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Yesterday’s Poll Results
Today’s Poll
What’s the bigger flex for FSU fans right now?
🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹
Happy hump day, Seminole!
Here’s what’s on deck in today’s edition:
⚽ Defensive Lockdown — Janet Okeke earns ACC Defensive Player of the Week after anchoring back-to-back shutouts.
💪 Community First — Richie Leonard named to the Allstate Good Works Team, adding his name to Seminole history both on and off the field.
⚽ Top-10 Clash — No. 7 FSU heads to Chapel Hill for a prime-time showdown with No. 19 North Carolina.
🏈 Noles in the NFL — Ramsey picks one off, Sweat forces a fumble, and Derwin James gets called the best safety in NFL history by Jim Harbaugh.
⚾ Cal Raleigh Keeps Raking — Raleigh breaks Mickey Mantle’s switch-hitting HR record and keeps climbing toward Griffey’s Mariners mark.
🏀 Recruiting Power — Seminole basketball still owns the No. 1 class in 2026, with a handpicked target list down the stretch.
Plenty of wins, milestones, and momentum for the Garnet & Gold — let’s dive in.
🎟️ Lock In Your Season Pass & 1-in-50 Odds for Miami Tickets 🎟️
We’re giving away 2 extra tickets to Miami @ Florida State — but only the first 50 Season Pass sign ups will be entered. Just 42 spots remain.
⚽ Okeke Named ACC Defensive Player of the Week ⚽
Florida State sophomore defender Janet Okeke has earned ACC Defensive Player of the Week honors after anchoring back-to-back shutouts to open conference play. It’s her first career ACC weekly award and FSU’s first of the season.
🔥 Why She Won
Played all 90 minutes in the 2–0 win over Louisville, holding the nation’s top-scoring team to just 1 shot on goal.
Helped limit Syracuse to 1 shot on goal and 4 total shots in FSU’s 4–0 road win.
Leads the team with 502 minutes played this season, starting 6 of 7 matches.
📊 Team Context
FSU has allowed just 1 goal in 7 games, ranking No. 4 nationally in both goals-against average (0.145) and shutout percentage (.857). The Noles are riding a 4-match shutout streak heading into a top-25 clash.
⏭️ What’s Next
Okeke and the No. 7 Seminoles travel to Chapel Hill on Wednesday night to face No. 19 North Carolina (7 p.m., ACC Network).
💪 Richie Leonard Named to Good Works Team 💪
Redshirt senior OL Richie Leonard IV was honored Tuesday as a member of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, recognizing his community impact off the field. He’s the ninth Seminole all-time to earn the distinction and third under Mike Norvell.
🌟 Off-Field Impact
Founded the Richie H. Leonard Football Camp in Cocoa, free for kids, with over 600 participants in two years.
Donated $5,000 to Cocoa High’s football program.
Joined FSU FCA’s mission trip to Argentina, teaching American football abroad.
Sponsors an AAU basketball team, engages with youth in Cocoa and Tallahassee, and is planning care packages for cancer patients at Moffitt (where his mother was treated).
📊 On the Field
Leonard has started both of FSU’s wins in 2025 (Alabama, ETAMU) without committing a penalty.
📌 Context
FSU’s 9 all-time honorees lead all Florida schools and rank tied for 7th nationally. Leonard is also a finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy, college football’s top award for community service. Fans can vote through Nov. 10 at ESPN.com/Allstate.
⚽ Top-10 Showdown: FSU at UNC ⚽
No. 7 Florida State women’s soccer (6–0–1, 2–0–0 ACC) hits the road Wednesday night for a heavyweight clash with No. 19 North Carolina (7–2–0, 1–0–0) in Chapel Hill (7 p.m., ACCN).
🔥 By the Numbers
FSU: 26 goals, 27 assists, +25 GD — shutouts in 6 of 7 matches, including four straight.
UNC: 26 goals, 15 assists — riding a six-game win streak after a 1–2 start.
National ranks: FSU is top-5 in assists (No. 2), goals per game (No. 3), and GAA (No. 4).
🌟 Players to Watch
Wrianna Hudson — 7 goals (5 in last 4 games), No. 4 nationally in goals per game.
Jordynn Dudley — Team-best 5 assists.
Addie Todd — 0.23 GAA, .889 save percentage.
UNC’s Olivia Thomas — Leads Tar Heels with 8 goals, 18 points.
📊 Series History
FSU is 14-31-6 all-time vs. UNC, but the Noles have flipped the script — unbeaten in 4 of the last 5 and winners of 2 straight, both in 2024 (including the ACC title game). FSU’s 14 wins are the most of any program against UNC.
⏭️ What’s Next
The Noles stay in North Carolina to visit NC State on Sunday (1 p.m.).
The Next Billion Dollar Tech Exit?
Ring 一 Acquired by Amazon for $1.2B
Nest 一 Acquired by Google for $3.2B
If you missed out on these spectacular early investments in the Smart Home space, here’s your chance to grab hold of the next one.
RYSE is a tech firm poised to dominate the Smart Shades market (growing at an astonishing 55% annually), and they just announced an exclusive public offering of shares priced at just $2.00.
