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FSU Finds Its Fire Again Ahead of Clemson

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The Chief
November 04, 2025

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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Tuesday, Seminole!

The energy in Tallahassee is shifting. Florida State is coming off its most complete football performance of the season — a 42–7 statement over Wake Forest — and Mike Norvell’s message this week was clear: believe, play free, and finish strong.

🏀 Women’s Basketball Opens with a 73-Point Rout
Brooke Wyckoff’s squad exploded for 112 points in its season opener — the fourth-highest total in program history — behind balanced scoring and relentless defense against FAMU.

🏈 Duce Robinson Earns ACC Honors
The junior wideout claimed his second ACC Receiver of the Week award after torching Wake Forest for 148 yards and a touchdown — his third 140+ yard game of 2025.

🧱 Recruiting Momentum Returns
FSU flipped 3⭐ LB Daylen Green from Arkansas, impressed 3⭐ DL Damaad Lewis on an official visit, and is still fighting off Texas for linebacker commit Karon Maycock — all signs the staff’s recruiting traction is alive and well.

🔥 Inside the Wake Forest Blowout
The Seminoles dominated in every phase, moving back into the national top 10 for yards per play and points per game, while the defense forced three turnovers and held Wake to just 247 total yards.

🎙️ Norvell Sets the Tone for Clemson
In Monday’s press conference, Norvell praised his team’s focus, called for composure on the road, and emphasized belief as the foundation of the turnaround: “Say the hell with the scoreboard — just play.”

👉 Momentum, belief, and buy-in — that’s the theme in Tallahassee this week as the Seminoles head to Death Valley looking for their first road win of the season.

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🏀 FSU Women’s Basketball Opens Season with 112–39 Rout of FAMU 🏀

Florida State tipped off the 2025–26 season in dominant fashion Monday night, crushing Florida A&M 112–39 at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center — the program’s 27th consecutive home-opening win and its fourth-highest point total ever.

🔥 Offensive Explosion
The Seminoles had six players score in double figures, overwhelming the Rattlers from start to finish:

  • Sole Williams: 18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals

  • Tatum Greene: 14 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks — first career double-double in her FSU debut

  • Pania Davis: 14 points, 8 rebounds, perfect 8-for-8 from the line

  • Sydney Bowles & Jasmine Shavers: 13 points apiece

  • Emma Risch: 12 points on four made threes

💪 Dominant Defense
FSU held FAMU to just five points in the second quarter and 39 total, their fewest allowed since January 2023. The Seminoles also blocked 11 shots, their most since 2024.

🏆 Program Milestones

  • 27th straight home-opening win

  • 10 made threes — 7th-most in program history

  • 11th 100-point game under head coach Brooke Wyckoff

  • Fourth-highest single-game point total in school history

📅 Up Next: Georgia Southern (Nov. 6, 6 p.m. ET, Donald L. Tucker Civic Center)

🏈 Duce Robinson Named ACC Receiver of the Week 🏈

Florida State junior wideout Duce Robinson has been named the ACC Receiver of the Week after a dominant performance in the Seminoles’ 42–7 rout of Wake Forest.

🔥 Highlight Night
Robinson caught five passes for 148 yards and one touchdown, torching a Wake defense that entered the game allowing just 179.9 passing yards per contest and hadn’t surrendered a 50-yard play all season.

💪 Elite Company
This is Robinson’s second ACC Receiver of the Week honor this season (he also earned it after a 173-yard, 2-TD outing vs. East Texas A&M). He’s the first Seminole to win multiple times in one season since Tamorrion Terry in 2018.

Robinson now has three games over 140 receiving yards in 2025, the most by any FSU player since Snoop Minnis (2000).

📅 Up Next: Florida State (4–4, 1–4 ACC) travels to Clemson for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff Saturday on ACC Network.

🏟️ FSU–Virginia Tech Set for 7:30 PM Senior Night Kickoff 🏟️

The ACC announced Monday that Florida State’s home finale vs. Virginia Tech will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Nov. 15 and air on ACC Network.

🔥 Senior Night Spotlight
The Seminoles (4–4, 1–4 ACC) will honor their senior class in a pregame ceremony at Doak Campbell Stadium.

💪 Series & Home Form

  • FSU leads the all-time series 24–13–1, including a 39–17 win in 2023.

  • The Seminoles are 4–2 at home this season and have not allowed a rushing touchdown in five straight games — one shy of the school record.

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🧱 FSU Flips 3⭐ LB Daylen Green from Arkansas 🧱

Florida State secured another key recruiting win Monday, flipping three-star linebacker Daylen Green from Arkansas to the Seminoles’ 2026 class.

