Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Sunday, Seminole!

Another action-packed weekend for the ‘Noles, as multiple teams delivered standout performances while recruiting efforts continue to gain momentum. Here’s what’s inside today’s edition:

⚾ No. 5 FSU Baseball Sweeps Boston College
The Seminoles dominated the Eagles, clinching their first ACC series sweep with lights-out pitching and an explosive offense. FSU now stands at 18-1 heading into their final game of a 12-game homestand.

🥎 No. 10 FSU Softball Sweeps Pitt in ACC Opener
Florida State outscored Pitt 24-4 over the weekend, powered by clutch home runs and stellar pitching performances. The ‘Noles now turn their attention to a massive road trip against No. 23 Alabama and No. 17 Duke.

🏐 No. 8 FSU Beach Volleyball Wraps Up East vs. West Tournament
The Seminoles split their weekend, securing two ranked wins before falling to No. 1 UCLA and No. 2 LMU. FSU will look to bounce back at the Stetson Beach Blast next weekend.

🏃‍♀️ FSU Track & Field Concludes NCAA Indoor Championships
Shenese Walker claimed First-Team All-America honors in the women’s 60m, capping off a strong indoor season for the ‘Noles. Outdoor season kicks off March 27-28 in Tallahassee.

🏈 Florida State’s 2026 Recruiting Outlook
FSU’s No. 16-ranked recruiting class is heating up, with official visits locked in for several top targets. The Seminoles are pushing for elite quarterbacks, playmakers on offense, and defensive standouts as spring practice nears.

Let’s dive into all the latest action! 🔥👇

⚾ No. 5 FSU Baseball Blasts Boston College, Clinches Series

Florida State (17-1, 2-0 ACC) secured its fifth straight series win with a dominant 14-0 shutout victory over Boston College (7-8, 2-3 ACC) in seven innings on Saturday afternoon.

🔥 Key Highlights:
✅ Jamie Arnold (W, 3-0): 4.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 8 Ks, 2 BB
✅ Myles Bailey: 3rd straight game with a HR (6th of season)
✅ Gage Harrelson: 4-for-5, HR, 4 RBI (18-game hit streak)
✅ Alex Lodise: 4-for-5, 2B, 3 RBI
✅ FSU Offense: 16 hits, 11 of 14 runs scored with 2 outs

🔹 Pitching Dominance: Arnold and reliever Chris Knier (2.1 IP, 1 H, 3 Ks) combined for FSU’s third shutout and third run-rule win of the season.

🔹 Offensive Explosion: The ‘Noles scored in five of six innings, including a four-run sixth punctuated by Harrelson’s two-run homer.

📅 What’s Next?
🚨 Due to inclement weather, Game 2 of Saturday’s doubleheader will conclude the series.

🔗 More on FSU’s dominant ACC win here.

⚾ No. 5 FSU Baseball Sweeps Boston College, Moves to 18-1

Florida State (18-1, 3-0 ACC) completed a three-game sweep of Boston College (7-9, 2-4 ACC) with a 6-2 victory in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader, securing its fifth series sweep in as many weekends.

🔥 Key Highlights:
✅ Wes Mendes (W, 4-0): 7.0+ IP, 4 H, 1 R (unearned), 8 Ks, 0 BB (career-long outing)
✅ Maison Martinez (SV, 2): 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 3 Ks, 0 BB (FSU pitchers did not issue a walk)
✅ Max Williams: 3-for-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R
✅ Drew Faurot: Solo HR (team-high 7th HR, 3rd in last 2 games)
✅ Alex Lodise: 2-for-4
✅ FSU Offense: 10 hits, three runs in the 1st inning set the tone

💣 Power Surge:
🔹 Williams’ two-HR performance made him the second Seminole to do so in the series (Faurot, Friday).
🔹 Faurot and Williams now share the team lead with 7 home runs on the season.

⏳ Streaks & Stats:
🚨 Gage Harrelson’s 18-game hit streak ended (3rd-longest by an FSU player in the last decade).
🔥 FSU's pitching staff issued zero walks for the first time this season.

📅 What’s Next?
🏟️ FSU vs. Mercer – Tuesday, March 19 | 6 PM ET (Final game of 12-game homestand)

🔗 More on FSU’s weekend sweep here.

🥎 No. 10 FSU Softball Sweeps Pitt with Saturday Doubleheader Wins

Florida State (25-5, 3-0 ACC) dominated Pitt (10-16, 0-6) on Saturday, winning 13-0 (5 innings) in Game 1 before grinding out a 3-1 victory in the series finale to complete the ACC-opening sweep at JoAnne Graf Field.

