Welcome to The Chief Brief!

Happy Monday, Seminole!

Here’s today’s docket:

⚽ FSU Soccer Draws with SMU ⚽
Florida State’s No. 2 soccer team extended their unbeaten streak to 31 games with a 1-1 draw against SMU. Ashlyn Puerta's stunning equalizer helped the Seminoles stay resilient after a fierce start from SMU.

🌟 Four-Star RB Ousmane Kromah Enjoys FSU Visit 🌟
Four-star RB Ousmane Kromah praised FSU’s energy during his visit. He shares a strong bond with the coaching staff, describing a welcoming environment as he considers FSU for his 2025 commitment.

🛡️ Solomon Thomas Reaffirms Commitment to FSU 🛡️
Five-star OL Solomon Thomas reaffirmed his commitment to FSU, despite early-season struggles, after seeing the team’s resilience in their 14-9 win against Cal. He expressed optimism about the program's future and young talent.

🏈 FSU’s Snap Counts and PFF Grades from Cal Win 🏈
Several defensive standouts like Josh Farmer and Quindarrius Jones powered the Seminoles’ 14-9 victory over Cal. Despite some offensive inconsistency, key performances on both sides contributed to the win.

⛳ Schooner Fall Classic Suspended Due to Weather ⛳
Rain halted the second round of the Schooner Fall Classic. Junior All-American Mirabel Ting remains in contention after tying her career-low score of 67, with FSU in seventh place overall.

🎾 FSU Men’s Tennis at ITA All-American Championships 🎾
FSU’s men’s tennis team is sending six players to compete in the ITA Men’s All-American Championships. Headlined by All-American Joshua Dous-Karpenschif, the Seminoles are set to begin their singles and doubles campaigns.

📈 Top Performers in FSU’s Victory Over Cal 📈
FSU’s defense dominated against Cal, with Josh Farmer, Patrick Payton, and Quindarrius Jones making key contributions. On offense, Lawrance Toafili led the run game with 80 yards and a touchdown.

⚽ No. 2 FSU Soccer Draws with SMU in Road Conference Match ⚽

The No. 2 Florida State soccer team extended their unbeaten streak to 31 games after a 1-1 draw on the road against SMU. Despite several highlight-reel saves from sophomore goalkeeper Addie Todd, SMU scored first midway through the second half. However, FSU’s response was quick, with freshman Ashlyn Puerta scoring a brilliant equalizer from outside the box, continuing her impressive form with her third goal of the season. The Seminoles return home on Thursday to face College Cup semifinalist Clemson.

🔗 More on the match here

🌟 Four-Star RB Ousmane Kromah Reflects on FSU Visit Amid Cal Victory 🌟 

Four-star running back Ousmane Kromah, one of Florida State’s top 2025 recruiting targets, enjoyed his visit to FSU during the Seminoles’ 14-9 victory over Cal. Kromah praised the team’s energy and camaraderie, highlighting the resilience FSU showed despite a tough start to the season. “No matter how it looks, they are going to keep working,” Kromah said, impressed by the Seminoles’ unity.

Kromah’s visit allowed him to interact with head coach Mike Norvell and running backs coach David Johnson, both of whom have been instrumental in FSU’s pursuit of the Lee County standout. Kromah emphasized his strong bond with Johnson, sharing that their conversations extend far beyond football. “If I can talk with him about anything, he’s a coach that is going to really help me grow,” Kromah said of Johnson.

The four-star recruit enjoyed being in the locker room post-game, where he soaked in the celebratory atmosphere. He noted the performances of Lawrance Toafili and Kam Davis, commending Toafili’s versatility and sharing that Davis, a close friend, often discusses the decision-making process with him. "Kam wants me to come to Florida State, but he wants me to go where I feel comfortable,” Kromah shared.

While Kromah hasn’t finalized his decision, he mentioned that Florida State remains a strong contender. He cited the relationships he’s built within the program, stating that FSU’s welcoming environment is a big factor in his decision-making process. Regardless of his upcoming commitment, Kromah plans to return to Florida State in November for another visit, describing the energy at FSU as consistently positive. "It's just great energy all the time," Kromah remarked.

🔗 More details on Kromah’s recruitment here

🛡️ Solomon Thomas Reaffirms Commitment to FSU After Cal Victory 🛡️

Florida State’s recruiting efforts received a boost this weekend as five-star offensive guard Solomon Thomas reaffirmed his commitment after witnessing FSU’s 14-9 win over Cal. Thomas, ranked as the No. 1 interior offensive lineman in the country, attended the game and praised the team’s resilience, particularly highlighting the improved offensive line performance under coach Alex Atkins’ return.

Despite outside interest from schools like LSU, Florida, and Miami, Thomas remains steadfast in his commitment to FSU. He expressed admiration for how the Seminoles have handled adversity and noted his belief in the team’s potential, especially with young talent like himself. “I’ve seen what I needed to see,” Thomas said, confidently stating that his commitment status remains unchanged.

Thomas also reflected on the importance of team accountability and believes that a stronger focus on building relationships from within, rather than relying heavily on transfers, will further strengthen the Seminoles’ offensive line in the coming seasons. He anticipates that young recruits from the 2026 and 2027 classes will play a key role in FSU’s future success.

Thomas enjoyed reconnecting with fellow 2025 commits, including quarterback Tramell Jones and wide receiver CJ Wiley, while acknowledging recent decommitments from the program. However, he remained positive, expressing his loyalty to the players who are fully committed to FSU’s vision.

