legends at the U.S. Open.

⚾ MLB Draft Looms: Who’s Staying, Who’s Signing?
The baseball roster tracker is heating up with draft buzz, transfers, and elite freshmen.

🧠 Zach Arnett Joins FSU’s Defensive Think Tank
The former Mississippi State head coach adds SEC firepower to Tony White’s staff.

🕒 Florida Showdown Time Window Announced
The Noles vs. Gators won’t be at noon — here’s when to block your calendar.

📦 2026 Recruiting: Locked, Solid, or Shaky?
One commit is trending toward a flip, another feels firm. We break down where each pledge stands heading into a crucial month.

📍Plus: A quick shoutout to Groupon — your passport to smarter summer travel (with room in the budget for more Seminole Saturdays).

Let’s dive in.

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Wherever you roam, Groupon is your companion for more fun at a fraction of the cost.

⚾ Arnold & Lodise Double Down on All-America Honors ⚾

Florida State baseball’s dynamic duo of Jamie Arnold and Alex Lodise just added another accolade to their growing trophy cases — both were named First Team All-Americans by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), marking their second national honor this week.

🏅 Back-to-Back Brilliance:
• Arnold and Lodise were also named Perfect Game First Team All-Americans on Tuesday.
• It’s the second straight year Arnold has earned All-America nods across multiple publications.
• FSU is the only ACC program with multiple players on the NCBWA First Team.

📊 Jamie Arnold (LHP, Jr.)
• 8–2 | 2.98 ERA | 119 K | 0.208 opponent BA
• Top-10 nationally in strikeouts
• ACC Pitcher of the Week, Golden Spikes & Howser semifinalist
• Team captain and Tallahassee Regional MVP

🔥 Alex Lodise (SS, Jr.)
• .394 AVG | 17 HR | 68 RBI | .705 SLG
• ACC Player & Defensive Player of the Year
• 31 multi-hit games, 7 game-winning hits
• Historic cycle + walk-off grand slam vs. UF

🧢 The Legacy Continues:
This marks the first time since 1997–99 that FSU has produced multiple First Team All-Americans in back-to-back years. With both players leading the Noles to a Super Regional berth and now raking in postseason recognition, their 2025 campaigns won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

👉 Full list of NCBWA honorees and Arnold/Lodise career highlights here.

⛳ Tyler Weaver Joins Koepka & Berger at U.S. Open ⛳

Florida State’s Tyler Weaver is about to tee off on the biggest stage in golf.

The rising junior will join FSU alums Brooks Koepka and Daniel Berger at the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club from June 12–15, one of only eight college players in the field of 156.

📅 Tee Times:
• Thursday (Round 1):
 – Weaver: 2:31 PM (Hole 10)
 – Koepka: 1:07 PM (Hole 1)
 – Berger: 1:47 PM (Hole 1)

• Friday (Round 2):
 – Weaver: 8:46 AM (Hole 1)
 – Koepka: 7:18 AM (Hole 10)
 – Berger: 8:02 AM (Hole 10)

📺 How to Watch:
• TV: NBC, USA Network
• Streaming: Peacock, SiriusXM

🏌️ Weaver’s Road to Oakmont:
• Qualified with an 11-under finish at Golf’s Longest Day in Atlanta
• Ranked No. 28 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings
• 6 Top-10 finishes in 2025, including a win at the Cabo Collegiate
• Runner-up at the ACC Championship
• Two points earned for Team International at the Arnold Palmer Cup

🏆 FSU Legacy Lives On:
Weaver joins a growing list of Seminoles competing at the sport’s elite level — with Koepka and Berger already established as U.S. Open veterans.

👉 Full schedule and tournament preview available here.

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⚾ FSU Baseball Offseason Tracker: Who’s Staying, Who’s Headed to the Pros ⚾

Florida State wrapped up an impressive 2025 campaign at 42–16, falling just short of Omaha in the Corvallis Super Regional. Now, attention shifts to the offseason — and the roster chessboard is already in motion.

🏆 Potential MLB Draft Picks:

Lock First-Rounders
• Jamie Arnold (LHP) – Projected top-5 pick. 2.98 ERA in 84.2 IP.
• Alex Lodise (SS) – Projected late first/early second round. ACC Player & Defensive Player of the Year.

Likely Selections (Rounds 3–8)
• Drew Faurot (2B) – Power resurgence, switch-hitting, plus defense.
• Max Williams (OF) – Big bat metrics and 19 HR season.
• Gage Harrelson (OF) – Elite range in center, solid hit tool.
• Joey Volini (LHP) – Reliable and consistent, could be value pick.

Injury Watch / Wild Cards
• Evan Chrest (RHP) & Peyton Prescott (RHP) – Both may return depending on recovery timelines.
• Cam Leiter (RHP) – Could return with redshirt leverage if he doesn’t pitch in the Cape Cod League.

