🏹 September 13th - The Chief Brief 🏹

Seminoles on the Rise: World Cup Stars, Key Recruits, and Crucial Showdowns

Author

The Chief
September 13, 2024

Welcome to The Chief Brief!

TGIF, Seminole!

Here’s what we’ve got for you today:

⚽ Seminoles Shine in FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Quarterfinals
Five FSU players advance to the quarterfinals, with key performances for Brazil and the U.S.

🏐 FSU Volleyball Hosts FAU and UCF
The Seminoles are set for an exciting weekend of matches as they defend their ACC Championship title.

🔥 Four-Star WR Tristen Keys Weighs Top Programs, Including FSU
The 2026 prospect discusses his recruitment and upcoming visits.

🔥 Five-Star Alabama Commit Darrell Johnson to Visit FSU
A key opportunity for FSU to flip the highly-ranked safety.

🔥 FSU Offers Louisville DE Commit CJ May
FSU extends a scholarship to the talented pass rusher as they look to rebuild their defensive line class.

🔥 FSU in the Mix for 2027 Top 100 Edge Chris Whitehead
The sophomore standout plans visits to several top programs, including FSU.

🔥 FSU Extends Offer to Four-Star Edge Rusher Chase Linton
The former Rutgers commit is now eyeing FSU, with a visit scheduled this month.

🏈 FSU Hosts Memphis in First Matchup Since 1990
FSU looks for its first win of the season this Saturday.

🔥 FSU’s Struggles: Areas Ripe for Improvement
A look at FSU’s early-season struggles and where improvement is expected.

🔥 Breaking Down Memphis: Keys to FSU’s Matchup
FSU faces a dangerous Memphis team led by QB Seth Henigan and RB Mario Anderson.

⚽ Seminoles Shine in 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Quarterfinals ⚽

Five current Florida State Seminoles advanced to the quarterfinals of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

Brazil, featuring key FSU players, secured a thrilling extra-time victory over Cameroon, advancing to face either North Korea or Austria.

Meanwhile, the U.S., led by Taylor Suarez and Heather Gilchrist, triumphed over Mexico 3-2 after Jordynn Dudley netted the winning goal in extra time.

Both teams are set for tough quarterfinal matchups this weekend.

🏐 FSU Volleyball Hosts FAU and UCF in Seminole Classic 🏐

The No. 21 Florida State volleyball team (5-1) will look to continue their strong start this weekend, hosting Florida Atlantic (5-2) on Friday and UCF (4-0) on Sunday at the Seminole Classic in Tully Gym.

Led by reigning ACC Co-Player of the Year Audrey Koenig, the Noles have seen impressive contributions from Khori Louis, Taylor Head, and Emery Dupes. FSU seeks to build on their ranked win over No. 25 Georgia as they defend their ACC Championship.

🔥 Four-Star WR Tristen Keys Weighing Top Programs, Including FSU 🔥

Four-star wide receiver Tristen Keys is weighing offers from top programs like Auburn, FSU, LSU, and Tennessee.

Keys, the No. 42 overall prospect in the 2026 class, values strong relationships with coaches and offensive schemes, with a focus on schools that emphasize passing.

He has upcoming visits to Tennessee and Alabama, and hopes to see FSU and Ole Miss soon.

Keys is in no rush to announce his decision, which he plans to make after the season.

🔥 Five-Star Alabama Commit Darrell Johnson to Visit FSU for Memphis Game 🔥

Florida State will host a key visitor this weekend: five-star Alabama commit Darrell Johnson.

The 6’1”, 200-pound safety from Georgia is ranked as the nation’s No. 4 linebacker and No. 50 overall prospect.

Although committed to Alabama since spring, FSU has stayed in touch. Johnson’s visit to Tallahassee is a significant opportunity for the Seminoles to reignite their recruitment of the elite defender.

🔥 FSU Offers Louisville DE Commit CJ May as They Look to Bolster 2025 Class 🔥

Following the decommitment of Javion Hilson, Florida State is ramping up efforts to rebuild its defensive end class.

FSU extended an offer to four-star edge rusher CJ May, a Louisville commit. May, a versatile pass rusher from Alabama, recorded 7.5 sacks in his junior season and has been on FSU’s radar due to his standout senior film.

The Seminoles will aim to flip May, who’s also drawn interest from Auburn, Washington, and Syracuse.

