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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy hump day and ticket drawing day, Seminole!

🏆 National Spotlight on Castellanos & Norvell
FSU’s quarterback earns Manning & Davey O’Brien honors, while Norvell sweeps national Coach of the Week awards after the Alabama upset.

💪 Trench Domination Recognized
Luke Petitbon named ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week for anchoring a line that steamrolled Bama’s defense.

📈 Ranking Rocket
From unranked to No. 14—FSU surges in the AP Poll after the 31–17 win, turning their schedule into a ranked gauntlet.

🔄 Checking in on Former Noles
A look at how FSU’s recent transfer departures fared in Week 1—from Malik Benson’s TD at Oregon to Byron Turner Jr.’s 3 sacks at Tulsa.

🏀 Hoops Heat
4⭐ forward Collin Paul sets his decision date—and FSU is firmly in the mix.

🏈 Flip Watch: RB Amari Latimer
The Wisconsin commit is tearing up his senior year, and the Noles are keeping the door open in his recruitment.

👉 Plus: Portal updates, recruiting buzz, and why Norvell’s program is now firmly back in the national spotlight.

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🏆 Castellanos Earns National Honors After Bama Win 🏆

Florida State senior QB Tommy Castellanos has been named a Manning Award Star of the Week and a Davey O’Brien Great 8 honoree following his electric debut against No. 8 Alabama.

🔥 Dual-Threat Impact

• Completed 9 of 14 passes for 152 yards.

• Added a game-high 78 rushing yards on 16 carries, including a 9-yard TD run.

• Accounted for FSU’s first touchdown of 2025, capping it after a 40-yard strike to Squirrel White.

📊 Historic Company

• Became just the second player in 20 years to post 150+ passing and 75+ rushing yards vs. Alabama in a non-conference game.

• The other? Heisman winner Kyler Murray (2018 Orange Bowl).

🚀 Why It Matters
Castellanos didn’t just manage his first start—he headlined it, driving five scoring series and leading the Noles to 230 rushing yards and four TDs as a team.

👉️ Read more on Castellanos’ honors here

💪 Petitbon Named ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week 💪

Redshirt senior Luke Petitbon earned ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week after anchoring FSU’s 31–17 win over Alabama.

🔥 In the Trenches

• Played all 63 snaps without allowing a sack—the line’s first clean sheet since Sept. 2023.

• Helped pave the way for 230 rushing yards and 4 TDs against the Tide.

• Posted an 85% job grade, 96% effort grade, with 7 knockdowns and 7 key blocks leading to scores or first downs.

📊 Historic Context

• Snapped Alabama’s 23-season streak of winning its opener.

• First unranked team to run for 4 TDs in a win vs. Alabama since 1998.

• First time FSU hit 230+ yards and 4 rushing TDs vs. a ranked foe since 2012.

Why It Matters: Petitbon’s dominance set the tone for an offensive line that neutralized Bama’s front—a major statement for FSU’s identity in 2025.

👉️ Full ACC release here

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🏆 Norvell Sweeps National Coach of the Week Honors 🏆

Florida State head coach Mike Norvell was recognized coast to coast after the Seminoles’ 31–17 takedown of Alabama, earning both The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week and the Paul “Bear” Bryant National Coach of the Week awards.

🔥 Why He Won

• Guided FSU to its first ranked win since 2023 and ended Alabama’s streak of 23 straight season-opening victories.

• Oversaw a balanced attack: 230 rushing yards and 4 TDs against a Tide defense that allowed just 89.9 rush yards per game last year.

• Defense held Alabama to 87 rushing yards—their lowest in a season opener since 1975—while producing three fourth-down stops.

📊 The Accolades

• Dodd Trophy Committee: Praised FSU’s “toughness and resilience in all three phases” while highlighting Norvell’s leadership, academic commitment (997 APR, 69% graduation rate), and community work through the Keep Climbing Family Foundation.

• Bear Bryant Awards: Noted Norvell’s consistency, adding to his 2023 National Coach of the Year recognition after leading FSU to an ACC title.

🌟 Historic Context

• Saturday marked Norvell’s fifth career non-conference SEC win, the second-most by any head coach since 2016.

