🏹 October 18th 2023 - The Chief Brief 🏹

Welcome to The Chief Brief!

Hey Seminole fans! Here's what's hot this week:

🏈 No. 4 FSU vs. No. 16 Duke: A gridiron clash and a showcase of future talent.

🎾 Our women's tennis team is acing their way to the ITA Championships in Gainesville.

🏀 Spotlight on Ta'Niya Latson, our basketball prodigy, and the team's preseason rankings.

🛡️ Kudos to our offensive line, now on the Joe Moore Award's Midseason Honor Roll.

A big thanks to our sponsor, The Gnarly Barley. For top-notch brews and bites, click here.

Let's dive in!

Ta'Niya Latson: A Rising Star on the Court

Big news from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Ta'Niya Latson has made her mark on the Ann Meyers-Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Preseason Watch List. After her standout freshman year where she set the ACC's single-season freshman scoring record with 659 points, it's no surprise. And here's a fun tidbit: among the 20 contenders, Latson stands out as the sole sophomore. She's in good company too, with Notre Dame's junior guard Sonia Citron also representing the ACC.

The list will see some changes come January, and players can still make their mark as the season progresses. With Latson at the helm, the future looks bright for the Seminoles.

Speaking of the team, they're gearing up for a promising season. With the return of talents like Makayla Timpson and Sara Bejedi, and the addition of Alexis Tucker and Sakyia White, there's a lot to be excited about. If you're eager to see them in action, circle Oct. 26 on your calendar. FSU takes on Flagler College at 6 p.m. at the Tucker Center, and the best part? Admission is free.

FSU Women's Basketball: Making Preseason Noise

The Associated Press has released its preseason poll, and the Seminoles have clinched the No. 18 spot. This marks FSU's highest preseason position since the 2021-22 poll. Under the guidance of Head Coach Brooke Wyckoff, the team's trajectory is promising. And for an added feather in our cap, we've secured the 22nd spot in the preseason USA TODAY Coaches Poll. Here's to a great season ahead!

FSU Women's Tennis: Gearing Up for Gainesville

Pack your bags, Seminole fans, because our women's tennis team is hitting the road to Gainesville for the 2023 ITA Women's Southeast Regional Championships. And if their recent performances are any indication, we're in for a treat!

Our Seminoles have been on fire this fall season, showcasing their prowess at both the Bedford Cup and the ITA All-American Championships. Fresh off the courts of Tampa, freshmen Laura Putz and Maelie Monfils clinched the Women's Open doubles title at the Bedford Cup. Their synergy was palpable, taking down formidable pairs from USF, FAU, and UNF. Not to be outdone in singles, both Putz and Monfils celebrated their first collegiate singles victories, with sophomore Cade Cricchio joining the victory parade.

Over in Cary, North Carolina, senior Vic Allen showed why she's a force to be reckoned with, toppling No. 49 Sofiya Chekhlystova of Penn State. Allen, alongside Ellie Schoppe, also dominated in doubles, while Schoppe herself secured a hard-fought victory against Wisconsin's 119th-ranked Alina Mukhortova. Anna Arkadianou, currently ranked 55th nationally, made her mark by defeating Ohio State's 69th-ranked Shelly Bereznyak.

With Arkadianou, Allen, and Schoppe all holding impressive national rankings, and the latter also ranking 34th in doubles with sophomore Millie Bissett, the stage is set for a thrilling championship.

The Southeast Regional Championships kick off this Thursday and will run until Monday.

FSU's O-Line: A Wall of Honor

When it comes to the nation's top offensive line units, No. 4 Florida State's O-Line isn't just in the conversation; they're leading it. On Tuesday, our formidable front was spotlighted on the Midseason Honor Roll for the prestigious Joe Moore Award. And if you're wondering, yes, that's the award for the nation's crème de la crème of offensive line units. The final winner will be unveiled in December, and we've got our fingers crossed!

What makes our line stand out? Experience. We're talking about the most seasoned offensive line in college football. Six of our starters have graced the field for at least 30 starts: D'Mitri Emmanuel leading the pack with 44, followed closely by Jeremiah Byers and Casey Roddick with 36 each. Maurice Smith, Darius Washington, and Robert Scott Jr. aren't far behind. And let's not forget Bless Harris, who's started 11 games, three of which were this season.

