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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

TGIF, Seminole!

Spring is in full swing, and there’s no shortage of action for Florida State! Today, we’re diving into a lot previews:

🔥 FSU Baseball’s ACC Opener vs. Boston College
🔥 FSU Softball Returns Home for Legacy & Legends Weekend
🔥 Ta’Niya Latson Named Naismith Semifinalist as she continues her historic season
🔥 Beach Volleyball Heads to Cali for a showdown with the nation’s best
🔥 Football’s Top 10 Most Wanted Recruits as FSU gears up for spring visits

With conference play heating up, NCAA Championships on the horizon, and recruiting battles intensifying, there’s plenty to keep an eye on in the Seminole world!

Let's get into it. 🍢👇

🏀 Ta'Niya Latson Named Naismith Trophy Semifinalist

Florida State junior guard Ta'Niya Latson continues to collect accolades, being named a semifinalist for the 2025 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy—awarded to the Women’s College Player of the Year.

🔥 Latson’s Historic Season:
✅ Nation’s Leading Scorer – 24.9 PPG
✅ Fastest to 2,000 Points in FSU history
✅ ACC Milestone – 3rd player ever to hit 2,000 points in 3 seasons
✅ FSU Record Holder – Most free throws made (500)

💎 Season Highlights:
🏆 40-Point Game vs. Virginia Tech (Ties FSU single-game record)
🏆 Triple-Double vs. Gonzaga (4th in program history)
🏆 Five-Time ACC Player of the Week

Latson has already been named a finalist for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award and is a Wooden Award candidate. She’s cementing herself as one of the greatest Seminoles ever.

🏆 Finalists for the Naismith Trophy will be announced in late March.

🔗 More on Latson’s historic season here.

⚾ No. 5 FSU Baseball Opens ACC Play vs. Boston College

Florida State (15-1) returns to Dick Howser Stadium for its ACC opener against Boston College (7-6, 2-1 ACC) in a three-game series from March 14-16.

📅 Series Schedule:
🔹 Friday, March 14 – 6 PM ET (Seminole Heritage Game)
🔹 Saturday, March 15 – 2 PM ET (Kids Club Day & Military Saturday)
🔹 Sunday, March 16 – 12 PM ET (St. Patrick’s Day Celebration)

🔥 Projected Pitching Matchups:
✅ Friday: FSU LHP Joey Volini (4-0, 1.16 ERA) vs. BC RHP Bobby Chicoine (0-1, 5.79 ERA)
✅ Saturday: FSU LHP Jamie Arnold (2-0, 1.12 ERA) vs. BC LHP Tyler Mudd (0-1, 6.75 ERA)
✅ Sunday: FSU LHP Wes Mendes (3-0, 0.89 ERA) vs. BC TBD

🔥 FSU’s Red-Hot Start

✅ 15-1 Record – Tied for 4th-best start in program history
✅ .336 Team Batting Avg. – 142 runs on 191 hits, 23 HR, 27 SB
✅ 2.68 Team ERA – 192 Ks, just 42 earned runs in 141.0 IP

🌟 Key Players to Watch:
💣 Alex Lodise – Leads team in AVG (.424) & hits (28)
💣 Max Williams – Team-high 5 HR
💣 Drew Faurot – 20 RBI, 4 HR
🔥 Gage Harrelson – 16-game hit streak (hit safely in every FSU game)

🏆 Series History vs. BC:
✅ FSU Leads All-Time: 42-12
✅ Last Year: FSU won 2 of 3 at Boston College

⏳ What’s Next?
🔹 FSU vs. Mercer – Tuesday, March 19 | 6 PM ET

🔗 More on FSU’s ACC opener here.

