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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Monday, Seminole!

We’ve got home runs flying, portal pickups stacking, and postseason pushes heating up. From Drew Faurot’s walk-off blast to Gavin Sawchuk’s official arrival, this edition is LOADED. 💥

Here’s what we’ve got on deck:

• ⚾ FSU baseball trades heartbreak for a haymaker in a statement series win over Clemson

• 🔁 Two major portal splashes as Gavin Sawchuk and Gavin Blackwell sign with the Noles

• 🥎 Softball locks up the No. 1 seed in the ACC Tournament despite finale loss at VT

• ⛳ FSU Women’s Golf tees off NCAA Regionals as the top seed in Lexington

• 📥 A full portal recap as the spring window closes with seven new additions

• 🎯 Norvell’s playmaker philosophy: Why TEs and RBs might carry the passing game in 2025

The postseason push is on, the roster is rounding into shape, and the Garnet & Gold storylines are everywhere. Let’s get into it. 👇

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⚾ Noles Bounce Back Big After Wild Game 2 Loss, Blast Clemson to Win Series ⚾

Game 2 brought heartbreak. Game 3 brought the thunder. 💥

After a weather-delayed 6–3 loss in Game 2 — their first defeat all year when leading after seven innings — No. 5 Florida State baseball regrouped and obliterated No. 3 Clemson in the rubber match, 20–9 in eight innings at Howser Stadium. 🧹🔥

Game 2 Recap (L, 6–3):
FSU led 3–1 in the 8th before Cam Cannarella’s rain-soaked Little League homer flipped the script. Clemson added two more in the 9th after a 16-hour weather delay. The Noles stranded 11 runners and went 1-for-9 with RISP — snapping a 25–0 record when leading after seven.

Game 3 Recap (W, 20–9, 8 inn.):
Then came the Sunday afternoon fireworks show. FSU blasted six homers, including a walk-off from Drew Faurot — his second of the day — to run-rule the Tigers.

💣 Offensive Onslaught:

• Alex Lodise: 2 HR, 4 RBI

• Drew Faurot: 2 HR (from both sides!), walk-off blast 💥

• Myles Bailey: 4-for-5, 5 RBI, 3-run bomb

• Max Williams: Homer in the 8th

• FSU: Season-high 21 hits, 6 homers, 10 runs in first 3 innings, 8 more in last 2

⚡ Series Notes:

• FSU takes the series 2–1 and improves to 33–10 (14–7 ACC)

• First time since 2021 the Noles hit 3 HRs in a single inning

• The Noles are now 2–1 vs Top 5 teams in the last two weekends

👉 Next up: FSU closes midweek play Tuesday at Jacksonville (6 PM, ACCNX).

🔗 Click here for full recap on Game 2 and Game 3

🔁 It’s Official: Gavin Sawchuk Signs with the Seminoles 🔁

The Noles just added a home-run threat to the backfield. 💨

Florida State announced Sunday that former Oklahoma starting running back Gavin Sawchuk has officially signed with the program — solidifying one of the biggest spring portal moves in the country.

💣 Why It Matters:

• Sawchuk brings explosiveness, experience, and elite balance to a deep-but-unsettled RB room.

• FSU was his only visit — and made the impression that sealed the deal.

• He’ll compete for the starting job this fall.

📊 Career Snapshot:

• ✅ 3 years at Oklahoma, 11 starts

• ✅ Best season: 744 yds & 9 TD on 120 carries in 2023

• ✅ Burned FSU in 2022 Cheez-It Bowl (15 car, 100 yds, 1 TD)

• ✅ High-character, pass-protecting, dual-threat back

🗣️ Mike Norvell: “He’s the complete package... home-run ability, tremendous ball skills, and relentless work ethic.”

🔥 RB Room Outlook:
With Roydell Williams, Caziah Holmes, Kam Davis, and four-star freshman Ousmane Kromah joining the mix, Sawchuk gives FSU an instant-impact option in what’s shaping up to be a loaded, competitive unit.

👉 Click here for more on Sawchuk’s signing and fit at FSU

📬 Portal Pickup: WR Gavin Blackwell Commits to FSU 📬

Mike Norvell keeps stacking weapons — and the latest is a speedster with ACC experience and a chip on his shoulder. 💨

Florida State added veteran wide receiver Gavin Blackwell, who signed with the Seminoles Sunday afternoon after a visit that sealed the deal.

🗣️ “As soon as I stepped on campus, I felt the love and priority of being there.” — Blackwell

🔍 Why It Matters:

• North Carolina transfer with one year of eligibility remaining

• Brings deep-threat speed, YAC ability, and route versatility

• Scheme familiarity with OC Gus Malzahn & WR coach Tim Harris Jr. via former OC Chip Lindsey

• Joins a revamped WR room with Duce Robinson (USC) and Squirrel White (Tennessee)

🎯 Quick Hits:

• 31 career catches at UNC, limited by injuries — but now fully healthy

• Feels he can “hit the ground running” in FSU’s offense

• Chose FSU over Baylor, Syracuse, and James Madison

🗣️ “They needed another veteran guy in the offense. I bring a vertical deep threat… and I’m all for bringing it.”