🔗 More on Solomon Thomas’ visit here

🏈 Breaking Down FSU’s Snap Counts and PFF Grades from Cal Win 🏈

Florida State’s 14-9 victory over Cal was driven by strong individual performances, especially in the trenches. On offense, Lawrance Toafili led the way with 80 yards and a touchdown, and the offensive line showed improvement with Jaylen Early’s jump to a 75.8 PFF grade. DJ Uiagalelei, however, had his lowest PFF score of the season (63.4), as the offense struggled with consistency.

Defensively, Joshua Farmer (84.7) and Quindarrius Jones (85.7) were standouts, helping FSU limit Cal to just field goals on multiple red-zone trips. The defense missed seven tackles, but their bend-but-don’t-break approach worked, with Patrick Payton (78.0) leading the charge alongside Marvin Jones Jr. and Byron Turner Jr. in key moments.

Offensive Line Notes:

• Jaylen Early showed great improvement in his second start, earning a 75.8 grade.

• PFF graded FSU’s pass-blocking efforts highly, with Maurice Smith (79.5), Keiondre Jones (82.5), and Early (79.3) all contributing solid performances.

• While Robert Scott and Jeremiah Byers were sidelined, Darius Washington’s (61.4) return provided some stability but still left room for improvement.

Running Backs:

• Toafili earned a 67.1 grade but showed great versatility as a pass blocker (78.6).

• Kam Davis (65) and Sam Singleton (60.6) also saw limited snaps but remain promising contributors to the backfield.

Defensive Highlights:

• Joshua Farmer’s dominant 84.7 grade led the way with 3.5 TFLs, while Patrick Payton added three sacks.

• Defensive linemen Marvin Jones Jr. (70) and Byron Turner Jr. (73.3) delivered solid performances, contributing to FSU’s seven total sacks.

• The secondary, led by Quindarrius Jones (85.7), performed well in coverage, while tackling remains an area of concern, especially with missed tackles from Kevin Knowles (64.8 grade but two missed tackles).

🔗 More on FSU’s snap counts and PFF grades here

⛳ Second Round of Schooner Fall Classic Suspended Due to Weather ⛳

The second round of the Schooner Fall Classic at Belmar Golf Club was suspended on Sunday due to heavy rain and lightning. Play was halted at 12:10 ET, and officials will determine on Monday morning whether the second round will resume or be disregarded, depending on course conditions. If canceled, play will start with the final round at 9:30 a.m. on Monday.

Junior All-American Mirabel Ting remains tied for fourth place, while the Seminoles stand in seventh after Saturday's first round.

🔗 More details here

🎾 FSU Men's Tennis to Compete in ITA Men's All-American Championships 🎾

Six Seminoles will represent Florida State at the 2024 ITA Men's All-American Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma, beginning Monday. Jamie Connel, Corey Craig, and Youcef Rihane will compete in the singles qualifying round, while Erik Schiessl, Joshua Dous-Karpenschif, and Alex Bulte will participate in the doubles tournament.

Returning All-American Dous-Karpenschif leads the team after his historic NCAA Doubles Championship run last season. Matches kick off Monday morning with FSU hopeful to advance deep into both singles and doubles brackets.

🔗 More details here

📈 Top Performers in FSU’s Victory Over Cal 📈 

Florida State’s 14-9 win over Cal was largely driven by the defense, as several standout performances emerged. Defensive tackle Josh Farmer was a dominant force, tallying seven quarterback pressures and earning an impressive PFF grade of 85.0. Farmer's quickness and power helped control the line of scrimmage, disrupting Cal’s offense repeatedly.

Another defensive highlight was Quindarrius Jones, who had an outstanding game in coverage. Targeted seven times, he allowed just one completion for 13 yards and recorded three pass breakups, which earned him a team-best PFF grade of 85.7. His performance showed clear growth from last season, as he capitalized on increased playing time with 23 snaps.

Patrick Payton, who had previously struggled in the first few games, rebounded in spectacular fashion. The defensive end recorded three sacks, and his run defense was notably better, with a robust PFF grade of 74.1. His improvement is an encouraging sign for FSU’s pass rush going forward.

Blake Nichelson emerged as the leading linebacker, with eight tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss. Nichelson was active and physical throughout the game, showcasing his ability to impact plays both in coverage and against the run.

On the offensive side, Lawrance Toafili was a bright spot, with 17 carries for 80 yards and a touchdown. While he didn’t break off any explosive plays, he finished runs with authority and provided much-needed stability in the ground game.

Jaylen Early, making his second consecutive start, also showed significant progress, excelling in pass protection and contributing to a more cohesive offensive line performance. His growth as a tackle has been crucial, especially with the team battling injuries on the offensive line.

Byron Turner Jr. also had an impactful game on defense, improving his PFF grade to 73.5, with multiple QB pressures and a critical hit on Cal’s quarterback Fernando Mendoza. His ability to pressure the passer was a key element in FSU’s defensive success.

Finally, Darrell Jackson and DJ Lundy both contributed to the defense's stout effort. Jackson generated four QB pressures, while Lundy showcased improved speed and tackling consistency, helping to limit Cal’s offense to just two field goals on five red-zone trips.

FSU’s defense, led by these standout players, showed resilience and energy in a gritty win, providing a solid foundation to build upon as the season progresses.

🔗 More on FSU’s top performers against Cal here

And that’s a wrap!

From FSU soccer’s unbeaten streak to standout performances on the football field, it's been a week full of action. As we continue to see both individual brilliance and team resilience across sports, there’s much to look forward to. Be sure to tune in as FSU prepares for another week of exciting matchups, and as always, stay connected for the latest updates and news.

Until next time, Go ‘Noles! 🍢