🏹 October 24th - The Chief Brief 🏹

Seminoles Prepare for Battle: Rivalry Week, Recruiting Moves, and Basketball Dominance.

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The Chief
October 24, 2024

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If you could only choose 1, which game would you like to win this year?

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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Thursday, Seminole!

Here’s what’s coming up today:

🏀 No. 19 FSU Women’s Basketball Dominates Tampa 🏀
Florida State’s women’s basketball team kicked off their season in style, thrashing Tampa 91-46 in an exhibition game. Ta’Niya Latson led with 26 points, and the defense held Tampa to just two points in the second quarter.

⚾ FSU Baseball Announces 2025 Schedule ⚾
FSU’s 2025 baseball schedule has been released, featuring 20 home games against NCAA Tournament teams and a highly anticipated series against rival Florida. The Seminoles are ready to return to the diamond after their 24th Men’s College World Series appearance.

🏈 FSU Expands Defensive End Board in 2025 Recruiting Class 🏈
The Seminoles offered four-star edge rusher Tobi Haastrup, a key addition to the recruiting board. Haastrup’s commitment is set for December 2—just before the Early Signing Period.

🏈 2026 Top247 Edge Zavion Griffin-Haynes to Visit FSU 🏈
North Carolina commit Zavion Griffin-Haynes remains open in his recruitment as he sets key visits, including Florida State on November 30. Can FSU sway this top edge rusher?

🏈 FSU Practice Notes: Miami Prep Underway 🏈
As FSU preps for their rivalry clash against Miami, the young quarterbacks are showing flashes of brilliance while the defensive line continues to dominate. Penalties, however, remain a concern.

🏈 FSU Heads to Miami for Rivalry Showdown 🏈
Florida State faces undefeated Miami in a prime-time ACC showdown this Saturday. Miami boasts the nation’s top offense, led by Heisman candidate Cam Ward. FSU’s defense will need to be at their best to pull off the upset.

🏀 No. 19 FSU Women’s Basketball Dominates Tampa in Exhibition Opener 🏀

The Florida State women’s basketball team started their season with a commanding 91-46 win over Tampa in Wednesday’s exhibition game at the Donald L. Tucker Center. Ta’Niya Latson led the way for the Seminoles with 26 points, shooting 9-of-16 from the field and a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line.

Key Highlights:

  • Ta’Niya Latson: 26 points, 7-for-7 from the free throw line.

  • Makayla Timpson: Double-double with 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 blocks.

  • Malea Williams: 9 rebounds and 4 blocks.

  • O’Mariah Gordon and Raiane Dos Santos: Led the team with 5 steals each.

  • Strong Defense: The Seminoles recorded 43 rebounds and 10 blocks as a team, with Timpson and Williams contributing 8 of those blocks.

The Seminoles dominated defensively, holding Tampa to just two points in the second quarter, closing the half on a 24-2 run. The game was sealed with a 23-10 third-quarter burst, giving FSU a comfortable 91-46 victory.

Next Game:
FSU returns to the Tucker Center on Wednesday, Oct. 30, at 6 p.m. to host West Florida. Admission is free, so come out and support your Noles!

⚾ FSU Baseball Unveils 2025 Schedule Packed with NCAA Tournament Opponents ⚾

Florida State’s 2025 baseball schedule has been announced, featuring 20 home games against NCAA Tournament teams from last season. The Seminoles, fresh off their 24th Men’s College World Series appearance in 2024, will take on nine games against fellow CWS teams.

Key Highlights:

  • Home Games: 35 games at Dick Howser Stadium, including series against CWS qualifier North Carolina (May 15-17) and NCAA Tournament teams Wake Forest (April 4-6) and Virginia (April 17-19).

  • ACC Play: Begins at home against Boston College (March 14-16). Rivalry games include a trip to Miami (March 20-22) and a three-game series vs. Florida, with games in Tallahassee (March 11), Jacksonville (March 25), and Gainesville (April 8).

  • Non-Conference: The Seminoles kick off the season with a three-game series at home vs. James Madison (February 14-16).

Looking Ahead:

  • The 2025 campaign begins with high expectations as FSU prepares for another competitive season under head coach Link Jarrett. With a total of 42 games played in Florida, including a challenging ACC slate, the Seminoles aim to return to Omaha.

Mark your calendars—Opening Day is February 14!

🏈 FSU Expands Defensive End Board with Offer to Four-Star Edge Tobi Haastrup 🏈

With the Seminoles lacking a commitment at defensive end in the 2025 recruiting class, FSU has made a key move by offering four-star edge rusher Tobi Haastrup out of Houston, Texas. Originally from London, Haastrup has impressed programs across the country with 7 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, and blazing speed—posting a sub 11-second 100-meter dash time.

Recruitment Update:

  • Offers: Haastrup has drawn interest from programs like Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Boston College, and Missouri.

  • Decision Date: Haastrup will announce his commitment on December 2, just two days before the Early Signing Period on December 4.