🔥 Recruiting Win for the Noles
Green, a Gadsden County (Fla.) standout and former Razorbacks commit, made his decision official just days after an official visit to Tallahassee. He originally earned his FSU offer in June after impressing coaches at summer camp.

“I’ve been around the program for a long time,” Green said earlier this year. “It’s not about the big buildings — it’s about what’s inside. The coaches can develop me on and off the field, and that’s why I have a great feeling about FSU.”

💪 Scouting Snapshot

  • Size: 6’1”, 210 lbs (formerly 6’0”, 165 as a freshman)

  • Stats: 111 tackles, 4 TFL in 2024; also 9 catches for 153 yards on offense

  • Ranking: No. 57 LB nationally, No. 89 player in Florida (247Sports)

  • Class: 2026 (reclassified from 2027)

  • FSU 2026 Class Rank: No. 13 nationally (27 total commits)

Green brings length, agility, and a safety background that translate into explosiveness and quick change-of-direction at linebacker. His tackling form and instincts stand out, though scouts note questions about long-term frame development and play-speed consistency.

🧠 Fit and Projection
Defensive coordinator Tony White values aggressive, downhill defenders — and Green fits that mold despite being leaner than typical White linebackers. Evaluators see him as a high-upside developmental prospect who could grow into a Power Four starter with NFL potential.

👉 Green joins Izayia Williams, Karon Maycock, and Noah LaVallee in FSU’s 2026 linebacker class, adding both depth and local flavor to one of the program’s most active recruiting cycles in years.

🏈 Texas Making Push for FSU Commit Karon Maycock 🏈

Florida State linebacker commit Karon Maycock took an official visit to Texas this past weekend, where he watched the Longhorns’ win over top-10 Vanderbilt from the front row.

🔥 Visit Highlights
The Miami Central (Fla.) standout, ranked No. 87 LB nationally (247Sports), attended with his family and spent time with QB commit Dia Bell, a fellow South Florida native.

“It was great — watching them play fast and physical, and feeling the love from the coaches and players,” Maycock told Horns247.

💬 Recruiting Outlook
Maycock reaffirmed his pledge to FSU but acknowledged the Longhorns’ growing interest:

“I’m still committed to Florida State… just gotta see which program loves me the most and can develop me.”

Despite speculation around Mike Norvell’s future, Maycock said a coaching change “wouldn’t affect” his feelings for the program.

💪 FSU Impresses 3⭐ DL Damaad Lewis on Official Visit 💪

Florida State strengthened its position with three-star defensive lineman Damaad Lewis over the weekend, hosting the Charlotte (N.C.) standout for an official visit surrounding the Seminoles’ 42-7 win over Wake Forest.

🔥 Visit Takeaways
The 6’4”, 245-pound prospect called the trip “amazing,” praising the team’s energy and culture.

“It was good — I’m rocking with it,” Lewis said.
“They didn’t even look like a 4-4 team out there. They looked undefeated. The atmosphere, the way they bond — it was crazy.”

📊 Recruiting Snapshot

  • Rank: No. 51 DL nationally (Top247 grade 89)

  • Other officials: NC State (summer), Nebraska (October)

  • Upcoming: Unofficial visit to LSU on Nov. 15

  • Decision: After senior season

  • Stats: 32 tackles, 7 TFL, 4 sacks in 2024

Lewis says FSU now sits firmly in his top three, alongside NC State and Nebraska.

🔥 Inside the Numbers: FSU’s 42–7 Statement Over Wake Forest 🔥

Florida State’s Homecoming blowout over Wake Forest wasn’t just cathartic — it was statistically dominant. The Seminoles dismantled one of the ACC’s top defenses, reclaiming momentum and moving back inside the national top 10 in several key offensive metrics.

🏈 Offensive Efficiency Soars
Led by QB Tommy Castellanos (91.1 PFF grade) and WR Duce Robinson (90.1), FSU averaged 7.39 yards per play and scored touchdowns on all six red-zone trips.

  • Castellanos: 12-of-16 for 271 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs — now three straight games without a pick.

  • Robinson: 5 catches, 148 yards, 1 TD — his third 140+ yard game of the season, tied for most in the country.

  • Samuel Singleton Jr.: 91 rushing yards and 1 TD in his first career start.

  • Randy Pittman Jr.: added both a 30-yard reception and a rushing score.

  • 7th in yards per play (6.96)

  • 7th in points per game (40.0)

  • 3rd in yards per pass (10.2)

  • 6th in third-down conversions (53%)

💪 Defensive Revival
The defense — guided by Tony White — looked rejuvenated, holding Wake to just 247 total yards and 85 rushing yards while forcing three turnovers.

  • Earl Little Jr.: 7 tackles, 1 INT (his 4th of the season), 1 forced fumble — most INTs by an FSU player since 2021.

