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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Thursday, Seminole!

Big moves on the recruiting trail. Global honors on the golf course. A game-changing financial shift for Florida State athletics. This edition is loaded with momentum-building news — both on and off the field.

⛳ Woad and Fullbrook will represent Great Britain & Ireland in the Vagliano Trophy, showcasing FSU’s global golf dominance.
🏐 Seminole volleyball adds a top-tier international signee in Stefanija Pajic.
🧠 Recruiting buzz is peaking with just one visit weekend left — and the staff is feeling good about QB flips, WR flips, and must-win tight end battles.
💰 And thanks to a new state-level amendment, FSU can now fund over $20M in athlete revenue sharing — unlocking a major advantage in the NIL era.
🧱 5⭐ edge rusher Trenton Henderson is saving FSU for his final visit — and still calls Tallahassee the most comfortable place he's been.

Let’s dive in — the next 10 days could reshape the top of FSU’s 2026 class.

👉 Full stories, rankings, and insight below.

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⛳ Woad & Fullbrook to Represent GB&I at Vagliano Trophy ⛳

Florida State women’s golf will once again be well-represented on the international stage — All-American Lottie Woad and standout freshman Sophia Fullbrook have been selected to play for Great Britain & Ireland in the prestigious Vagliano Trophy Championship, held June 27–28 in the Netherlands.

🇬🇧 International Honors:
• Woad returns to the GB&I squad for the second time after earning 3 points in 2023
• Fullbrook earns her first selection to the 8-player squad
• The Vagliano Trophy pits GB&I against Team Europe in two days of foursome and singles match play

🔥 Woad’s Résumé:
• No. 1 in World Amateur Golf Ranking — 44 straight weeks
• 6× All-American | 2025 WGCA & Golfweek First-Team
• Finalist for WGCA Player of the Year
• 2025 ACC Golfer of the Month (Feb.) & 3× All-ACC

🌟 Fullbrook’s Freshman Season:
• Played in every major event: ACCs, NCAA Regionals, and NCAA Finals
• 73.38 stroke average | 2 top-10 finishes | Season-low 70
• Key contributor to six team championships in Spring 2025

🔑 Bottom Line:
FSU’s presence in one of Europe’s top amateur competitions is another sign the Seminoles are elite on a global scale. With Woad looking to lead the charge again and Fullbrook making her debut, Florida State’s impact will be felt across the pond.

👉 Full match format and GB&I roster breakdown here.

🏐 FSU Volleyball Signs Rising European Star Stefanija Pajic 🏐

Florida State volleyball just added major international firepower with the signing of Stefanija Pajic, a 6’2” outside hitter from Trebinje, Bosnia and Herzegovina — widely considered one of the top young players in Europe.

🌍 International Pedigree:
• Member of the Turkish U-17 National Team that finished 2nd in both the European and Balkan Championships
• Helped teams win Junior, Cadet, and Pioneering Championships of Turkey — sweeping national titles at every level

👟 Athletic Bloodlines:
• Daughter of a former pro basketball player (Bojana Pajic)
• Granddaughter of Zoran Vraneš — former professional soccer player for Partizan FC

🔑 Bottom Line:
Pajic brings elite-level experience, size, and a championship pedigree to Tallahassee — and could be an impact player for Chris Poole’s squad as the Seminoles reload for 2025.

👉 More on Pajic’s signing and international résumé here.

🧠 3 Things I Know, 3 Things I Think: FSU Enters Final Recruiting Stretch 🧠

With one weekend of official visits left in June, Florida State’s 2026 recruiting class is starting to crystallize — and the staff is working overtime to close strong. Here's the latest intel from behind the scenes:

✅ I Know FSU Feels Good About 4⭐ QB Jaden O’Neal
• Oklahoma commit visited last weekend — and FSU insiders feel confident
• QB coach Tony Tokarz has recruited him for over a year; O’Neal likes the fit in Malzahn’s system
• Crystal Ball pick is in: Expect FSU to flip him by month’s end

🤔 I Think FSU Could Wrap Up Its Safety Class This Weekend
• Already has 3 commits: Bell, Johnson, and Hughes — though Hughes is taking visits
• A new blue-chip target could be on campus this weekend to potentially close the group

✅ I Know FSU’s WR Board Is Buzzing
• Recent blue-chip commit: Brandon Bennett
• Flip watch: Devin Carter (Auburn commit) and Daniel Odom
• Trending: Jasen Lopez (two-sport star) and 4⭐ Keeyun Chapman (back for 7-on-7 today)
• Longshots still in play: 5⭐ Calvin Russell and 4⭐ Madden Williams

