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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

TGIF Seminole!
A program-defining draft pick, a future two-sport star, and two consensus All-Americans headline a loaded edition as Florida State continues to rack up wins across baseball, basketball, and the recruiting trail.

🏆 Lodise & Arnold Make History
Florida State lands two consensus All-Americans for the second straight season — and shortstop Alex Lodise becomes the first player ever to finish the cycle with a walk-off grand slam.

🏀 Jamir Watkins Joins the NBA Ranks
After two dominant seasons at FSU, Watkins is heading to the Washington Wizards — ending a four-year NBA Draft drought for the ‘Noles.

🖊 Four-Star WR Jasen Lopez Commits to FSU
One of South Florida’s best just flipped to the good guys. And yes — he’s suiting up for the basketball team too.

📈 Target Board Shuffles Post-OVs
FSU’s 2026 class continues to evolve with new risers, silent fades, and a wave of key July announcements on deck.

🔍 25 OVs. No Commitments (Yet).
We run through the full list of high-priority official visitors who left Tallahassee uncommitted — and what it’ll take for FSU to close.

Let’s dive in.

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🌟 Lodise, Arnold Named Consensus All-Americans After Dominant 2025 🌟

Florida State baseball just secured another historic milestone — juniors Alex Lodise and Jamie Arnold have been named consensus All-Americans after being selected to all six major All-America teams, capping off one of the program’s strongest individual seasons in years.

🏆 Award Breakdown:
• Lodise → First Team (D1Baseball, Perfect Game, NCBWA, Baseball America, College Baseball HOF)
• Arnold → Second Team (D1Baseball, Baseball America), First Team (Perfect Game, NCBWA, ABCA)

📈 Alex Lodise (Shortstop):
• .394 AVG | 95 hits | 17 HR | 68 RBI | .705 SLG
• 1.64 hits/game (No. 12 in nation)
• ACC Player & Defensive Player of the Year
• 31 multi-hit games | 7 game-winners
• Walk-off grand slam to complete a cycle vs. Florida (historic)

🔥 Jamie Arnold (LHP):
• 8–2 | 2.98 ERA | 119 Ks in 84.2 IP
• Top-10 nationally in strikeouts
• 1.06 WHIP | .208 BAA
• ACC Pitcher of the Week (April 14)
• Semifinalist for Golden Spikes and Dick Howser Trophy

📜 Historic Context:
• Back-to-back seasons with multiple consensus All-Americans (Arnold & Tibbs in 2024)
• Arnold is the first back-to-back All-American since Parker Messick (2021–22)

🔑 Bottom Line:
Two captains. Two superstars. And now two consensus All-Americans. Lodise and Arnold led the ‘Noles to their best ACC finish in a decade — and their postseason honors cement FSU’s return to national prominence.

👉 Full stat lines, award history, and 2025 recap here.

🏀 Jamir Watkins Drafted by Wizards, Ends FSU’s NBA Drought 🏀

Jamir Watkins is headed to the NBA. The former Seminole star was selected No. 43 overall by the Washington Wizards in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft — marking FSU’s first draft pick in four years.

📍 Draft Details:
• Pick: No. 43 overall (2nd Round)
• Team: Washington Wizards
• FSU’s first NBA Draft selection since 2021
• 52nd player drafted in FSU history

🧠 Watkins on the Fit:
• “They love my defense and how hard I play”
• “I really like how they have a young team with a coach in his second year”

📈 FSU Career Recap:
• 2x All-ACC selection (Second Team in 2024–25)
• 1,104 points in 65 starts
• Averaged 17.0 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.5 SPG in two seasons

📊 2024–25 Season Stats:
• 18.4 PPG | 5.7 RPG | 2.4 APG | 1.2 SPG
• 42.7% FG | 32.1% 3PT | 74.7% FT

🏀 Career Path:
• Transferred from VCU to FSU in 2023
• Played in 121 collegiate games across four active seasons
• Earned his degree in Social Science from FSU in May 2025

🏛️ FSU Draft History:
• First Seminole drafted by Wizards since Chris Singleton (2011)
• 20th FSU player drafted under Leonard Hamilton

🔑 Bottom Line:
Watkins’ toughness, switchability, and defensive motor helped him carve out a standout college career — and now a spot in the pros. He becomes another example of FSU’s player development pipeline and returns the program to the NBA Draft spotlight.

👉 More on Watkins’ draft journey and what’s next in D.C. here.

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🚀 4⭐ WR Jasen Lopez Commits to FSU Over Miami 🚀

Florida State has won a high-stakes battle for one of South Florida’s top playmakers — landing a commitment from four-star WR Jasen Lopez over the Miami Hurricanes.

📍 Player Profile:
• 5’10”, 165 lbs | Chaminade-Madonna Prep (Hollywood, FL)
• No. 252 overall | No. 43 WR nationally (247 Composite)
• Dual-sport athlete: Football + Basketball

🔥 Junior Season Stats (Football):
• 87 catches | 1,300 yards | 14 TDs

🏀 Basketball Profile:
• 25.0 PPG | 6.4 RPG | 4.1 SPG | 2.2 APG
• Will also play for FSU Basketball
• Offered by Coach Luke Loucks in March

🎯 Recruitment Recap:
• Official Visits: NC State, WVU, Miami, FSU
• Tim Harris Jr. made Lopez a top WR priority since January
• FSU sealed the deal during June official visit — strong impression from both football and basketball staffs

🔑 Bottom Line:
Florida State just added another dynamic weapon to its already loaded 2026 WR class — and poached him straight from Miami’s backyard. With elite quickness, ball skills, and multi-sport toughness, Lopez is a high-upside slot option who brings juice to two programs.

