🏹 May 25th - The Chief Brief 🏹

Baseball Fall Short, Golf Climbs High, and June Recruiting Heats Up

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The Chief
May 25, 2025

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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Sunday, Seminole!

Tournament runs, recruiting momentum, and one very Scooby-Doo-inspired offensive lineman — this weekend had it all.

Here’s what we’ve got on deck:

⚾ ACC title slips away as FSU Baseball falls late to UNC. The Noles await their NCAA Regional fate on Monday.

⛳ Men’s Golf climbs the leaderboard at NCAA Championship Finals, sitting comfortably in the top 5 with All-Region honors rolling in.

🛡️ Zavion Griffin-Haynes trending toward the Noles, as Florida State sets up for a key June 20 weekend that could swing the 2026 class.

🛠️ Top OL targets Doodles Parks and Samuel Roseborough talk official visits and why FSU is firmly in the mix.

🏃 4⭐ RB Ezavier Crowell keeps FSU in his final 5 — but can Norvell’s staff steal momentum from Bama?

⚖️ 3⭐ WR commit Darryon Williams eyes a decision between FSU and Florida after a year-long pledge to the Noles.

From Durham to the driving range and back down to Tampa, the action's heating up — and June's shaping up to be a monster month on the trail.

Let’s get into it. 👇

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⚾ Noles Fall to UNC in ACC Semifinals, Await NCAA Regional Fate ⚾

A tough one in Durham.

Florida State Baseball saw its ACC title hopes dashed in a 7–5 semifinal loss to No. 4 North Carolina on Saturday night. The Noles (38–14) led 4–3 and 5–4 at different points, but UNC broke a 5–5 tie with two runs in the top of the ninth to punch their ticket to the championship game.

📊 Key Moments:
• Myles Bailey launched his 15th homer of the year — and third of the ACC tourney
• Alex Lodise tied the game in the 6th with a laser double off the wall
• Wes Mendes: 5+ IP, 7 Ks, 5 ER in a gritty start
• Joey Volini: 3.1 IP, 3 Ks, just 1 ER in relief

🔍 Missed Opportunities:
• FSU went just 1-for-8 with RISP and stranded 9 runners
• A go-ahead run was erased on a failed bunt in the 8th
• UNC’s Kane Kepley delivered the dagger with a 2-run single in the 9th

🗓️ What’s Next:
The Noles will learn their NCAA Regional destination on Monday, May 26, during the selection show (noon ET on ESPN2). FSU is widely expected to host.

Despite the loss, the Noles head into the NCAA Tournament with momentum — and plenty of firepower.

⛳ Seminoles Hold Top-5 Spot at NCAA Golf Championship ⛳

The Noles are right in the thick of it.

No. 11 Florida State Men’s Golf sits 1-under (575) through two rounds at the NCAA Championship Finals, currently in 5th place heading into Sunday’s critical round at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa. The field cuts to 15 after Sunday — and FSU is on pace to advance.

🔥 Round 2 Highlights:
• Carson Brewer (-3): Even-par 72 | Tied for 12th | Birdie on 18 to finish strong
• Luke Clanton (-2): Even-par 72 | Tied for 16th | Nearly holed eagle on 18
• Jack Bigham (+1): Climbed 10 spots with a 72 | Tied for 37th
• Gray Albright (+3): 74 with 4 birdies, including one on 18
• Tyler Weaver (+4): 74 again, holding steady

🏆 Honors Roll In:
• Luke Clanton & Tyler Weaver were both named to the PING All-Region Team by the Golf Coaches Association of America. Clanton earns his second, Weaver his first.

🗓️ What’s Next:
• FSU tees off Sunday at 9:52 AM ET from the 10th hole
• Top 15 teams move on to Monday — then the top 8 head to match play on Tuesday

The Noles are trending upward — and looking like real contenders.

🛡️ 4⭐ EDGE Zavion Griffin-Haynes Trending Toward FSU 🛡️

Momentum is swinging Florida State’s way in the race for one of the top edge rushers in the 2026 class.

Zavion Griffin-Haynes, a 6'6" four-star defensive end from North Carolina, has trimmed his finalists to FSU, Clemson, Michigan, and Nebraska — with the Seminoles gaining traction heading into his official visits.