🥎 No. 10 FSU Softball Opens ACC Play at Home vs. Pitt

Florida State (22-5) returns to JoAnne Graf Field for its ACC opener against Pitt (10-13) this weekend! Due to inclement weather, the schedule has been adjusted:

📅 Updated Schedule:
🔥 Friday, March 15 – 🆚 Pitt (6:00 PM ET)
🔥 Saturday, March 16 – 🆚 Pitt (Doubleheader, 1:00 PM & Game 2 TBD)
📺 All games on ACCNX (📢 Jack Kavovit & Nevada Cullen on the call)

🔴 Legacy & Legends Weekend
🔹 Over 50 FSU alumni returning for the weekend!
🔹 Saturday’s game = Seminole Heritage Game (FSU will wear turquoise patches).

🔥 FSU vs. Pitt: Series History
✅ FSU leads all-time series 26-3 (20-3 in ACC play).
✅ Last year: FSU swept Pitt in 3 run-rule wins, outscoring them 40-11.
✅ Most runs in an ACC series in FSU history (40).

💎 Dominance at The Plex
🏟️ FSU is 145-28 vs. ACC teams at home under Lonni Alameda.
🏟️ Since 2019: FSU is 160-24 at JoAnne Graf Field.

🔥 Noles’ Offense & Pitching on Fire
💥 FSU leads the ACC in:
✅ Runs per game (8.33, 9th nationally)
✅ ERA (1.84, 10th nationally)
✅ Hits, RBI, and total runs

💎 Players to Watch:
🔹 Isa Torres (.463 BA, 6 HR, 25 RBI, 44 hits – 3rd in the nation)
🔹 Kennedy Harp (.494 BA, 6 HR, 35 RBI, 8 triples – Leads NCAA)
🔹 Jaysoni Beachum (.381 BA, 7 HR, 24 RBI – Reigning National Freshman of the Year)
🔹 Annabelle Widra (1.08 ERA – ACC Leader, 15th nationally)
🔹 Ashtyn Danley (1.36 ERA, 36 IP, 35 K – 4th in ACC)

🔗 More on FSU Softball’s ACC opener here.

🏐 No. 8 FSU Beach Volleyball Heads to California for East vs. West Tournament

Florida State Beach Volleyball (8-1) travels to Manhattan Beach, CA this weekend for the East vs. West Tournament, facing a loaded lineup of ranked opponents.

📅 Weekend Schedule (All Times ET):
🔹 Friday, March 15
🏐 vs. No. 7 Cal – 2:30 PM
🏐 vs. No. 18 Hawaii – 6:00 PM

🔹 Saturday, March 16
🏐 vs. No. 1 UCLA – 1:30 PM
🏐 vs. No. 2 LMU – 4:00 PM

🔥 Match Previews:
✅ vs. No. 7 Cal – Series tied 1-1; FSU won the last matchup 3-2 (March 2024).
✅ vs. No. 18 Hawaii – FSU leads series 10-4, winning the last five straight.
✅ vs. No. 1 UCLA – Historic rivalry; UCLA leads 17-9, won last meeting 3-2.
✅ vs. No. 2 LMU – FSU leads series 10-2, but LMU won the last meeting.

⏳ What’s Next?
🏐 FSU returns home for the Unconquered Invitational (March 22-23).

🔗 More on FSU’s weekend slate here.

🎾 FSU Women’s Tennis Hosts Louisville & No. 23 Notre Dame in ACC Play

Florida State Women’s Tennis returns home for its first ACC home matches of the season, hosting Louisville and No. 23 Notre Dame at the Scott Speicher Memorial Tennis Center.

📅 Weekend Schedule:
🏟️ Friday, March 15 – 🆚 Louisville (4:00 PM ET)
🏟️ Sunday, March 17 – 🆚 No. 23 Notre Dame (12:00 PM ET)

🔥 Match Notes:
✅ FSU vs. Louisville – Noles lead series 13-0, including a 5-1 win in 2024.
✅ FSU vs. Notre Dame – FSU leads 8-5, first meeting since 1996.
✅ ACC Dominance at Home – FSU is riding an 8-match ACC home win streak.

💎 Players to Watch:
🎾 Eva Shaw – 2-0 in ACC play on Court 1 (6-3 overall).
🎾 Shaw & Maria Juliana Parra Romero – 8-0 in doubles this season, ranking 84th nationally.

