🏹 October 3rd - The Chief Brief 🏹

🌟 Big Plays and Bigger Recruits: All Eyes on FSU vs. Clemson 🌟

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The Chief
October 03, 2024

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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Thursday, Seminole!

Here’s your docket for today:

🏀 Four-Star Cam Ward Sets Decision Timeline 🏀
FSU remains in the mix for the talented forward Cam Ward, as he narrows his list ahead of his commitment date. With visits and evaluations underway, Ward is keeping an eye on development and fit for his future.

🏈 Crucial Recruiting Weekend with Key Clemson Matchup 🏈
FSU is set to host several high-profile recruits this weekend as they take on Clemson. From official visitors like 4-star OL Mario Nash Jr. to a wave of future talent, this is a pivotal moment for FSU’s recruiting efforts.

🏈 Meteoric Rise of EDGE Tobi Haastrup 🏈
Tobi Haastrup’s rapid ascent in the 2025 class has him racking up offers from major programs, including FSU. His visits, scheduled through November, will be critical in his decision-making process.

🏀 Top 15 Recruit Jaida Civil Narrows List 🏀
Jaida Civil has her eyes on eight schools, including FSU, as she prepares for her upcoming visits and final decision in November. Playing time and relationships with coaches will be key factors.

🏈 Top 2026 LB Tristan Phillips Plans Visits 🏈
The highly-touted linebacker will visit schools from across the Power 4 conferences, wrapping up with a trip to FSU for their season finale against Florida. His recruitment is heating up as he explores top programs.

⚾ FSU Baseball Fall Scrimmages Showcase Key Performers ⚾
FSU’s fall scrimmages saw some standout performances, from Wes Mendes’ first-round level pitching to Myles Bailey’s massive home run. The team continues to build momentum with the spring season in sight.

🏈 FSU Ramps Up Clemson Prep in Intense Practice 🏈
With improvements from the offense and defense, including standout plays from Brock Glenn, Marvin Jones Jr., and others, FSU’s preparation for their Clemson matchup is in full swing.

🏀 Four-Star Cam Ward Sets Commitment Date with FSU in the Mix 🏀

Cam Ward, a towering 6-foot-7, 210-pound four-star forward, has announced that he will cut his list of schools down to four on October 7th, with his final decision set for October 30th.

Florida State is among the top programs vying for Ward's commitment, alongside heavy hitters like Michigan State, Alabama, and Kansas State. Ward has already taken visits to several schools, including Maryland, Virginia, Vanderbilt, and Florida State, with a trip to Michigan State still on the horizon.

Ward, ranked as the No. 54 prospect in the 2025 class, is focused on evaluating how each program fits his versatile style of play, NIL opportunities, and development plan to reach the next level. He envisions being utilized "inside out" to maximize his strengths, from post play to shooting from deep.

🏈 Key Recruiting Weekend for FSU with Clemson Showdown 🏈

Florida State’s matchup against No. 15 Clemson is not just crucial on the field but also in recruiting, as the Seminoles are set to host an impressive list of prospects this weekend at Doak Campbell Stadium.

From official visitors to future prospects, FSU will have the chance to make a strong impression as they look to bolster their 2025 class and beyond.

Notable Official Visitors:

  • 3-star iOL Daniel Pierre Louis

  • 4-star OL Mario Nash Jr. (Mississippi State commit): Nash has been a regular visitor at FSU throughout his recruitment, and the Seminoles are hoping to flip the talented offensive lineman from his Mississippi State commitment. Nash, ranked as the No. 14 interior OL in the 2025 class, brings a wealth of experience and accolades, including being named the OL MVP at the Atlanta Under Armour Next Camp.

  • 2025 4-star DL Kevin Wynn (possible visit): Wynn is another major focus for the Seminoles as they look to fend off competition from Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas to keep the four-star DL committed to FSU.

Unofficial Visitors:

  • 2025 3-star DL Caleb Bell (Arkansas commit): Bell, a 6-foot-3, 270-pound defensive lineman, is a rising talent that FSU recently offered. He has recorded impressive stats this season and has shown an openness to other programs despite his Arkansas commitment. The son of former NFL linebacker Kendrell Bell, Caleb could be a big get for the Seminoles’ defensive line if they can sway him this weekend.

Additional Visitors:

  • 2025 4-star QB Tramell Jones Jr.

  • 2025 4-star RB Byron Louis

  • 2026 4-star WR Elias Coke

  • 2025 3-star Edge Tim Griffin

  • 2026 OT Aaron Thomas

  • 2027 4-star LB Kaden Henderson

This weekend’s game is pivotal not only for FSU’s season but also for the future of the program. With a packed house at Doak Campbell and an exciting rivalry matchup, the Seminoles hope to impress both on and off the field, potentially swinging key recruitments in their favor.

Read more here and here and here

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🏈 Tobi Haastrup’s Meteoric Rise: 21 Offers and Counting 🏈

Tobi Haastrup, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound 2025 EDGE from Katy, Texas, has skyrocketed up recruiting boards in his debut football season. With 21 offers, including Texas A&M, Ole Miss, and Florida State, Haastrup’s blend of speed and power is turning heads.

Key Visits:

  • Texas A&M – This weekend (unofficial)

  • Boston College – Oct. 11

  • Missouri – Oct. 18

  • Ole Miss – Oct. 26

  • Florida State – Nov. 2

  • Texas Tech – Nov. 9

Haastrup’s stats through three games: 9 sacks, 8 tackles for loss, and 10 hurries. His athleticism, honed from soccer and track, makes him a rising prospect to watch.