🔥 Why FSU Is Gaining Ground:
• Two visits this spring built strong rapport with DL coach Terrance Knighton, DC Tony White, and Mike Norvell
• Griffin-Haynes praised Knighton’s NFL background and coaching style:
“He knows how to put players in the best spot... my favorite part was the meeting with Coach Knighton.”
• FSU gets the final OV on June 20 — a strategic advantage
• His younger brother Jayden (2026) is visiting that same weekend and already has a comfort level with the staff

📉 Notably Absent:
• UNC, once considered a leader, is no longer in contention

It’s shaping up to be a Seminoles vs. Tigers showdown — and FSU may be pulling ahead at the right time.

🛠️ 4⭐ OL Duo Talks FSU Ahead of Summer Visits 🛠️

Two of the Sunshine State’s top offensive linemen — Da’Ron “Doodles” Parks and Samuel Roseborough — faced off in a spring showcase last week. But it’s not just their on-field battle drawing attention — both linemen are priority recruits for Florida State heading into a crucial stretch of official visits.

👷 Da’Ron Parks (Cardinal Mooney)
• 6'5", 350 lbs | Projects best as a guard
• Praised FSU’s coaching continuity — especially OL coach Herb Hand and HC Mike Norvell
• Official visit scheduled: ✅ Florida State, along with Rutgers, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Ohio State
• Fun fact: Nickname “Doodles” comes from a family riff on Scooby-Doo

📣 Parks on FSU:
“Coach Norvell is one of my favorite head coaches… They’re losing a lot of guys on the OL, and I feel like it’d be a good place to come in and make an impact.”

🔩 Samuel Roseborough (Clearwater)
• 6'5", 285 lbs | Leaner build, likely to add size at the next level
• Official visit schedule:

  • May 30–June 1: Florida State

  • June 6–8: Texas A&M

  • June 13–15: Ohio State

  • June 20–22: Texas

  • LSU likely getting a midweek OV

📣 Roseborough on FSU:
“Just the relationships I’ve built with Coach Hand, Coach Norvell, Coach Malzahn… it’s been there for a while.”

💰 On NIL:
“It’ll definitely be a big factor… but it won’t be the deciding factor.”

🗓️ Decision Watch:
Both linemen are aiming to commit before the fall. FSU is the only in-state finalist for Roseborough and remains very much in the mix for both.

🏃 4⭐ RB Ezavier Crowell Includes FSU in Final 5, Sets Decision Date 🏃

Florida State remains in the hunt for elite running back talent — and four-star Alabama native Ezavier Crowell is giving the Noles a shot.

Crowell named his final five: Georgia, Texas, Auburn, Alabama, and Florida State. He’s set to commit on June 26, following a round of official visits.

📍 Key Details:
• FSU visit: Mid-June
• Alabama visit: Final stop before commitment
• High praise for Norvell, RB coach David “YAC” Johnson, and OC Gus Malzahn

📣 Crowell on FSU:
"The thing that made Florida State a contender was Coach Norvell, ‘YAC’ and Malzahn... I like Norvell’s personality and the way he coaches his program."

💡 Outlook:
FSU may be a long shot with Alabama trending, but they remain in the conversation and will get a face-to-face pitch soon.

⚖️ 3⭐ WR Commit Darryon Williams Weighing FSU vs. UF Ahead of June OVs ⚖️ 

Florida State wide receiver commit Darryon Williams is entering decision mode — and the Gators are making a serious push.

The Tampa Plant product has been committed to the Seminoles since April 2024, but he’ll take official visits to both UF (June 6–8) and FSU (June 13–15) before making a final call.

🤝 On Why He’s Stayed Committed:
• “It just felt like home… I love everything coach Norvell does for the program.”
• “The team chemistry is just like my high school. It’s like home — I wouldn’t want to leave it.”

🔁 What’s Changed:
• The departure of Ron Dugans (his original recruiter) has made an impact
• He’s built a solid relationship with new WR coach Tim Harris Jr., saying:

“He’s one of the best receiver coaches I’ve been around… I get a pretty good vibe from him.”

🏈 The Gators’ Push:
• Daily contact from WR coach Billy Gonzales
• Williams says UF and FSU are “neck and neck” entering visits

💸 On NIL:

“I wouldn’t make it the main role but it’s going to play a key role… it’s a business decision.”

Ranked the No. 58 athlete in the 2026 class by 247Sports, Williams will have all eyes on his June visits. FSU still holds the pledge — but the race is heating up.

And that’s a wrap!

From late-inning heartbreak to rising leaderboard hopes, Saturday gave us a taste of everything. But the real fireworks might come off the field — with June official visits set to define the future of Florida State football.

We’ll be tracking every flip, visit, and commitment.

Let’s keep building. 💪
— The Chief Brief Team

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