With 10 patents, over $10M in revenue, and national retailer presence, RYSE is positioning itself as the next big acquisition target in smart home tech.
Here’s what sets them apart:
- Triple-Digit Growth – Revenue growing 200% year-over-year
- Major Retail Footprint – In 100+ Best Buy locations with plans to scale across Home Depot, Lowe’s, and more
- Real Energy Impact – Save up to 24% on cooling and 74% on lighting costs—a game-changer for energy-conscious homes
🏈 Noles in the NFL: Week 2 Recap 🏈
Former Seminoles made their presence felt across the league in Week 2:
🔥 Standout Performances
Brian Burns (Giants): 3 solo tackles, 1 sack, 2 TFLs, 1 QB hurry, and a pass defended.
Graham Gano (Giants): Perfect day — 3/3 FGs (long 38) + 4/4 PATs.
Renardo Green (49ers): 5 solo tackles + a pass defended in a starting role.
Jalen Ramsey (Steelers): 6 tackles, 2 passes defended, and an INT.
Josh Sweat (Cardinals): 3 tackles, 1 sack, 2 TFLs, QB hurry, and a forced fumble.
Keon Coleman (Bills): 3 catches for 26 yards.
Derwin James (Chargers): 7 tackles + 2 passes defended.
Jarrian Jones (Jaguars): 2 solo tackles + 1 pass defended.
👀 Other Notables
Eddie Goldman (Commanders): 2 tackles.
Trey Benson (Cardinals): 44 total yards (14 rushing, 30 receiving).
Derrick Nnadi (Chiefs): 4 tackles.
Ryan Fitzgerald (Panthers): Hit his lone FG (27 yards) + PAT.
Tatum Bethune (49ers): Special teams tackle.
Jermaine Johnson II (Jets): 4 tackles + pass defended.
FSU alums made impact plays on both sides of the ball — with Ramsey’s interception and Sweat’s strip sack leading the highlights.
⚡ Harbaugh Calls Derwin James the NFL’s Best Safety ⚡
Former Seminole Derwin James keeps stacking elite performances — and drawing elite praise.
🔥 Monday Night Impact
7 tackles + 2 pass breakups in the Chargers’ 20–9 win over the Raiders.
One deflection led to a game-sealing INT in the end zone.
🗣️ Coach’s Words
Jim Harbaugh didn’t hold back:
“I’ve called him the best safety I’ve ever seen in the history of the National Football League.”
📊 All-Around Force
Played just 1 snap at safety — instead lining up on the DL (10 snaps), in the box (27), and at slot corner (30).
PFF ranks him among the top 10 safeties in pressures and coverage grade through two weeks.
🌟 Why It Matters
James’ versatility and dominance make him one of the league’s most feared defenders — and a shining FSU alum on the biggest stage.
⚾ Cal Raleigh Passes Mantle, Keeps Crushing ⚾
Former Seminole Cal Raleigh just made history — and then kept going.
🔥 Record-Breaking Night
55th HR: Broke Mickey Mantle’s all-time record for most in a season by a switch-hitter.
56th HR: Added another for good measure, padding his league lead.
📊 By the Numbers
56 HR, 118 RBI — both lead MLB.
.954 OPS — .248 AVG / .362 OBP / .592 SLG.
45 HR as a catcher anchoring Seattle’s lineup.
Career: 148 HR in 5 seasons (previous single-season high was 34).
⏭️ What’s Next
With 11 games left, Raleigh now has Griffey’s Mariners record (57) and the AL’s legendary 60-HR club in sight.
🏀 Hoops Recruiting Update: No. 1 Class, More to Come 🏀
Florida State men’s basketball continues to own the nation’s No. 1 class for 2026 with four pledges already in the fold:
⭐⭐⭐⭐ C Marcis Ponder
⭐⭐⭐⭐ PF Collin Paul
⭐⭐⭐⭐ SG Brandon Bass Jr.
⭐⭐⭐ PG Jasen Lopez (two-sport commit)
🔥 Who’s Still on the Board
Gage Mayfield (SF, 4⭐) — OV to FSU in August; also visited Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Oklahoma; will see Michigan this weekend before deciding.
Kevin Thomas (SF, 4⭐) — Visits Miami (late Sept.) and Auburn (mid-Oct.); no clear decision timeline but FSU remains in play.
🚫 Visits Canceled
With four commitments secured, FSU narrowed focus and canceled multiple visits, including Joe Philon, Gavin & Gallagher Placide, Alex Egbuonu, and Herly Brutus.
👀 Upcoming Target
Abdou Toure (SF, 4⭐) — Will officially visit FSU Oct. 17. Has seen Providence and Arkansas; also considering Louisville, Maryland, Oregon, and UConn.
🌟 Why It Matters
Coach Loucks and staff are being selective down the stretch — building on a No. 1 class while only pursuing handpicked, high-upside fits.
And that’s a wrap!
That’ll do it for today’s Chief Brief. From Janet Okeke locking down the ACC to Cal Raleigh rewriting the MLB record books, it’s a good time to be rocking Garnet & Gold. And with a Top-10 soccer clash in Chapel Hill and Miami tickets still up for grabs in the Season Pass promo, the action is only heating up.
See you tomorrow, Noles Nation — and as always, stay unconquered.