🔥 Game 1: FSU 13, Pitt 0 (5 innings)

The Seminoles erupted for five runs in the 1st inning and never looked back, crushing Pitt in a run-rule win.

💣 Offensive Explosion:
✅ Kennedy Harp: 2-for-3, 3B, 2 RBI (tied for 3rd-most triples in a season in FSU history with 9)
✅ Katie Dack: 3-for-3, HR, 3 RBI
✅ Jaysoni Beachum: HR, 3 RBI (2nd HR of the series)
✅ Michaela Edenfield: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, 2B
✅ Amaya Ross: HR (2nd straight game with a solo shot)

💎 Pitching Dominance:
🔹 Julia Apsel (W, 9-0): 4.0 IP, 2 H, 2 Ks
🔹 Makenna Reid: 1.0 IP, 3 Ks (closed out the run-rule victory)

🔥 Game 2: FSU 3, Pitt 1

FSU relied on clutch home runs and stellar pitching to edge Pitt in the finale.

💣 Solo Shot Power:
✅ Michaela Edenfield: Solo HR (5th of the season) to tie the game in the 4th
✅ Kennedy Harp: Solo HR to give FSU the lead in the 6th
✅ Hallie Wacaser: Solo HR for insurance

💎 Pitching Duel:
🔹 Jazzy Francik (W, 4-0): 5.0 IP, 1 H, 7 Ks (dominated in relief)
🔹 Ashtyn Danley: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (started the game)

📅 What’s Next?
🚨 FSU hits the road for a huge week against ranked opponents:
🔹 @ No. 23 Alabama – Wednesday, March 20 | 7 PM ET, SEC Network
🔹 @ No. 17 Duke (3-Game Series) – March 22-24

• Friday: ACC Network

• Saturday & Sunday: ACCNX

🔗 More on FSU Softball’s weekend sweep here.

🏐 No. 8 FSU Beach Volleyball Wraps Up East vs. West Tournament

Florida State (14-3) closed out a grueling weekend in Manhattan Beach with back-to-back losses to No. 1 UCLA (5-0) and No. 2 LMU (4-1) on Saturday.

🔹 All three of FSU’s losses this season have come against top-5 opponents.
🔹 Despite the final scores, the Seminoles put up a fight, forcing multiple three-set battles.

🔥 Match 1: No. 1 UCLA 5, No. 8 FSU 0

FSU competed hard against the nation’s top team, but UCLA secured a straight-set sweep.

💎 Court 4 Battle:
✅ Carra Sassack & Bailey Higgins won the first set and nearly forced a tiebreak, falling in a tight 22-20 second set before dropping the third.

🔥 Match 2: No. 2 LMU 4, No. 8 FSU 1

FSU found its footing against LMU, earning a point behind a dominant win on Court 1.

✅ Audrey Koenig & Alexis Durish (Court 1): Straight-set win over LMU’s top pair
✅ Skylar Skrabanek & Jordan Boulware (Court 5): Thrilling three-set battle (19-21, 21-19, 19-21)

📅 What’s Next?
🚨 Stetson Beach Blast – March 22-23 | DeLand, FL
🔹 Friday: 🆚 Florida Atlantic (11:30 AM) | 🆚 Stetson (2:00 PM)
🔹 Saturday: 🆚 Erskine College (9:15 AM) | 🆚 Palm Beach Atlantic (12:45 PM)

🔗 More on FSU Beach Volleyball’s weekend results here.

🏃‍♀️ FSU Track & Field Wraps Up NCAA Indoor Championships

The 2025 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships concluded Saturday at the Virginia Beach Sports Center, with Shenese Walker earning First-Team All-America honors in the women's 60-meter.

🔥 Walker’s Performance:
✅ Finished 7th in the nation (7.27)
✅ Back-to-back First-Team All-American
✅ Entered the event as the No. 13 seed and ran a personal-best 7.18 in the prelims—tied for the 4th-fastest time in FSU history

Walker, now a three-time All-American, previously earned Second-Team honors in the 100m at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

📅 What’s Next?
🚨 Outdoor season begins with the Terry Long FSU Relays – March 27-28 | Tallahassee, FL

🔗 More on FSU’s NCAA Championship results here.

🏈 Florida State’s 2026 Recruiting Outlook: Key Targets & Official Visits

Florida State heads into spring practice with On3’s No. 16-ranked 2026 recruiting class, and Mike Norvell’s staff is in prime position for several top prospects. Here’s a look at where things stand across key positions.

🔥 Quarterback Recruiting Picks Up

The Seminoles are aggressively targeting elite QBs and have multiple top passers set to visit.