🔥 FSU in the Mix for 2027 Top 100 Edge Chris Whitehead 🔥

Chris Whitehead, a top 100 sophomore edge rusher from Chesterfield, Va., is set to visit Virginia this weekend for their game against Maryland.

Whitehead also has an upcoming trip to Tennessee for their matchup with Alabama.

Already holding offers from Penn State, Florida State, Tennessee, and others, Whitehead is impressed with the weight rooms and environments at all three schools.

With nine sacks as a freshman, Whitehead is a major prospect to watch in the 2027 class.

🔥 FSU Extends Offer to Four-Star Edge Rusher Chase Linton 🔥

Florida State has officially extended an offer to four-star edge rusher Chase Linton from North Atlanta.

Linton, who reopened his recruitment after decommitting from Rutgers in August, is a highly sought-after prospect with strong ties to Georgia, currently leading in 247Sports predictions.

The 6'4", 215-pound athlete is set to visit FSU on September 21. Known for his explosive lower half and elite flexibility, Linton has the potential to develop into a major pass-rushing force at the next level.

🏈 FSU Hosts Memphis in First Matchup Since 1990 🏈

Florida State (0-2) takes on Memphis (2-0) this Saturday at noon in Doak Campbell Stadium.

The Seminoles are favored by 6.5 points as they look for their first win of the season.

Head Coach Mike Norvell will face his former team, with FSU leading the all-time series 10-7-1.

The game will be televised on ESPN, and radio broadcasts will be available through the Seminole Sports Network and SiriusXM.

🔥 FSU’s Struggles: Areas Ripe for Improvement as Season Unfolds 🔥

Florida State's rough start to the season has highlighted several problems, but some issues may see improvement over time.

One area is run blocking, where the Seminoles currently rank 122nd in the nation with 2.53 yards per carry. History suggests this may regress to the mean, with a return to at least subpar production.

DJ Lundy’s defensive play is another potential area for improvement. His performance has dramatically declined, particularly in pass coverage, but his past production indicates a possible rebound.

FSU’s tackling has been poor, with a missed tackle rate of 16.7%, among the worst in the nation. Yet, players like DT Darrell Jackson and DE Patrick Payton have historically performed better, hinting at room for improvement.

Darius Washington, an All-ACC First-Team player last season, had an uncharacteristic poor game against Boston College. A return to form would alleviate issues in pass protection, where he excelled in 2023.

Drop rates have also plagued the offense, with FSU currently ranked 115th nationally. Players like Kyle Morlock and Lawrance Toafili, who have been dependable in the past, are expected to regain their consistency.

Lastly, FSU’s third-down defense has been dismal, allowing a conversion rate of 56%. With a better tackling game and stronger linebacker play, there’s hope that this stat will improve as well.

🔥 Breaking Down Memphis: Keys to FSU’s Matchup Against the Tigers 🔥

Memphis enters Saturday's matchup with a 2-0 record, having faced lesser competition in North Alabama and Troy. However, the Tigers are likely holding some strategic plays in reserve for this pivotal game against Florida State.

Quarterback Seth Henigan is the engine of Memphis' offense, showing poise and preference for short passes. Henigan rarely puts the ball in danger, boasting one of the lowest turnover-worthy throw rates from 2023. However, he struggles under pressure, making FSU's defensive front a critical factor in the game.

Running back Mario Anderson sets the pace for Memphis’ ground game. The patient runner uses great vision and packs power in his 5-foot-9, 208-pound frame, making him a tough runner to bring down. FSU’s defense will need to improve its tackling to contain him.

Memphis also incorporates check-down passes to its backs, with Anderson playing a pivotal role in that aspect. Henigan’s patience in using his outlets, like Anderson, helps extend drives when the downfield options are limited.

The Tigers have yet to showcase standout performances from their wide receivers, relying more on shorter passes and trick plays to move the ball. Expect them to test FSU’s defense with schemes that exploit early-season weaknesses, especially on third downs and with second-level defenders in conflict.

FSU's defensive front must take control of the trenches to contain Memphis' run game and disrupt their offensive rhythm. Stopping Henigan and limiting Anderson’s ground gains will be essential for a Seminole victory on Saturday.

And that’s a wrap!

As FSU continues to make waves on and off the field, there’s plenty to look forward to this weekend. From major recruit visits to key matchups, the Seminoles are poised for an exciting run. Keep your eyes on the prize, Noles Nation!

Until next time, stay passionate and keep the Garnet and Gold spirit strong. 🌟

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