Welcome to The Chief Brief!

Good morning, Seminole fans, and welcome to this Sunday edition of The Chief Brief!

Here’s what’s on the shorter docket for today:

🏈 FSU Football Recruiting Updates 🏈

Catch up on FSU football's latest recruiting news, including five-star QB Faizon Brandon’s visit and updates on key prospects.

🏈 FSU Football's Returning Production Dips for 2024 📉

FSU will enter the 2024 season with only 56% returning production, ranking 89th nationally vs ranking 3rd place last year.

🥎 FSU Softball Defeats UCF to Advance in Tallahassee Regional 🏆️ 

FSU Softball advances in the NCAA Tallahassee Regional with a 5-1 win over UCF. A five-run second inning and solid pitching led to the victory.

⚾ FSU Baseball Drops Series Finale to Georgia Tech ⚾

FSU Baseball lost 11-10 to Georgia Tech in a series finale. Despite a strong rally, late-game errors led to the defeat.

🏆️ FSU Baseball Prepares for ACC Tournament as No. 5 Seed 🏆️ 

FSU Baseball is set for the ACC Tournament as the No. 5 seed, facing Virginia and Georgia Tech.

🏈 FSU Football Recruiting Updates 🏈

Below we have the latest FSU football recruiting news, including key summer visits, recruits joining the team, and prospects keeping their options open.

Five-Star QB Faizon Brandon Adds FSU to Visit Schedule

Florida State has secured a key summer visit from Faizon Brandon, the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2026 class. Originally set to visit Ohio State, Brandon will now visit Tallahassee on June 9. This visit comes after his initial visit to FSU in March. His summer schedule also includes stops at Tennessee, LSU, Alabama, and Penn State, with potential visits to Oregon and Ohio State in July.

(Read More)

DL Jamorie Flagg Ready to Join FSU

Three-star defensive lineman Jamorie Flagg is set to join Florida State next week. Committed since December 2022, Flagg remained loyal to FSU due to the genuine approach of Coach Mike Norvell and staff. He aims to maintain a 4.0 GPA and earn ACC Rookie of the Year. Flagg has been diligently following the workout regimen provided by FSU's strength and conditioning coach, Josh Storms. He will room with fellow defensive lineman D'Nas White and hopes to wear jersey No. 99.

(Read More)

TE Hollis Davidson Schedules Two Visits to FSU

Peachtree City’s three-star tight end Hollis Davidson will visit FSU twice in the coming weeks. Recently decommitted from Auburn, Davidson will be on campus on May 23rd and return for an official visit on June 21st. He also has an official visit to Florida scheduled for June 7th. Davidson is a major target for FSU and ranks No. 24 among tight ends in the 2025 class.

(Read More)

Four-Star Safety Hylton Stubbs Likely OV to FSU

Hylton Stubbs, a four-star safety committed to USC, is still considering FSU among other programs. Stubbs, whose brother plays at FSU, values his relationship with the FSU coaching staff, particularly defensive coordinator Adam Fuller. He has official visits to USC and Miami planned, with a visit to FSU likely. Stubbs prioritizes early playing time over NIL deals and remains open to exploring his options despite his current commitment to USC.

(Read More)

🏈 FSU Football's Returning Production Dips for 2024 📉 

Florida State is transitioning from a team of high continuity to one of the lower returning production rates in the country. ESPN's Bill Connelly's updated 2024 returning production rankings place FSU at 89th (56% overall returning production).

This significant drop comes as no surprise, with the departure of 10 NFL Draft picks and three undrafted free agents, but is a stark contrast from last year's third-place ranking (79% overall returning production).

Returning Production of Opponents

Florida State's 2024 schedule includes several opponents with high returning production, presenting a tough challenge for the Seminoles:

• SMU (11th, 78% overall)

• Memphis (23rd, 70% overall)

• Boston College (26th, 68% overall)

• Florida (27th, 68% overall)

• Miami (29th, 68% overall)

• Clemson (32nd, 68% overall)

• California (41st, 66% overall)

• Georgia Tech (44th, 66% overall)

Lower-ranked opponents include:

• Duke (91st, 56% overall)

• Notre Dame (99th, 53% overall)

• North Carolina (101st, 53% overall)

Increased Schedule Difficulty

The Seminoles' average opponent ranking in returning production has increased from 57 last year to 48 this season. This means FSU will face slightly more experienced teams on a week-to-week basis in 2024.