🏀 Top 15 Recruit Jaida Civil Narrows Down Schools 🏀

Jaida Civil, one of the top seniors in the country, has cut her list to eight programs: Florida State, UCF, Tennessee, Miami, Ole Miss, North Carolina, Mississippi State, and Cincinnati. Civil is aiming to make her final decision in November, with key factors being playing time and relationships with coaches.

Upcoming Visits:

  • FSU – Next weekend

  • Mississippi State – Following weekend

  • Tennessee – Later in October

  • Cincinnati – End of October

  • Possible UCF visit in November

Civil’s athleticism and ability to make plays on both ends of the court make her a coveted recruit.

🏈 2026 LB Tristan Phillips Schedules Key Visits Across Power 4 Conferences 🏈

Ventura (Calif.) 2026 linebacker Tristan Phillips is one of the hottest names in recruiting, with seven campus visits lined up for October and November.

The four-star standout, who recently picked up offers from Florida State, Oklahoma, and Oregon, will visit some of the nation's top programs over the next two months.

Upcoming Visits:

  • Oregon – October 12 (vs. Ohio State)

  • Wisconsin – October 26 (vs. Penn State)

  • Washington – November 2 (vs. USC)

  • Utah – November 9 (Holy War vs. BYU)

  • California – November 16 (vs. Syracuse)

  • Oklahoma – November 23 (vs. Alabama)

  • FSU – November 30 (vs. Florida)

Phillips, ranked as the No. 13 linebacker nationally, is set to wrap up his busy visit schedule with a trip to Tallahassee as FSU hosts Florida in their season finale.

⚾ FSU Baseball Fall Scrimmage: Standouts and Key Highlights from Week 2 ⚾

Florida State baseball continues its fall ball with exciting performances on the mound and at the plate, despite some schedule adjustments due to Hurricane Helene.

Over the past week, the Seminoles held their third and fourth scrimmages, showcasing rising talents and standout moments.

Scrimmage Highlights:

  • Freshman Hunter Carns launched an opposite-field home run, building on his strong batting practice showing earlier this fall.

  • JUCO addition Blaydon Plain hit a double, continuing his impressive fall after a homer in the first scrimmage.

  • Max Williams and Gage Harrelson delivered hard-hit balls, with Harrelson’s consistent quality at-bats standing out.

Pitching Performances:

  • Wes Mendes, the Ole Miss transfer, showed first-round potential with a lively fastball sitting at 94-95 MPH. He struck out three straight batters, each with a different pitch in a commanding outing.

  • USF transfer Joey Volini retired all four batters he faced, flashing a four-pitch mix with command and precision.

  • Chris Knier continued to impress with his fastball reaching 95 MPH and pairing it with a sharp curveball to finish strong.

Offensive Fireworks:

  • Freshman Myles Bailey provided the biggest offensive moment of the week, blasting a 112 MPH exit velocity no-doubt home run that was one of the longest seen in FSU fall ball.

  • Jaxson West, Andrew Duncan, and Max Williams added key hits, with Williams powering a double off the right-field fence.

Defensive Standouts:

  • Shortstop Alex Lodise made a crucial defensive play, timing his jump to snag a liner and doubling the runner off second base in the final inning, further proving his growth as a defender.

As fall ball continues, expect these performances to set the tone for what should be a promising spring for the Seminoles.

🏈 Elevated Energy as FSU Ramps Up Clemson Prep 🏈

Wednesday’s practice was buzzing with intensity as Florida State continued preparations for this weekend’s showdown against Clemson.

Both sides of the ball showed improvement from earlier in the week, and the back-and-forth between the offense and defense was a highlight of the day.

Key Practice Observations:

  • Brock Glenn and Luke Kromenhoek had a markedly better day, leading the offense in several notable sequences. Glenn navigated a two-minute drill efficiently, connecting with WR Hykeem Williams and later finding Lawayne McCoy with a beautiful shot play. Kromenhoek also flashed potential, though still adjusting to the speed of the game.

  • DE Marvin Jones Jr. continues to show his athleticism, ending a drive with an impressive display of quick pressure. His standout performance over the past few practices is building excitement for his role.

  • WR Lawayne McCoy shone with an acrobatic, one-handed catch, while WR BJ Gibson dazzled in 1-on-1s with his ball skills, showing confidence and creativity.

  • CB Ricky Knight and CB Ja'Bril Rawls made their presence known, with Knight securing a pick and Rawls locking down multiple targets, including a physical pass breakup.

  • The defense as a whole stepped up, with Charles Lester delivering one of his best performances of the season, securing an interception and showcasing his physicality in drills. The defensive line, particularly freshman DT Jamorie Flagg, was also praised for its relentless work, with Flagg earning major props from coaches after executing a flawless rip move in pass rush drills.

  • Offensively, RB Lawrance Toafili stood out with his receiving skills, consistently making plays after the catch. TE Brian Courtney also impressed with his strong blocking and ability to win 1-on-1 matchups in the passing game.

As the team pushes toward Saturday’s matchup, continued progress from the offense and improved execution from the defense will be critical.

And that’s a wrap!

As the Seminoles gear up for their pivotal showdown against Clemson, the excitement is building both on the field and in the recruiting world.

This weekend could mark a major turning point for the season and the future of FSU football. Let’s bring the energy and support our team!

Until next time,
The Chief

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