🏹 October 29th - The Chief Brief 🏹

Building Momentum: From High-Stakes Games to High-Impact Recruits

Author

The Chief
October 29, 2024

Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

Do you believe FSU has effectively utilized the transfer portal?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Tuesday, Seminole!

Here’s what we’ve got in store for you:

🏌️ FSU Golf Heads to East Lake Showdown 🏌️
The Seminoles are in a high-stakes rematch against Auburn in the East Lake Cup after a strong stroke play finish. Highlights include Patrick McCann’s impressive hole-in-one, setting the stage for an exciting match.

🏀 Naismith Watch List and Top 20 Rankings for FSU Hoops 🏀
Basketball stars Ta'Niya Latson and Makayla Timpson land on the Naismith Watch List, while FSU’s women’s team secures a Top 20 preseason spot in both AP and USA Today polls.

🏈 FSU Football Eyes Key Recruits 🏈
With the Early Signing Period approaching, FSU is pushing to add top talent, including prospects like Florida Gator commit Jeramiah McCloud and JUCO standout Tyeland Coleman.

🏈 Former Noles Shine in NFL Week 8 🏈
From Jameis Winston’s game-winner for the Browns to Keon Coleman’s touchdown for the Bills, FSU alumni made their mark across the league.

🏈 Tough Season Forces FSU’s Focus on Recruiting 🏈
As FSU navigates a challenging season, Coach Norvell is emphasizing high-impact recruiting to strengthen the program for 2025.

📋 Depth Chart Adjustments Ahead of UNC 📋
Key lineup changes, including Jacob Rizy’s promotion to starting left guard, signal FSU’s readiness for this weekend’s game.

🏈 Game Preview: FSU vs. UNC 🏈
FSU aims to defend its strong record against the Tar Heels in Saturday’s ACC showdown. Look out for standout UNC players like RB Omarion Hampton and QB Jacolby Criswell.

🏌️‍♂️ FSU Men's Golf Primed for East Lake Rematch

The No. 12 Seminoles wrapped up stroke play at the East Lake Cup at 7-under par, tying with No. 2 Auburn. The showdown resumes today at 12:20 p.m. in match play—a rematch of the 2024 NCAA Championship, where Auburn narrowly won 3-2.

Coach Trey Jones praised the team’s spirit, saying, “The team I saw today can play with anybody.”

Key Highlights:

  • Patrick McCann made his season debut memorable with a 207-yard hole-in-one, finishing 3-under (69).

  • Luke Clanton and Tyler Weaver also shot 69, tying for fourth with strong finishes on the back nine.

Catch the match on the Golf Channel at 3 p.m.

🏀 Noles Make Naismith Watch List and Top 20 Rankings

FSU women’s basketball stars Ta'Niya Latson and Makayla Timpson have been named to the 2024-25 Naismith Women’s Player of the Year Watch List. FSU is one of only 13 schools with multiple players on the 50-player list, and one of three from the ACC. Latson and Timpson also made the Preseason All-ACC Team for the second time.

Ranking News: The Seminoles kick off ranked 19th in both the AP and USA Today polls, their second consecutive season in the AP top 25. FSU is one of six ACC teams in the top 25, alongside Notre Dame (No. 6) and NC State (No. 9).

Coming Up: The Noles host West Florida for an exhibition on Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. Admission is free! Single-game tickets are also on sale at the FSU Ticket Office.

🏈 FSU Eyes Defensive Tackle Flip from Florida Gators

With only five weeks until the Early Signing Period (starting December 4), FSU’s 2025 recruiting class remains lean, holding 11 commitments. The Seminoles are looking to lock in a few key prospects, including one already committed to the Florida Gators.

Key Target: Jeramiah McCloud
Lee County (Ga.) standout Jeramiah McCloud, a three-star defensive tackle committed to UF since May, is back in FSU’s sights. Defensive tackles coach Odell Haggins has kept close contact with McCloud, and the 6'3", 280-pounder is expected to take an official visit to Tallahassee this weekend, coinciding with FSU’s home game against North Carolina.

McCloud, who tallied 55 tackles and 12 sacks last season, is also drawing serious interest from Georgia, a top competitor for his flip. 247Sports ranks McCloud as the nation’s No. 103 defensive lineman and No. 108 overall in Georgia.

🏈 FSU Pursues New Defensive Line Prospects Amid Decommitments

FSU’s recruiting efforts continue as the Seminoles seek answers on and off the field. After recent decommitments from defensive line prospects Javion Hilson and Myron Charles, FSU has targeted new talent, including JUCO standout Tyeland Coleman from Northwest Mississippi Community College.

Coleman’s Status
Ranked as the No. 5 JUCO player nationally, Coleman is a four-star defensive lineman who recently received an FSU offer. Though contact with FSU was minimal before, Coleman is now interested in a visit, saying, “One thing that stands out to me is the culture.” Other schools in the mix include Mississippi State, Boise State, Cal, and Houston.