  • Upcoming Visits: He plans to visit FSU for their November 2 home game against North Carolina, with additional visits scheduled to Ole Miss, Texas Tech, and Virginia.

Currently, there are no 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions for Haastrup, though Texas A&M is believed to be in a favorable position.

🏈 FSU to Host 2026 Top247 Edge Rusher Zavion Griffin-Haynes for Visit 🏈

Although Zavion Griffin-Haynes, the highly sought-after edge rusher from Rolesville (N.C.) High, has been committed to North Carolina since September, his recruitment remains open as he sets five key visits for November. The 6-foot-6, 220-pound standout is ranked No. 143 overall and No. 16 among edge rushers in the 2026 class by 247Sports, with a higher industry Composite ranking of No. 118 overall.

Upcoming Visits:

  • Nov. 2: Michigan

  • Nov. 9: Tennessee

  • Nov. 16: North Carolina

  • Nov. 23: Ohio State

  • Nov. 30: Florida State

Griffin-Haynes, who recently visited Georgia, made a strong impression during his trip but remains committed to exploring his options. The Seminoles will host him for their matchup against North Carolina on November 30. FSU fans are eager to see if they can sway this top talent.

🏈 FSU Practice Notes: Preparing for Miami Showdown 🏈

As the Florida State Seminoles prepare for their highly anticipated rivalry game against Miami, Wednesday’s practice was filled with ups and downs as the team continued to fine-tune their game plan. Here are some key takeaways from the session:

  • Young QBs Stand Out: Both Brock Glenn and Luke Kromenhoek had flashes of brilliance during the day, with each delivering some impressive throws under pressure. While consistency remains an area to improve, both quarterbacks made significant strides. Glenn connected on a few deep throws to tight ends, while Kromenhoek hit a next-level deep out and displayed impressive improvisation skills.

  • Young Wide Receivers Getting Extra Coaching: The young receiving corps, including Elijah Moore and Lawayne McCoy, received extra attention from the coaching staff, including Mike Norvell and Ron Dugans. Moore made a jaw-dropping one-handed catch but also fumbled later in the practice, while McCoy bounced back from a slow rep to make a tough diving catch.

  • Defensive Front Dominates: FSU’s defensive line, led by Patrick Payton, Marvin Jones Jr., and Joshua Farmer, applied constant pressure during team drills. Payton and Byron Turner were especially active, with Turner making key stops, and the defensive front looked strong across the board.

  • Pre-Snap Penalties a Concern: One area that needs to be addressed is the team’s pre-snap discipline, with multiple penalties cropping up during practice. FSU will need to clean this up before facing Miami to avoid giving up free yards to the nation’s top-ranked offense.

With Saturday’s big game just days away, FSU is working to clean up mistakes and build on the positive momentum as they prepare to face a formidable Miami squad.

🏈 FSU Heads to Miami for Primetime Rivalry Showdown 🏈

The Florida State Seminoles travel to Hard Rock Stadium this Saturday to take on the No. 6 Miami Hurricanes in a highly anticipated ACC rivalry matchup. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Miami comes into the game undefeated at 7-0, including 3-0 in ACC play, and is aiming to start 8-0 for the first time since 2017.

🏹 What to Expect from Miami 🏹

  • Offensive Powerhouse: Miami leads the nation in total offense, averaging 577.3 yards per game and 48.3 points per game (No. 2 in the country). Quarterback Cam Ward has been electric, leading the nation in passing yards (362.6 per game) and touchdowns (24). Miami is also converting a staggering 60.2% of third downs, the best in the nation.

  • Balanced Attack: While their passing game gets most of the attention, Miami’s ground game is no slouch, averaging 188.9 rushing yards per game. The running back duo of Damien Martinez and Mark Fletcher Jr. has combined for 677 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns this season.

  • Defensive Strengths: Miami's defense ranks 8th in the nation against the run, allowing just 92 rushing yards per game. However, their pass defense (214.1 yards allowed per game) is ranked 61st, showing some vulnerability through the air.

  • Key Players:

    • QB Cam Ward: Ward has 2,538 passing yards and 24 touchdowns, with only five interceptions this season.

    • WR Xavier Restrepo: Leading the Hurricanes with 98 receiving yards per game and six touchdowns.

    • DE Tyler Baron: Tops the team with 8 TFLs and 4.5 sacks.

    • LB Francisco Mauigoa: Anchoring the defense with 36 tackles, 5 pass breakups, and 2 sacks.

🏹 Seminoles’ Challenge 🏹

FSU's defense, fresh off a stronger performance against Duke, will need to be at its best to contain Miami’s potent offense. Limiting Cam Ward’s ability to extend plays and finding ways to disrupt Miami’s rhythm on third down will be crucial.

And that’s a wrap!

From dominant basketball performances to key recruiting developments and all eyes on the upcoming Miami showdown, it's a critical time for FSU athletics.

With the football team prepping for one of its toughest tests yet and basketball season just heating up, there’s plenty to be excited about in Seminole Nation.

Make sure to stay tuned for more updates as we head into an action-packed weekend.

Until next time, Chief out! 👊🌟

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