👉 Click here for more on Blackwell’s fit in the WR room and his goals at FSU

🥎 Noles Drop Finale at VT, Set Sights on ACC Tournament 🥎

Florida State closed the regular season on a rare off note, falling 8–6 at No. 15 Virginia Tech in Sunday’s series finale. The No. 9 Seminoles finish the regular season at 44–8 (18–3 ACC), still clinching the No. 1 seed for next week’s ACC Tournament. 🔒

📊 Game Recap:

• Isa Torres: 3-for-4, HR, 4 RBI — continued her hot streak 💥

• FSU used 4 pitchers in the loss — Hokies tagged the staff for 4 HR, a season-high allowed

• Annabelle Widra took the loss (1.1 IP, 4 ER)

🗓️ Up Next:
The Noles open ACC Tournament play on Thursday, May 8 at 11 a.m. vs. the winner of Georgia Tech/Cal.
📍 Location: Brighton, MA
📺 Watch: ACC Network

👉 Click here for full tournament info and bracket breakdown

⛳ No. 2 FSU Women’s Golf Opens NCAA Regionals as Top Seed ⛳

History is already made — and now it’s time to chase the next trophy. 🏆

For the first time ever, No. 2-ranked Florida State enters an NCAA Regional as the No. 1 seed, teeing off Monday at the Lexington Regional with a spot in the NCAA Championship Finals on the line.

📍 Regional Details:

• Top 5 teams advance to Nationals (May 16–21 in Carlsbad, CA)

• 12-team field includes USC, TCU, Vanderbilt, Kansas State, Louisville & more

• Format: 3 days, 54 holes of stroke play at Keene Trace Golf Club

🏌️‍♀️ The Lineup:

• Lottie Woad (2024 ACC Golfer of the Year)

• Mirabel Ting (2025 ACC Golfer of the Year)

• Kaylah Williams (2x NCAA Regional vet, recent FSU grad 🎓)

• Freshmen: Fullbrook, Gazzoli, Pedrique

🔥 Season Snapshot:

• ACC Champions (first time in program history)

• Nation-best 6 team titles, 7 top-3 finishes

• Only 8 total team losses across 11 events

• 17 individual top-3s, 7 individual wins

Coach Amy Bond:

👉 Click here for full NCAA Regional preview

📥 Portal Recap: Who the Noles Landed This Spring 📥

Florida State’s spring transfer haul is locked in — and while it may not be flashy, it’s filled with calculated, need-based moves across key positions. With no additional visits expected, here’s your rundown of the newest Seminoles heading into summer workouts:

🔑 Key Additions:

• QB Jaylen King (ETSU) — A dual-threat depth piece who threw for 1,536 yards and rushed for over 400 in 2023. Expected to contribute on scout team and bring competition to the QB room.

• RB Gavin Sawchuk (Oklahoma) — One of the most talented backs in the portal. Had five straight 100-yard games to close 2023. Brings proven Power Four production and elite upside to a room without a clear RB1.

• WR Gavin Blackwell (UNC) — Former FSU recruit with experience in a Power Four offense. Described as a vertical threat with YAC potential. With Squirrel White and Duce Robinson already in, Blackwell adds maturity and chemistry.

• OL Josh Raymond (Vanderbilt) — Interior lineman who reunites with OL coach Herb Hand. Brings versatility and is expected to develop as a depth piece on the interior.

• OL Ja’Elyne Matthews (Rutgers) — High-upside former blue-chip who’s looking for a reset. Only spent a few months at Rutgers before transferring. The talent is there, now it’s about culture fit.

• CB Jeremiah Wilson (Houston) — Veteran corner with experience and positional flexibility. Adds competition and depth to the secondary.

• S Jarvis Boatwright Jr. (USC) — A former FSU target who returns to Tallahassee after one season with the Trojans. Adds athleticism and long-term upside to the safety room.

📌 Final Tally: 7 signees across six positions — all with something to prove and roles to earn.

👉 Click here for the full transfer profiles and insight on how each fits into FSU’s roster build.

🎯 Who Will Step Up at WR? Pittman, Lucas Among Intriguing FSU Options 🎯

The wide receiver room may have question marks — but FSU’s coaching staff sees plenty of answers elsewhere in the offense. 🧠

With recent departures and a position group still taking shape, the Noles are turning to versatile threats like Randy Pittman and Jaylin Lucas to help bolster the passing game.

📈 Context:

• Since Mike Norvell arrived, no Seminole has more receptions than RB Lawrance Toafili (92)

• That’s more than Johnny Wilson, Pokey Wilson, or Ja’Khi Douglas during the same stretch

• Translation: the pass-catching game at FSU often runs deeper than the WR depth chart

🧩 Key Puzzle Pieces:

• Randy Pittman (TE, UCF transfer): 51 catches, 631 yards, 3 TDs in two seasons — 13 YPC in 2024

• Jaylin Lucas (RB, Indiana transfer): 53 career catches, 7.3 YPC in 2023, and dynamic out of the backfield

• Freshmen to watch: TE Chase Loftin (early enrollee), WR Jayvan Boggs, WR Tae’Shaun Gelsey

• Veteran adds: WR Duce Robinson (USC), WR Squirrel White (Tennessee), WR Gavin Blackwell (UNC)

🗣️ Norvell:

With Gus Malzahn’s creativity and Norvell’s track record of maximizing personnel, the spring's biggest question may still become the fall's biggest surprise.

👉 Click here for more on the pass-catching picture at FSU

And that’s a wrap!

That’s it for this edition of The Chief Brief — a weekend of bombs, big additions, and postseason momentum. Whether it’s the portal or the playoffs, the Noles are making moves and leaving marks.

We’ll be back soon with more updates as the tournaments heat up and summer workouts get underway. Until then:

📣 Share this edition with a fellow Nole

📩 Hit reply and tell us: Who’s your breakout pick for the stretch run?

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Stay sharp, stay locked in —

Go Noles 🍢 🏹