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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Mother’s Day, Seminole!

A rough Saturday on the diamond, a heartbreak in Brighton, and a post-spring defensive depth chart that could define the fall. As FSU shifts focus to a crucial summer stretch on the recruiting trail, there’s no shortage of movement — or momentum.

In today’s Brief:

🔒 A closer look at where FSU’s 2025 defense stands after the spring
📉 Baseball’s bats go quiet as Cal evens the series
🥎 Softball surrenders the lead late in ACC title game
👀 2026 recruiting board reshuffle — must-get names on defense and at RB
📺 Plus: What’s next for the diamond Noles & softball’s postseason path

Let’s get into it.👇

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⚾ Seminoles Shut Out by Cal in Game 2 ⚾

No. 2 Florida State ran into a wall Saturday in Berkeley, falling 5–0 to Cal in one of their most surprising offensive performances of the season. It was just the second time the Noles have been shut out all year

📉 What Went Wrong:

• Just 6 hits — all singles — and no walks

• 13 strikeouts against a Cal staff that entered with a team ERA over 6.00

• Solo homer in the 3rd and a two-run shot in the 5th broke it open

• Joey Volini: 5 IP, 7 H, 5 ER — tagged with his 3rd loss

🔦 The One Threat:

• In the 4th: Lodise, Williams, and Bailey all singled to load the bases

• But Fisher struck out and Faurot grounded out to kill the rally

💡 Silver Lining:

• John Abraham delivered 3 no-hit innings of relief with 5 Ks — his best outing of the year

📊 The Bigger Picture:

• FSU drops to 35–11 (15–8 ACC) and now faces a decisive rubber match

• After scoring 42 runs in the previous three games, the offense was completely stifled

🗓️ Up Next: Game 3 of the series — Sunday at 4 PM ET on ACCNX
Wes Mendes (5–2, 5.09 ERA) will get the start for the Seminoles

👉 Click here for the full game recap and what to expect in the finale

🥎 Noles Fall Late, Clemson Wins First ACC Title 🥎

Florida State’s bid for an ACC three-peat came up just short in Brighton, as No. 8 FSU fell 2–1 to No. 20 Clemson on a dramatic seventh-inning homer. It marks the Tigers’ first-ever ACC Tournament championship — and just the Noles’ first loss this season when leading after five.

📊 Game Recap Highlights:

• 💣 Hallie Wacaser: Solo HR in the 3rd — her 7th of the season

• 🧤 Isa Torres: Diving catch stranded bases loaded in the 2nd

• 🔁 Ashtyn Danley: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 K

• 🔒 Julia Apsel: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 5 K before 7th-inning leadoff walk

• 🚨 Jazzy Francik allowed a two-run HR — first ER of the tournament

• 🧊 Bottom 7: FSU brought the tying run to second, but stranded both

📺 What’s Next: NCAA Tournament Selection Show — Sunday at 7 PM ET on ESPN2. Regionals begin May 16.

👉 Click here for the full recap + what’s next for FSU Softball

🛡️ Post-Spring Defensive Depth Chart Breakdown 🛡️

With spring ball and the portal window in the rearview, Florida State's defense is close to fully formed — and a late addition at corner could elevate the entire unit.

📍 The Headline:
Transfer CB Jeremiah Wilson arrives from Houston and is expected to start immediately. Coaches love his scheme familiarity and veteran presence — a huge get at a major position of need.

🔍 Key Position Notes:

🏃 Jack (Hybrid Edge/LB):
No true leader yet, but Omar Graham, James Williams, and Amaree Williams headline a crowded, versatile group. Coaches are intrigued by the speed + size options they can mix and match.

💪 Interior DL (Big DE / NT):

• Deante McCray and Darrell Jackson project as starters inside

• Daniel Lyons and KJ Sampson flashed in camp, and Kevin Wynn could factor in with a strong summer

📏 Edge/Field DE:

• James Williams is a lock to start, while Deamontae Diggs earned serious buzz

• Wildcard: Jayson Jenkins, recovering from an Achilles tear

🧠 LB Core:

• Juice Cryer, Elijah Herring, and Omar Graham lead an athletic, physical unit

• Stefon Thompson and Blake Nichelson bring depth and scheme versatility

• Graham might’ve been the best overall LB this spring

🔒 Secondary:

• CB1: Ja'Bril Rawls — Called “NFL-caliber” by coaches

• CB2: Jeremiah Wilson — Immediate starter; allows Quindarrius Jones to develop at a better pace

• Safety Starters:

  • Shyheim Brown (Boundary)

  • Edwin Joseph (Field — if healthy)

  • Earl Little Jr. (Rover) — most consistent DB in camp

Freshmen like Zae Thomas, Max Redmon, and K.J. Kirkland could crack the rotation. Conrad Hussey remains in the fold, but consistency remains his challenge.