👉 Full commitment breakdown and dual-sport insights here.

📊 Who’s Rising & Falling on FSU’s 2026 Recruiting Board 📊

With official visits wrapped and commitment season in full swing, FSU’s 2026 recruiting board has seen major movement. Noles247 just dropped its updated target list — highlighting key trends across both sides of the ball.

📈 Trending Up:

🔺 3⭐ EDGE Chris Addison
• From: High Choice → Top Target
• FSU is trending heavily after a strong OV. A commitment could be imminent.

🔺 4⭐ DB Jay Timmons
• From: High Choice → Top Target
• Now committed — and already a pillar of the 2026 secondary.

🔺 3⭐ DL Tico Crittendon
• From: High Choice → Top Target
• Rapid rise: Offered, visited, and committed — all in a matter of weeks.

🔺 3⭐ DL James Carrington
• From: Scout Look → Top Target
• Surprise visit turned into a commitment. One of the biggest leaps on the board.

🔺 3⭐ OL Luke Francis
• From: N/A → Top Target
• International prospect blew up after camp and committed shortly after.

📉 Trending Down:

🔻 3⭐ DL Cam Brickle
• From: Top Target → Scout Look
• FSU filled out its DT board — no longer actively pursuing Brickle.

🔻 4⭐ DL James Johnson
• From: Top Target → High Choice
• Hosted on an OV but eliminated FSU before his decision.

🔻 3⭐ WR Camden Capehart
• From: Top Target → High Choice
• WR room is crowded after multiple commitments. Capehart is now on the fringe.

🔻 3⭐ EDGE Kamron Wilson
• From: Top Target → High Choice
• Missed OV to FSU and remains firm with Syracuse. May revisit in the fall — but no plan yet.

🔑 Bottom Line:
The ‘Noles are adjusting on the fly — locking in key commitments and refocusing on areas of need. With more decisions looming in July, the target board could keep shifting quickly.

👉 See the full updated target list and position-by-position outlook here.

🚦25 OVs, No Commitments (Yet): Where Key FSU Targets Stand 🚦

Florida State hosted 25 uncommitted prospects on official visits over the past 45 days — and the ripple effects could shape the rest of the 2026 class. Here’s a position-by-position breakdown of who’s trending toward FSU, who’s fading, and what decisions to watch.

📅 May 9 OV Weekend
OT Wilson Zierer (4⭐)
• FSU vs. Alabama vs. Auburn
• Quiet process, decision expected after international trip

📅 May 30 OV Weekend
DL Kendall Guervil (4⭐)
• Texas has led throughout
• Decision: July 2

📅 June 6 OV Weekend
CB Samari Matthews (4⭐)
• Favorite: Texas or South Carolina
• Decision: July 11

LB TJ White (4⭐)
• Tennessee viewed as leader
• Decision: July 1

DL Earnest Rankins (4⭐)
• FSU vs. Auburn
• Decision: July 3

WR Keeyun Chapman (4⭐)
• UNC trending
• Decision: June 27

LB Duyon Forkpa Jr. (4⭐)
• FSU vs. Florida
• No firm decision date

LB Rodney Colton Jr. (4⭐)
• FSU vs. Ole Miss
• Decision: July 12

DL Cameron Brickle (3⭐)
• No longer pursued by FSU
• Decision: June 28

OT Mitchell Smith (3⭐)
• Vanderbilt leads
• Decision: July 4

📅 June 13 OV Weekend
CB Chauncey Kennon (5⭐)
• FSU trending
• Decision: July 6

DB Lasiah Jackson (4⭐)
• Stanford has academic edge
• No set decision date

WR Jasen Lopez (4⭐)
• Committed to FSU on June 27 ✅

OT Da’Ron Parks (4⭐)
• FSU highly interested
• Decision expected in July

TE Landen Miree (3⭐)
• FSU holds Crystal Ball
• Decision: July 11

📅 June 15 OV Weekend
RB Derrek Cooper (5⭐)
• Miami leads, FSU is a longshot
• Decision: July 12

WR Calvin Russell (5⭐)
• LSU and Miami in lead pack
• No Crystal Ball predictions

DL James Johnson (4⭐)
• FSU eliminated from final four
• Decision: June 28

EDGE Keysaun Eleazer (3⭐)
• Decision: July 1
• FSU included in final five

EDGE Katrell Webb (3⭐)
• FSU vs. Indiana vs. Purdue
• Decision: July 4

📅 June 20 OV Weekend
LB Xavier Griffin (5⭐)
• Alabama & Texas top contenders
• Decision: June 29

ATH Heze Kent (4⭐ TE)
• Miami favored — FSU in striking distance
• Decision: July 12

EDGE Chris Addison (3⭐)
• FSU holds lone prediction
• No decision date yet

OT Ben Mubenga (3⭐)
• FSU vs. Arkansas
• Decision: June 28

OT Xavier Payne (3⭐)
• Former commit — FSU no longer pursuing

🔑 Bottom Line:
FSU has done the hard part — getting elite talent on campus. Now it’s about closing. Between July 1–12, the ‘Noles are in play for 10+ high-priority targets, including five-star Chauncey Kennon and linebacker targets like Forkpa and Colton.

👉 Full decision timeline and prediction board here.

And that’s a wrap!

That’s all for today — and somehow, we’re still only halfway through commitment season.

Between a historic All-American haul, Jamir Watkins’ NBA dream realized, and a flurry of 2026 recruiting moves, the ‘Noles are heating up on every front. July will be pivotal, with top targets like Chauncey Kennon, Xavier Griffin, Landen Miree, and more set to make decisions that could define this class.

As always, stay locked in — we’ve got every turn covered.

Until tomorrow,
— The Chief