🔹 4⭐ Landon Duckworth (Jackson, AL) – Official Visit: June 13
✅ FSU battling Georgia, South Carolina, Ole Miss & UNC.
✅ OC Gus Malzahn is the lead recruiter—a huge factor in Duckworth’s interest.
🗣️ “Me and Coach Gus have a good relationship. Me and (Mike) Norvell have been cool. I think it’s a good fit.”

🔹 4⭐ Bowe Bentley (Celina, TX) – Visiting March 22
✅ FSU in the mix alongside Oklahoma, LSU, Ohio State & Georgia.

🔹 4⭐ Jaden O’Neal (Oklahoma commit) – Planning a visit
✅ Keeping FSU in the mix, especially as Oklahoma prioritizes Bentley.

🔹 5⭐ Targets Still in Play
✅ Dia Bell (Texas commit) & Keisean Henderson (Houston commit) – FSU continues conversations.

🔥 Running Back Targets: Who Joins Amari Thomas?

FSU already has 4⭐ Amari Thomas (Marianna, FL) committed after his 1,880-yard, 34-touchdown junior season. Now, they’re looking for another star.

🔹 4⭐ Carsyn Baker (Official Visit: June 6)
🔹 4⭐ Jae Lamar (Official Visit: June 20)
🔹 4⭐ Ezavier Crowell & Derrek Cooper – Other top names in the mix.

🔥 Wide Receiver Battle Heating Up

FSU is targeting some of Florida’s best playmakers to join 4⭐ Efrem White (Vero Beach, FL).

🔹 4⭐ Somourian Wingo (St. Augustine, FL)
🗣️ “FSU is a great program, but they have to show me they’ll develop WRs and get me the ball.”

🔹 4⭐ Jasen Lopez (Chaminade-Madonna, FL)
✅ Loves FSU’s culture & coaching staff.

🔹 4⭐ Brandon Bennett (American Heritage, FL)
✅ Still has FSU high on his board.

🔹 4⭐ Calvin Russell (Miami Northwestern, FL)
✅ FSU “hit the gas” on his recruitment.

🔹 Justin Williams (Buchholz, FL) – FSU recently offered, looking to gain ground.

🔥 Tight End & Offensive Line Priorities

FSU is making a big push at TE & OL, with top national talent in the mix.

🔹 TE Targets:
✅ 4⭐ Heze Kent – FSU among the leaders.
✅ Corbyn Fordham (Ohio State commit) – FSU won’t stop recruiting him.
✅ Zachery Turner (Duncanville, TX) & Kai Wesley (Orem, UT) – Both set to visit.

🔹 OL Targets:
✅ Lamar Brown (No. 1 IOL in 2026) – FSU is all in on him.
✅ On300 OT Sam Greer (OH) – A major target.
✅ Graham Houston & Ben Mubenga (Buford, GA) – FSU is heavily involved.

🔥 Defense: Tony White Reloading with Top Talent

New DC Tony White is prioritizing high-upside defenders in the 2026 cycle.

🔹 Edge Rushers:
✅ 4⭐ Jake Kreul (IMG Academy, FL) – Loves FSU’s energy & personalized approach.
✅ 4⭐ Trenton Henderson (Pensacola Catholic, FL) – Official Visit: Last weekend of June.
✅ 4⭐ Ebenezer Ewetade (No. 6 Edge Rusher) – Official Visit: May 30.

🔹 Defensive Line:
✅ On300 DL Carter Luckie – Keeping FSU in the mix.

🔹 Secondary:
✅ 4⭐ CB Darryon Williams (FSU commit)
✅ 4⭐ S Tedarius Hughes & 4⭐ S Darryl Bell (FSU commits)
✅ 5⭐ CB Chauncey Kennon – Top target in the secondary.
✅ 4⭐ CB Samari Matthews (William Amos Hough, SC) – Visiting soon.
✅ 4⭐ CB Dorian Barney (Carrollton, GA) – FSU in the mix.
✅ 4⭐ CB CJ Bronaugh (Nebraska commit) – Visiting March 19.

🗣️ Samari Matthews on FSU:
"The tradition, the culture—it’s a blessing to be in this position. Playing under Coach Surtain is something I can really see myself doing."

⏳ What’s Next?

🚀 FSU’s spring practices + Legacy Weekend (March 22) will be key recruiting moments.
🔗 More on Florida State’s latest recruiting updates here.

And that’s a wrap!

From dominant sweeps on the diamond to elite performances on the track, the ‘Noles continue to make noise across the board. With key recruiting battles heating up and big matchups on the horizon, there’s plenty to keep an eye on as Florida State builds momentum this spring.

Stay locked in for more updates, and as always—Go ‘Noles! 👏🍢