🎟️ Admission is free! Live stats available on Seminoles.com.

🔗 More on FSU’s weekend slate here.

🔥 FSU’s Top 10 Most Wanted Recruits for the 2026 Class

With seven commitments already locked in, Florida State’s 2026 recruiting class currently ranks No. 14 nationally. But the Seminoles aren’t slowing down. As spring visits ramp up, here’s a look at the Top 10 Most Wanted Recruits FSU is targeting to finish the cycle strong.

🔟 3⭐ TE Corbyn Fordham (Ohio State Commit)
✅ FSU Legacy – His father played for the Seminoles.
✅ Lives just 2 hours from Tallahassee & has strong ties to FSU.
✅ Upcoming Visit: Spring trip next weekend + Official Visit in the summer.
🚨 FSU is a real threat to flip him from Ohio State.

9️⃣ 4⭐ WR Justin Williams
✅ Recently offered by FSU but quickly trending up.
✅ Top 200 prospect who visited FSU for Junior Day.
✅ Only scheduled Official Visit? FSU in June.

8️⃣ 4⭐ OL Samuel Roseborough
✅ FSU highly values him as an in-state lineman.
✅ Top 10 schools include: Texas, Michigan, Alabama, Florida, LSU, and FSU.
👀 New OL coach Herb Hand is pushing to land him.

7️⃣ 4⭐ LB TJ White
✅ FSU vs. Tennessee battle for the Jackson (MS) linebacker.
✅ Coming back to Tallahassee next week + Official Visit in June.
🔥 Could fit in FSU’s JACK linebacker role.

6️⃣ 4⭐ EDGE Cam Brooks
✅ Plays just 50 minutes from Tallahassee in Thomasville, GA.
✅ FSU has been recruiting him for a while, but Clemson, Ohio State & Cal are pushing.
🚨 A must-get due to local ties & positional need.

5️⃣ 4⭐ DL Deuce Geralds
✅ One of FSU’s top DT targets – visits set for 3/22 & 4/8.
✅ Elite production: 114 tackles, 30 TFLs, 13 sacks… plus 8 rushing TDs!
🔥 FSU, Clemson, Oklahoma, Michigan, Ohio State & Oregon battling.

4️⃣ 4⭐ OT Johnnie Jones
✅ Top in-state tackle option – FSU NEEDS OL talent.
✅ Competition: Miami, UCLA, Penn State, Ole Miss, Colorado.
🚀 Landing him would be a huge boost for FSU’s future O-line.

3️⃣ 4⭐ DB Chauncey Kennon
✅ FSU & Georgia are the two clear favorites.
✅ FSU HC Mike Norvell & CBs coach Patrick Surtain Sr. have built strong ties.
👀 Official visits this summer will be key.

2️⃣ 4⭐ EDGE Trenton Henderson (No. 3 Edge Rusher in 2026)
✅ Plays at Pensacola Catholic – FSU needs to win these regional battles.
✅ SEC competition: Alabama, Florida, Auburn, Vanderbilt.
🚨 FSU gets a crucial final Official Visit (June 20-22).

1️⃣ 4⭐ QB Landon Duckworth
✅ FSU’s biggest need: A 2026 QB.
✅ Official Visit Set: June 13-15.
✅ FSU’s best shot? Duckworth’s longstanding relationship with OC Gus Malzahn.
🔥 Major battle against Georgia, Ole Miss & South Carolina.

🔗 More on FSU’s top recruiting targets here.

And that’s a wrap!

With ACC battles, NCAA Championship pushes, and top recruits lining up visits, the action is only getting started for the Seminoles.

⚾ Can FSU Baseball stay dominant in ACC play?
🥎 Will FSU Softball keep crushing it at The Plex?
🏀 Can Ta’Niya Latson cement her place as the nation’s best?
🏈 Who will emerge as FSU’s next big commit?

Stay locked in—March is just the beginning. Until next time, Go Noles! 🍢🔥