🤔 I Think FSU Must Win the Xavier Tiller Battle
• TE board has thinned — several top targets have committed elsewhere
• Tiller visited last weekend; Auburn and Bama pushing hard
• A decision could come soon — and FSU needs to win this one

✅ I Know FSU Likes Its Shot with CB Brody Jennings
• Michigan commit is on campus; his late father Bradley played for FSU
• Seen as a top corner target — and even more important with CJ Bronaugh trending Florida
• Jennings will visit Michigan again this weekend. If FSU can hold momentum, a flip is possible

🤔 I Think FSU is Gaining Ground for OT Aaron Thomas
• Three-star tackle is the son of former FSU OL Eric Thomas
• Visited Washington, FSU, and Ohio State — A&M up next
• Staff believes they’re in the lead before that final visit

🔑 Bottom Line:
Florida State is surging into the final June weekend with real momentum and several battles on the verge of breaking. With QB, TE, OT, and CB spots in focus — the next 10 days could define the top of FSU’s 2026 class.

👉 Full intel breakdown and predictions here.

💰 Florida State Clears $20M+ Path for Athlete Revenue Sharing 💰

Florida State is preparing to fully embrace the NCAA’s new revenue-sharing era — and thanks to a key policy change, the Seminoles now have a financial runway to do it.

📝 What Happened:
• Florida’s Board of Governors approved a three-year amendment allowing schools to use up to $22.5M in auxiliary funds (parking, housing, bookstores) to support athlete compensation
• The move was pushed by FSU Board Chair Peter Collins and will run through the end of 2028

🏈 Why It Matters:
• FSU AD Michael Alford says the program will aim to share the maximum amount — $20.5M/year — to remain competitive at the national level
• Alford told trustees FSU needs $25M/year to keep pace with the House settlement revenue model
• This ensures FSU can recruit and retain talent amid a fast-evolving financial landscape in college athletics

💸 Context & Cash Flow:
• FSU expects $15–20M/year in additional revenue from its ACC legal settlement within 1–2 years
• A future move to another conference (e.g. SEC or Big Ten) could push earnings even higher
• Most programs are expected to allocate revenue as follows:
→ ~75% to Football
→ Remainder to Men’s Basketball, Baseball, and Olympic sports

🔑 Bottom Line:
Florida State just cleared a crucial financial hurdle — giving Mike Norvell and every program a fighting chance to compete in the NIL and revenue-sharing era. The next few years will be pivotal — and FSU now has the flexibility to lead, not follow.

👉 Read more about the policy shift and what it means for FSU athletics here.

🧱 5⭐ Edge Trenton Henderson Returns to FSU — Final Visit Looms 🧱

Florida State is still firmly in the mix for one of the nation’s top edge defenders — and possibly saving their best pitch for last.

Trenton Henderson, the No. 4 edge rusher and No. 28 overall prospect in the 2026 class, returned to Tallahassee on Wednesday to watch his younger brother compete at FSU’s Big Man Camp. While Henderson didn’t participate, he spent time with key figures in the program — and confirmed he’ll take an official visit for the Florida State vs. Alabama game to open the season.

🔥 Where FSU Stands:
• Still set to host his final official visit before a fall decision
• Florida currently trending (per Crystal Ball) — but FSU remains “very much in the mix”
• Texas visit wraps his June slate; FSU closes in late August

🗣️ Henderson on FSU:
• “Being here is like the most comfortable I am with any college.”
• “Coach Norvell — he’s never going to leave. He’s going to be there through the whole process.”
• “T-Knight is one of the strongest relationships I have in college football… I can just be myself around him.”
• “This place is full of genuine people. Every time I’m here, it feels right.”

🔍 Decision Timeline:
• Likely committing shortly after FSU’s season opener vs. Alabama
• Key deciding factors: Development, post-football support, and comfort level

🔑 Bottom Line:
FSU didn’t get a summer OV — but they’ll get the last word. With deep ties to the staff, genuine comfort on campus, and family ties bringing him back, the Seminoles are hoping a marquee September weekend can seal the deal with one of their top defensive priorities.

👉 Read more on Henderson’s visit and recruitment timeline here.

And that’s a wrap!

With elite prospects circling and national headlines stacking up, the Seminoles are positioning themselves for a monster close to June — on the field, on the course, and in the boardroom. The final weekend of official visits is almost here… and the dominos could start falling fast.

Catch your breath, grab a Cornbread Seltzer, and we’ll be back soon with more movement from across the FSU universe.

— Chief