Late Round / UDFA Flyers
• Jaxson West (C), Maison Martinez (RHP), Ben Barrett (RHP) – Potential late-round fliers due to positional value or upside.

👀 Incoming Freshmen & Transfers:

Notable JUCO Adds
• JC Vanek (1B/OF) – .395 AVG, 1.143 OPS at Chipola
• Jake Echols (RHP) – 68 IP, 3.44 ERA at Polk State
• Cooper Whited (LHP) – 77.1 IP, 11.06 K/9

Top HS Prospects
• Ty Harvey (C) – Top-5 round potential, signability watch
• Kelvyn Paulino Jr. (INF) – PG Rank: No. 51
• John Stuetzer (INF) – Elite athleticism, could shift to OF

Transfer Highlight
• Eli Putnam (INF, Davidson) – .349 AVG, 19 HR, 1.079 OPS — brings veteran power bat to Tallahassee.

📊 What’s Next:
Draft decisions and injury updates will shape the roster through July. Stay tuned for updates as the offseason unfolds.

👉 Full roster tracker and projections available here.

🧠 FSU Hires Former Mississippi State HC Zach Arnett as Analyst 🧠

Florida State is adding a big brain to its defensive war room — former Mississippi State head coach Zach Arnett has joined the Seminoles’ staff as a defensive analyst, per Noles247.

📘 Coaching Ties:
Arnett reunites with FSU defensive coordinator Tony White, who coached him at New Mexico back in 2008. The duo’s history stretches over a decade, and Arnett’s hire adds depth to an already dynamic defensive unit.

📈 Career Highlights:
• San Diego State (2011–2019): Rose from GA to DC; 2019 defense ranked No. 2 nationally
• Mississippi State DC (2020–2022): Led a rugged SEC unit before stepping in as interim HC after Mike Leach’s passing
• Head Coach (2023): Named MSU’s 35th head coach, but dismissed midseason
• Recent Stops: Analyst at Ole Miss (2024), briefly hired as UNLV DC before stepping down in April

👀 What It Means:
Arnett brings scheme versatility, SEC experience, and familiarity with White’s system — a stealthy hire that could pay major dividends this fall.

Read more here

🕒 FSU vs. Florida Kickoff Time Set for Flex Window 🕒

It won’t be brunch with the Gators — Florida State’s 2025 regular-season finale at Florida will not kick off at noon.

📆 Mark Your Calendar:
• Date: Nov. 29, 2025
• Kickoff Window: Between 3:30–4:30 p.m. or 6–8 p.m.
• TV: Network TBD

🗓️ Updated Kickoff Times:
Here’s how FSU’s 2025 slate is shaping up so far:

• 🅰️ Aug. 29 vs. Alabama – 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

• 🌾 Sept. 6 vs. East Texas A&M – 12:00 p.m. (ACCN)

• 🕖 Sept. 26 at Virginia – 7:00 p.m. (ESPN)

• 🌉 Oct. 18 at Stanford – 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)

• 🐺 Nov. 21 at NC State – 8:00 p.m. (ESPN)

With six kickoff times now confirmed, fans can start mapping out their fall Saturdays — and maybe Thanksgiving travel, too.

📦 FSU's 2026 Recruiting Class: Who’s Locked, Who’s Leaning, and Who’s Wobbling 📦

Florida State currently sits at No. 34 nationally in the 2026 recruiting class rankings, with 10 commits on board — but not all are equally locked in. As the summer visit circuit heats up, other programs are circling, hoping to flip some of the Seminoles' prized pledges.

Here’s a tiered breakdown of the current class:

🔒 Locked In

• OL Michael Ionata – FSU legacy, no signs of wavering.

• DB Sean Johnson – No visits planned elsewhere.

✅ Solid, but Worth Watching

• RB Amari Thomas – Visiting South Carolina, Kansas State, Kentucky.

• WR Darryon Williams – Gators cooling off gives FSU momentum.

• OL Xavier Payne – Syracuse visit looms.

• DL Wihtlley Cadeau – UGA threat on the horizon.

• LB Karon Maycock – Florida fading, but Alabama + Syracuse visits coming.

• S Tedarius Hughes – Syracuse visit could be decisive.

• S Darryl Bell III – Auburn the top threat, but FSU gets final visit.

⚠️ Shaky

• WR Efrem White – Visiting Notre Dame and NC State; committed under previous WR coach.

🎯 The Bottom Line:
FSU still has time to shore up its class and flip momentum where needed — but July could get bumpy.

👉 Full commit-by-commit analysis and visit schedule breakdown here.

And that’s a wrap!

And that’s a wrap on today’s edition.

From All-America fireworks to tee times at Oakmont, and a recruiting class that needs just the right nudge — the summer storyline is heating up in Tallahassee. Keep an eye on the MLB Draft board and your calendar… November 29 won’t be a brunch game.

We’ll be back tomorrow with everything you need to know, plus some fireworks of our own.

– The Chief