🏹 May 22nd - The Chief Brief 🏹

Postseason Heat & Portal Moves

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The Chief
May 22, 2025

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What’s your confidence level heading into the Super Regional vs. Texas Tech?

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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Thursday, Seminole!

A Super Regional showdown, recruiting fireworks, and a record-breaking roster — it’s all heating up in Tallahassee.

Here’s what we’ve got lined up:

🏐 Volleyball lands a hammer – Washington standout Lexie Mason signs with FSU, bringing over 1,500 kills and serious firepower to the 2025 class.

🥎 Softball preps for Texas Tech – The Noles are three wins from the WCWS, boasting the nation’s best hitting lineup and elite arms in Francik and Danley.

🎯 QB Jaden O’Neal eyes a flip – The longtime Oklahoma commit opens the door for FSU. An official visit is locked in for June.

🛡️ Traeviss Stevenson surges up FSU’s DB board – A May 30 OV is now on the books as the Seminoles push to flip the Georgia Tech commit.

🚨 Kavon Conciauro cancels FSU visit – The 4-star WR opts for Mississippi State instead. FSU will regroup with WR depth still strong.

📋 FSU’s Top 10 Most Wanted Recruits (2026) – From 5-star LB Xavier Griffin to QB priority Jaden O’Neal, here’s the full board of summer targets.

The summer surge is here — and the path to a top class (and a ticket to Oklahoma City) runs through Tallahassee. Let’s get into it. 👇

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🏐 FSU Volleyball Signs Washington Star Lexie Mason 🏐

Florida State Volleyball is adding firepower — and a whole lot of stats — to its 2025 roster.

Head coach Chris Poole announced the signing of Lexie Mason, a 6’2” right-side hitter from Washington, on Wednesday. Mason was one of the top prep players in the state, racking up accolades and eye-popping numbers during her high school career.

📊 Career Highlights:
• 2A First Team All-State (2024)
• 2023 Skagit Valley Herald Player of the Year
• Four-time First Team All-Conference selection
• School-record 1,500+ kills, 1,000+ digs, 200+ blocks, 150+ aces

Mason, who plans to major in dietetics, brings size, experience, and big-match mentality to a Seminoles squad with postseason ambitions. She becomes the newest piece in what’s shaping up to be a high-ceiling 2025 class.

🔥 Noles vs. Red Raiders: Super Regional Showdown Set at The Plex 🔥

The road to Oklahoma City goes through Tallahassee.

No. 5 FSU Softball (49–10) is set to host No. 12 Texas Tech (48–12) in this week’s Tallahassee Super Regional at JoAnne Graf Field — with a trip to the Women’s College World Series on the line.

🎟️ Schedule:
• Game 1 – Thursday, 7 PM (ESPN2)
• Game 2 – Friday, 3 PM (ESPN2)
• Game 3 (if necessary) – Saturday, 7 PM (ESPN/ESPN2)

🏆 Legacy on the Line:
• FSU is looking to clinch its 13th WCWS berth
• Hosting its 7th Super Regional (4-2 in previous home Supers)
• Has advanced to the WCWS in 4 of its last 6 home Supers
• 60–19 all-time at home in the NCAA Tournament

🧨 Offense + Arms = Dangerous Blend:
• No. 1 in NCAA in hits (561) and top-10 in AVG, runs, triples, and RBI
• FSU pitchers rank 6th nationally with a 2.23 ERA
• Freshman Jazzy Francik (1.57 ERA) and sophomore Ashtyn Danley (1.58 ERA) are both top-10 in ERA nationally

💫 Key Contributors:
• Isa Torres – .448 AVG, 95 hits (5 away from FSU record), .433 vs. Top 25
• Jahni Kerr – Career highs in AVG (.396), HR (9), RBI (42)
• Michaela Edenfield – 50 RBI, 10 HR, 202 career RBIs (5th all-time)
• Katie Dack – Team-high 15 HR, 51 RBI
• Jaysoni Beachum – 11 HR, 45 RBI, former National Freshman of the Year
• Apsel, Widra, and Francik – combined for 34 wins and less than 60 walks total

💥 The Matchup:
• FSU faces Nijaree Canady, one of the nation’s top arms (via Stanford), and Chloe Riassetto (via Louisiana)
• FSU had success vs. both pitchers in 2023, combining for 10 runs across two games

📝 Fun Fact:
Since 2021, FSU is 109–20–1 in April and May — and looking locked in.

🎯 4⭐ QB Jaden O’Neal Sets FSU Visit, Eyes Summer Decision 🎯

The Seminoles aren’t backing down in their pursuit of one of the top arms in the 2025 class.

Jaden O’Neal, a four-star quarterback and longtime Oklahoma commit, confirmed in an exclusive interview that Florida State remains firmly in the mix — with an official visit to Tallahassee on the books for next month.

🗓️ Upcoming OV Schedule:
• Florida State
• Arizona
• Oklahoma (TBD)

📣 O’Neal on FSU:

“It didn’t feel like a one-time red carpet… it felt like they genuinely wanted me. Solid visit, good vibe, real talks with the coaches.”