Our O-Line's prowess was on full display at Boston College, where they ensured not a single tackle for loss occurred. That's only the second time in FSU history, folks! Currently, we're leading the ACC and are fifth in the nation, allowing a mere 3.50 tackles for loss per game. And if you recall our season opener against No. 5 LSU, quarterback Jordan Travis remained untouched, thanks to our line.

To top it off, our linemen have clinched the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week title thrice this season. Harris against LSU, Emmanuel against Southern Miss, and Washington against Virginia Tech. Speaking of that Virginia Tech game, hats off to running back Trey Benson, who dashed his way into FSU history with a 200-yard rushing game, becoming only the second Seminole to achieve this in the past three decades.

So, here's to our O-Line: the unsung heroes making waves this season!

The Seminoles' Recruiting Blitz: A Weekend of Possibilities

As the No. 4 Florida State Seminoles (6-0) gear up to face the No. 16 Duke Blue Devils (5-1) on the gridiron this Saturday night, there's another high-stakes game unfolding off the field: the battle for blue-chip recruits. Doak Campbell Stadium isn't just hosting a football showdown; it's also the backdrop for a pivotal recruiting weekend.

The Visitors:
Here's the comprehensive list of expected visitors:

• 4-star 2026 ATH Efrem White

• 4-star QB Luke Kromenhoek (FSU commit)

• 4-star RB Kameron Davis (FSU commit)

• 4-star RB Micahi Danzy (FSU commit)

• 4-star 2025 RB Ousmane Kromah

• 4-star WR Camdon Frier (FSU commit)

• 4-star 2025 WR Koby Howard

• 4-star 2026 WR Devin Carter (FSU commit)

• 2026 TE Javar Bowden

• 4-star OL Jonathan Daniels (FSU commit)

• 5-star 2025 OL Solomon Thomas

• 4-star 2025 OL Juan Gaston

• 4-star 2025 OL Max Buchanan

• 2025 OL Lamar Williams

• 3-star 2025 Edge Tylon Lee

• 4-star DL Artavius Jones (Miami commit)

• 4-star DL Nasir Johnson (Florida commit)

• 3-star DL D'Nas White

• 3-star 2025 DL Jarquez Carter

• 3-star LB Timir Hickman-Collins (FSU commit)

• 4-star 2025 LB Tarvos Alford

• 4-star 2025 LB Tavion Wallace

• 4-star 2025 LB Jadon Perlotte (UGA commit)

• 5-star DB Charles Lester (FSU commit)

• 4-star DB Ricky Knight (FSU commit)

• 4-star 2025 DB Darrell Johnson

• 4-star 2025 DB Hylton Stubbs

• 3-star 2025 DB Ladarian Clardy

• 3-star 2025 DB Dra Fullbright

These visits could play a crucial role in shaping FSU's future roster and its aspirations on the national stage.

The Bigger Picture:
Currently sitting pretty at 6th nationally in the 2024 class rankings, FSU is on the cusp of a recruiting renaissance. For context, they finished 19th last year. Now, they're eyeing the top 5, and one name could be the key: LJ McCray.

The McCray Decision:
Five-star trench player LJ McCray is set to make his college decision this weekend. Landing him could propel FSU's Team Score to 280.43, and there's buzz that his stock might rise even further.

Beyond McCray:
But the Seminoles' ambitions don't stop with McCray. Jeremiah Smith, the country's No. 1 WR and an Ohio State commit, is also in their sights. If FSU can pull off the coup of securing both McCray and Smith, they could be looking at a score of 289.89, placing them squarely in top 5 territory.

Aiming for the Stars:
To crack the top 3, FSU would likely need to surpass a score of 300. This would mean adding more elite talent to their roster. Names like DT Nasir Johnson (a UF commit) and CB Jamari Howard are on the radar. If they can secure these prospects, along with McCray and potentially Smith, FSU could find themselves nestled between 3rd and 4th nationally.

In Conclusion:
This weekend is monumental for FSU, both on and off the field. As they face Duke in a top-20 showdown, the sidelines will be buzzing with recruiting activity that could shape the future of Seminole football. The path to a top 5 or even top 3 class is challenging, but with the momentum and potential recruits in sight, the Seminoles have every reason to dream big.

That's a Wrap!

What a week for the Seminoles! From the gridiron to the court, our teams are making waves. Want more behind-the-scenes action and updates?

Follow us on Instagram for exclusive content and highlights.

Thanks for being a part of our Seminole family. Until next time, keep the spirit alive and Go Noles!