FSU in Final 3 for TJ Griffin
Three-star defensive lineman Timothy “TJ” Griffin recently listed FSU in his top three schools, along with Cincinnati and Ole Miss. Griffin, who visited during the Clemson game, praised FSU’s coaching stability and NFL track record under Odell Haggins. He is expected to announce his commitment on Nov. 23, with a possible visit during the Charleston Southern game that same day.

🏈 FSU Pursues USF Commit Sean Poret for O-Line Spot

Florida State is set to host three-star offensive lineman Sean Poret for an official visit during their end-of-November game against Florida. The 6'5", 270-pound USF commit, who ranks as the No. 65 interior lineman nationally, initially visited FSU in June, earning an offer after impressing at camp.

Recruitment Rundown:
Poret, currently committed to USF, has other programs in the mix, including NC State, where he visited in October, and Vanderbilt, with a visit scheduled for November 9.

🏈 NFL Week 8: Former Noles in Action

Thursday Night Football

  • Rams 30, Vikings 20: Jared Verse had a standout game for the Rams with three tackles, 1.5 sacks, and six pressures. Braden Fiske added two solo tackles. Cam Akers saw one snap for the Vikings.

Sunday Highlights

  • Browns 29, Ravens 24: Jameis Winston shined, throwing for 334 yards and three touchdowns, including a game-winning 38-yard pass. Kicker Dustin Hopkins went 3-for-3 on field goals.

  • Jaguars 30, Packers 27: Jarrian Jones recorded an interception and a pass defended. Ronald Darby left the game early.

  • Bills 31, Seahawks 10: Keon Coleman had five receptions for 70 yards, scoring a touchdown.

Sunday Night Football

  • 49ers 30, Cowboys 24: Renardo Green had three tackles and forced a fumble, while Dalvin Cook rushed six times for 12 yards for the Cowboys.

Monday Night Football

  • Steelers 26, Giants 18: Brian Burns tallied five tackles, a sack, and three QB hurries.

🏈 FSU's Tough Season Raises Offseason Stakes

FSU dropped to 1-7 after a heavy loss to Miami in Week 9, marking the program's worst start since 1975. Coach Mike Norvell acknowledged the struggles, admitting they’ll need an “elite” transfer haul to turn things around. Despite securing top-10 transfer portal classes in recent years, Norvell’s 2025 high school recruiting class ranks No. 48 nationally and No. 11 in the ACC.

"This is going to be a critical offseason for us," Norvell said, emphasizing a need for high-impact additions. After the decommitment of four-star receiver C.J. Wiley, FSU’s receiver depth looks thin, with no commitments yet in the 2025 class.

Despite the record, Norvell is clear: “I believe in the guys that we have. I believe in the way that we operate.”

📋 FSU Depth Chart Updates for North Carolina Matchup

FSU football released its depth chart ahead of Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. game against North Carolina, airing on the ACC Network. Here’s a look at key adjustments:

Notable Changes:

  • Jacob Rizy is now the starting left guard after a solid performance against Miami.

  • Andre' Otto shifts from starting left guard to backup center, supporting Maurice Smith.

  • Safety Position: Earl Little rises to backup Shyheim Brown, now listed ahead of Conrad Hussey, with Davonte Brown removed from the two-deep.

🏈 Game Preview: FSU vs. North Carolina

Florida State hosts North Carolina at Doak Campbell Stadium this Saturday at 3:30 p.m., with the game airing on the ACC Network. Here’s a rundown of what to expect from the Tar Heels:

Tar Heels Season Recap
UNC (4-4, 1-3 ACC) snapped a four-game skid with a 41-14 win over Virginia last week. Their season has been streaky, with early wins over Minnesota, Charlotte, and NC Central, followed by close losses to James Madison, Duke, Pitt, and Georgia Tech.

Two Key Stats

  • Offense: UNC averages 442.4 yards per game, driven by standout RB Omarion Hampton, who’s posted 1,006 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.

  • Defense: The Tar Heels allow 28.4 points per game, struggling particularly in pass defense, ranking 105th nationally.

Players to Watch

  • QB Jacolby Criswell: 1,660 passing yards, 10 touchdowns.

  • RB Omarion Hampton: 125.8 rushing yards per game, a top performer nationally.

  • WR J.J. Jones: Leads in receptions and yards with four TDs.

  • DT Jahvaree Ritzie: UNC’s sack leader, with 6 sacks and an 84-yard interception return.

FSU holds a 17-3-1 all-time record over UNC, looking to continue that success this Saturday.

And that’s a wrap!

As the Seminoles prepare to take on North Carolina and FSU’s athletes continue to shine, every game, every match, and every recruit shapes the future.

Thanks for joining us for today’s updates—let’s rally together and keep pushing forward. Go Noles!

How'd we do?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.