🏈 Scheme Fit:
• FSU envisions O’Neal in a play-action-heavy system
• Coaches emphasized using his “live arm” and tailoring the scheme around his strengths

🤝 Long-Term Relationships:
• Has known Tony Tokarz and Gus Malzahn since the 8th grade
• Called his relationship with FSU “solid” and communication “fluid”

💬 What’s Next?
O’Neal says he’s still committed to OU but remains open, adding:

“One of these schools is going to have to put in a big effort — but right now I’m still committed.”

FSU is making its pitch. Now it’s about closing the gap.

🛡️ DB Riser Traeviss Stevenson Sets FSU OV for May 30 🛡️

A rising name on Florida State’s recruiting board is officially locked in for a visit.

Traeviss Stevenson, a Georgia Tech commit and 3⭐ DB out of Brooks County (GA), tells 247Sports he’ll take his official visit to Tallahassee from May 30–June 1 — the same weekend as several other key targets.

🔍 Quick Profile:
• 6’1”, 181 lbs | Class of 2026
• No. 46 CB nationally (247Sports)
• Committed to Georgia Tech
• Recently offered by FSU in early April

📈 Why It Matters:
Since seeing him in person this spring, FSU coaches Patrick Surtain Sr. and Evan Cooper have made Stevenson a priority. His stock is climbing fast, and the Seminoles are pushing to flip the script.

🗓️ Upcoming Visit Schedule:
• FSU: May 30–June 1
• Texas: June 6–8
• Auburn: June 10–12
• Georgia Tech: June 13–15
• Georgia: June 20–22

FSU’s in the door — and this visit could be the spark that changes everything.

🚨 WR Target Kavon Conciauro Cancels FSU OV for Mississippi State 🚨

A key wide receiver target in the 2026 class is heading in a different direction — at least for now.

Kavon Conciauro, a 6’0”, 180-pound 4⭐ WR out of Houston County (GA), has reportedly canceled his official visit to Florida State in favor of taking a trip to Mississippi State instead.

🔁 What’s Changed:
• Conciauro had a summer visit scheduled with FSU
• Jeff Lebby’s staff at Mississippi State made a late push and secured the OV
• Georgia and others remain in the mix, but the momentum seems to be shifting

🌟 The Outlook:
While Conciauro’s change of plans is a blow to FSU’s summer visit lineup, this recruitment is far from over. The Noles have been consistent in their evaluations, and with multiple wide receiver targets on campus in June, there’s still opportunity to reload.

FSU will need to recalibrate here — but the board at WR remains deep and dynamic.

🎯 FSU’s Top 10 Most Wanted Recruits for 2026 🎯

With summer visits heating up, the Seminoles have zeroed in on 10 key targets who could define the 2026 class. Noles247 ranked the top names based on FSU’s needs, talent, and mutual interest — here’s who’s at the top of the board:

🔟 5⭐ LB Xavier Griffin – Former USC commit. Will visit FSU June 15. Big battle ahead with Bama, Texas, and Ohio State.

9️⃣ 3⭐ TE Isaac Jensen – Quiet riser from Nebraska. FSU sees blue-chip potential and has momentum here.

8️⃣ 4⭐ CB Chauncey Kennon – A personal priority for Mike Norvell. Official visit this summer could be pivotal.

7️⃣ 4⭐ LB Rodney Colton Jr. – Strong post-spring buzz. FSU may be in the lead but will need to outlast Tennessee.

6️⃣ 4⭐ DL Kendall Guervil – DT is a big need. FSU gaining ground, but competition is stiff.

5️⃣ 4⭐ WR Devin Carter (Auburn commit) – Legacy Nole. Visited twice this spring. June OV locked in.

4️⃣ 4⭐ OL Samuel Roseborough – Top target in the trenches. Official visit set for May 30.

3️⃣ 4⭐ CB CJ Bronaugh (Nebraska commit) – One of the fastest in the country (10.34 100m). FSU will host him this summer.

2️⃣ 4⭐ EDGE Tristian Givens – Top fit for FSU’s JACK linebacker spot. OV set for June 6–8. Feels like a must-get.

1️⃣ 4⭐ QB Jaden O’Neal (Oklahoma commit) – Main QB target. OV to FSU in June. Could be Norvell’s next flip.

👀 This list could shift fast depending on June visits — but if the Noles close on even a few of these names, it’ll be one of the strongest classes yet under Norvell.

And that’s a wrap!

That’s a wrap for today’s edition of The Chief Brief.

The Plex is about to pop. The recruiting board is buzzing. And there’s a growing sense that something special is building across every FSU program. From Jaden O’Neal’s looming visit to Jazzy Francik’s rise, we’ll be tracking every move.

Enjoy the buildup to Thursday’s Super Regional opener — and we’ll see you back here tomorrow with the latest from across Garnet & Gold Nation. 🍢🔥

Yours in the climb,
– Chief

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