The Noles’ ability to adapt to these challenges and integrate new players will be crucial for their success in the upcoming season.

(More Details)

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🥎 FSU Softball Defeats UCF to Advance in Tallahassee Regional 🏆️ 

Florida State continued its dominance in the NCAA Tallahassee Regional semifinal, defeating UCF 5-1 at JoAnne Graf Field. The Seminoles, who had previously beaten the Knights with the same score in last year's semifinal, showcased a strong performance with a pivotal second inning where they scored all five runs.

Key Highlights

• Second-Inning Surge: Michaela Edenfield’s double sparked the scoring, with additional runs driven in by Amaya Ross, Devyn Flaherty, and Kalei Harding.

• Pitching Excellence: Freshman Mimi Gooden secured the win with 4 1/3 innings, allowing just three hits and one run. Ashtyn Danley closed out the game effectively.

• Coach Lonni Alameda: Praised the growth and performance of the freshmen, highlighting their contribution to the team's success.

Upcoming Challenges

FSU will play Auburn in the finals today a 4 PM. The Seminoles need just one more win to advance to the Super Regional round.

(More Details)

⚾ FSU Baseball Drops Series Finale to Georgia Tech ⚾

No. 10 Florida State baseball (39-14, 17-12 ACC) fell 11-10 to Georgia Tech (31-21, 15-15 ACC) in the series finale at Dick Howser Stadium. Despite leading after the seventh and eighth innings, the Seminoles couldn't hold off the Yellow Jackets, who scored two unearned runs in the ninth to secure the win.

Key Highlights:

• Offensive Outburst: Max Williams' solo home run initiated a five-run rally in the fourth inning, tying the game at five.

• James Tibbs' Power: Tibbs hit his 24th home run of the season, giving FSU a brief lead.

• Pitching Struggles: Despite strong performances from John Abraham and Connor Hults, late-game errors and missed opportunities allowed Georgia Tech to come back.

Game Summary:

Florida State overcame a five-run deficit in the fourth inning but faltered late. The game was interrupted by a 21-hour lightning delay, and Georgia Tech took advantage post-delay, scoring crucial runs to edge out the Seminoles.

Coach's Take:

Head Coach Link Jarrett expressed disappointment in the team's inability to close out the game: "Difficult last two innings of a game. I don't want this to tarnish how I felt about what they did in the regular season. But it's tough to walk out of there today without feeling the lack of details for finishing that game."

Up Next:

FSU heads to Charlotte for the ACC Tournament, with pool play beginning on Tuesday.

(More & More Details)

🏆️ FSU Baseball Prepares for ACC Tournament as No. 5 Seed 🏆️ 

No. 10 Florida State baseball will enter the ACC Tournament as the No. 5 seed, facing No. 4 seed Virginia and No. 9 seed Georgia Tech in Pool D. FSU missed out on a top-four seed after Georgia Tech's late comeback in their series finale.

Tournament Details:

• Dates: May 21-26

• Location: Truist Field, Charlotte, N.C.

• Format: Four pools with three teams each. The top team from each pool advances to the semifinals.

Opponents:

• Virginia: Finished 40-14, 18-12 ACC. Ranked No. 18 by D1Baseball and No. 12 in RPI.

• Georgia Tech: Finished 31-21, 15-15 ACC. FSU outscored GT 19-6 in the first two games of their recent series but lost the finale.

Coach's Take:

Head Coach Link Jarrett expressed optimism about the tournament format, saying, "This tournament does allow you to breathe a little bit... The format of this does give you a chance to know when you're playing and gives the guys an opportunity to at least not feel like they're stressed to the point of physically having to play 7 or 8 games."

Championship Goals:

• History: FSU seeks its ninth ACC Championship title, the most in the league since joining in 1992.

(More & More Details)

And that’s a wrap!

We hope you enjoyed the latest updates on FSU sports.

From exciting recruiting news in football to a resilient softball victory, and crucial preparations for the ACC baseball tournament, our Seminoles are making headlines.

Have a great day, enjoy the rest of your weekend, and as always, Go Noles!