  • Ja’Bril Rawls: first career fumble recovery, setting up a score.

  • Mandrell Desir: sack leader among ACC freshmen (3.0) after another takedown.

  • Jaden Jones: first career start and TFL.

  • James Williams & Amaree Williams: combined for key pressures and a 7-yard sack.

Defensively, FSU climbed nationally to:

  • 21st in yards per play allowed (4.81)

  • 33rd in points per game allowed (20.6)

  • 16th in yards per rush allowed (3.08)

  • 15th in sack rate (8.7%)

🧱 Clean, Complete Football
FSU committed just four penalties for 45 yards, the fewest since September, and went 6-for-6 in the red zone. The team has now topped 400 total yards in seven straight games — the second-longest active streak in the ACC.

Special teams also stayed sharp, with Jake Weinberg converting all six PATs and Mac Chiumento punting twice for 50+ yards each.

📊 PFF Top Graded Players

  • Offense: Castellanos (91.1), Robinson (90.1), Lucas Simmons (76.3), Randy Pittman Jr. (75.9), Ousmane Kromah (71.4)

  • Defense: Edwin Joseph (76.7), Ja’Bril Rawls (74.5), Earl Little Jr. (71.5), James Williams (68.8), Amaree Williams (68.3)

👉 After four straight losses, this was a comprehensive, numbers-backed statement: FSU dominated in execution, discipline, and efficiency — proof that the program’s foundation is stabilizing again.

🎙️ Norvell Reflects on Wake Win, Preaches Belief Ahead of Clemson Clash 🎙️

Florida State head coach Mike Norvell met with media Monday, reviewing the Seminoles’ 42–7 blowout over Wake Forest and looking ahead to a primetime test at Clemson. The tone: confident, composed, and focused on sustaining momentum.

🔥 Homecoming Energy and “Complete” Football
Norvell began by crediting the Doak Campbell crowd and his players’ energy:

“The excitement, the encouragement — you could feel it. The guys had fun.”

He called the performance “dominant and complete,” noting that practice intensity from the bye week finally carried over to game day. The key, he said, was maintaining that standard weekly:

“You want that to show up every week. That’s the expectation.”

💪 Trust, Growth, and the Spark of Sam Singleton
Norvell praised RB Sam Singleton Jr. for earning his first career start through hard work and confidence.

“He’s been ascending — trusting his eyes and feet. He earned that opportunity.”

Singleton responded with 91 rushing yards and a touchdown, giving FSU a needed jolt of explosiveness.

😤 Taking the Fight on the Road
With Clemson looming, Norvell emphasized poise and preparation:

“It’s going to be fast, violent, competitive — a hostile atmosphere. We have to control what we can and play Florida State football.”

He said the team has addressed past road struggles and expects its best game yet Saturday in Death Valley.

🔥 Fun Returns to Tallahassee
After a grueling October, Norvell spoke candidly about rediscovering joy in competition:

“It sucks losing. But say the hell with the scoreboard — just play. Have fun in this moment.”

He said practices leading up to Wake were the most competitive and energetic of the season, describing a group “competing, picking each other up, and enjoying football again.”

❤️ Player Support and Culture
Asked about players publicly backing him after the win, Norvell deflected credit:

“I don’t need them to say it — I see it every day in how they work. My job is to pour into them so they can be their best.”

He added that unity and gratitude run deep throughout the locker room and staff.

🧱 Defensive Composure and Confidence
Echoing Tony White’s comments from Sunday, Norvell said the defense played “calm and in control.”

“There was confidence in everything we were doing. Even on bad plays, they just lined up and played the next snap.”

He praised the balance between pressure and base looks but noted room for cleaner spacing and rush discipline:

“It could’ve been a shutout — but we’ve still got areas to grow.”

🧠 Belief as the Foundation
Norvell returned repeatedly to one word: believe.

“Believe in your training, your teammates, and your ability. Nobody likes losing, but don’t be blinded by short-term results. Growth comes through struggle.”

He said the 2025 team is much improved from last year’s — more talented, resilient, and capable of elite play — but needs consistency to match its potential.

🏈 Other Notes

  • QB depth: Norvell said both Brock Glenn and Kevin Sperry are capable and ready; Glenn saw action vs. Wake.

  • Gus Malzahn: Missed Sunday due to a family emergency but is expected back for practice.

  • Clemson preview: Praised their experience (“80% returning production”) and said both teams will bring “their absolute best shot.”

And that’s a wrap!

From Brooke Wyckoff’s record-setting opener to Mike Norvell’s message of belief, it feels like Florida State is finally rediscovering its rhythm — on the court, on the field, and on the recruiting trail.

Momentum is contagious in Tallahassee… and this week, it’s everywhere.

See you tomorrow, Chief 👊
— The Chief Brief Team

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