📈 The Bottom Line:
This defense has talent, speed, and flexibility. But unlocking it fully depends on how quickly guys like Joseph, Jones, and Diggs adapt — and whether this new scheme can turn traits into production.

👉 Click here for the full depth chart + analysis on every defensive spot

🔒️ FSU’s Must-Get Defensive Targets in 2026 Class 🔒️ 

The 2026 cycle is critical for Florida State — and these four defensive recruits sit atop the board as must-land priorities if the 'Noles want to level up their high school haul.

Here’s a look at one essential name at each position:

💥 DL: Trenton Henderson (Pensacola Catholic, FL)

• Top Panhandle prospect + longtime FSU target

• Axed June OV to FSU in favor of USC 👀

• Still expected to visit for FSU’s opener vs. Alabama

• 🗣️ FSU needs to keep this semi-local star home

🧠 LB: Rodney Colton Jr. (Newnan, GA)

• Former South Carolina commit — FSU has hosted him twice this year

• OV scheduled for June; top competition includes Tennessee & Penn State

• With five-star Xavier Griffin unlikely, this is one FSU can’t let slip

🔒 CB: Lasiah Jackson (Lee County, GA)

• Next in line from a school that just sent Ousmane Kromah to FSU

• 6’3” frame + local (1 hr from Tally)

• Stanford, Bama, and GT are top competition — summer OV is huge

🚨 S: Kaiden Hall (Panama City, FL)

• 6’3”, 195-lb safety with rare downhill physicality

• Already visited twice in 2024 — OV set for next month

• Battling Bama, UF & OU — but FSU's long-term interest is a plus

👉 Click here for the full breakdown + why each of these four names could define FSU’s 2026 defensive class

🏃‍♂️ RB Recruiting Reset: Where FSU Stands in 2026 Cycle

With one commit locked in and multiple blue-chip targets still in play, the Seminoles’ 2026 running back board just got a spring shakeup.

📍 Big Picture:
After adding Oklahoma transfer Gavin Sawchuk and moving Micahi Danzy to WR, FSU may not take more than one high school RB. But if Gus Malzahn wants a second back, June’s official visits will be pivotal.

✅ Committed
Amari Thomas (4⭐, Blountstown, FL)
FSU’s RB1 for the 2026 class. Committed in January, still solid. Plans OVs to Kentucky, South Carolina, and Kansas State — but FSU feels confident here.

📝 Top Targets to Know:

• Carsyn Baker (4⭐, Langston Hughes, GA)
  FSU loves his breakaway speed and athleticism. OV locked in for June 6. Competing with Ohio State (early leader), Clemson & Texas A&M.

• Derrek Cooper (5⭐, Chaminade-Madonna, FL)
  Once trending away, now trending back — FSU will host him June 15 during a critical week of visits. Still a long shot, but a strong season could shift momentum.

• Jae Lamar (4⭐, Colquitt County, GA)
  Longtime Georgia lean, but FSU has stayed close. Legacy Weekend visit showed effort, even if brief. June OV is set, decision coming in early July.

• Ezavier Crowell (4⭐, Jackson, AL)
  FSU will get an OV, but hasn’t made much headway. Alabama appears to be in control.

📉 On the Fringe:

• Li’Darious Pryor (3⭐, Orlando, FL)
  Visited in March. No OV scheduled. Rutgers trending. Considered a backup option.

• Damarius Yates (3⭐, Mississippi)
  Briefly flirted with FSU again but recently committed to Ole Miss. Wasn’t a major push from the Seminoles.

🚫 Off the Board:

• Javian Mallory → Committed to Miami

• Javian Osbourne → Committed to Notre Dame

📈 The Bottom Line:
FSU has a great foundational piece in Thomas, and the staff is swinging big at top-100 backs like Baker, Cooper, and Lamar. If they land any of those, this will be one of their strongest RB classes in years — even if they stop at just one.

👉 Click here for a full rundown of all 2026 RB targets, visits, and projections

And that’s a wrap!

One Satuday, two tough losses — but the postseason road is still wide open for both FSU Baseball and Softball. Meanwhile, the defensive identity for 2025 is coming into focus, and recruiting boards are heating up just in time for official visit season. Buckle up — June's going to be busy.

Catch you Monday with a full recap of the weekend finale and bracket reaction for the softball squad.

✌️ Stay sharp and stay gold,
– The Chief Brief Team