• FSU improved to 2-3 all-time vs. Alabama, both wins coming in Florida.

Why It Matters: Norvell wasn’t just celebrated for a single upset—he’s being recognized nationally for building a program that’s winning on the field, in the classroom, and in the community.

👉️ Full Dodd Trophy release here | Full Bear Bryant release here

📈 Noles Rocket to No. 14 After Bama Win 📈

Florida State’s 31–17 upset of Alabama sent shockwaves through college football—and the polls.

🔥 The Jump

• FSU moved from “others receiving votes” all the way to No. 14 in the AP Top 25.

• Landed at No. 19 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.

• First time ranked since early 2024, when they opened at No. 10 before quickly falling out.

📉 Tide Tumbles

• Alabama slid from No. 8 to No. 21 in the AP and to No. 20 in the Coaches Poll.

👀 Opponent Watch

• Miami: Climbs to No. 5 (AP) after beating Notre Dame.

• Clemson: Drops to No. 8 (AP/Coaches) after LSU loss.

• Florida: Moves to No. 13 (AP) after crushing Long Island.

• Pitt and Virginia received a couple AP votes each.

Why It Matters: From unranked to No. 14 in one week—FSU is back on the national radar, and the win over Alabama has turned their 2025 schedule into a gauntlet of ranked showdowns.

👉️ Full Poll updates here

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🔄 Checking In On Former Noles 🔄

While Florida State’s new additions shined in the win over Alabama, plenty of former Seminoles were suiting up for new programs in Week 1. Here’s how they fared:

🔥 Notable Performances

• Malik Benson (WR, Oregon): 5 catches, 51 yards, TD in Ducks’ opener.

• Jalen Brown (WR, Arkansas): 3 catches, 44 yards, TD as a starter.

• Pat Payton (DL, LSU): 1 tackle, 2 pressures + batted pass in win at Clemson.

• Tomiwa Durojaiye (DL, Illinois): 4 tackles, sack, 81.3 PFF grade.

• Grady Kelly (DL, Michigan State): 2 tackles, pass breakup, 92.4 PFF grade.

• Byron Turner Jr. (DL, Tulsa): 4 tackles, 3 sacks in his first start.

• DeMarco Ward (S, Memphis): 4 tackles, pick-six, 89.5 defensive grade.

👀 Other Starters

• Julian Armella (OL, UCLA): Started at RG, solid 80.7 pass-block grade.

• TJ Ferguson (OL, Syracuse): 90 snaps at LG vs. Tennessee.

• Shawn Murphy (LB, South Carolina): 4 tackles, 51.0 defensive grade.

• Omarion Cooper (CB, Memphis): Started, allowed 2 catches + TD on 41 snaps.

📉 Quieter Debuts

• Hykeem Williams (WR, Colorado): 2 catches, 20 yards in rotation.

• Deuce Spann (WR, Pitt): 2 catches, 12 yards.

• Marvin Jones Jr. (DL, Oklahoma): 13 snaps, no stats.

• Destyn Hill (WR, LSU): Played 2 snaps, no stats.

• Several backups (Jordan Scott, DD Holmes, Dante Anderson, Lamont Green Jr., Aaron Hester, etc.) saw limited snaps or no production.

Why It Matters: The portal reshaped both sides of FSU’s roster. While some ex-Noles are thriving early (Benson, Payton, Turner Jr., Ward), others are still finding their footing. Meanwhile, Florida State’s own transfer class is already proving its value in Tallahassee.

👉️ Full transfer tracker here

🏀 4⭐ Forward Collin Paul Sets Commitment Date 🏀

One of Florida State’s top basketball targets is set to make his college choice. Collin Paul, a 6’7” small forward from West Palm Beach and SOH Elite (UAA), will announce his decision Wednesday, Sept. 3 at 7 PM ET live on the CBS Sports College Basketball YouTube channel.

🔥 The Profile

• Ranked No. 76 nationally in the 2025 class.

• Versatile point-forward with a 7-foot wingspan.

• Averaged 16.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.9 SPG, 1.1 BPG on the UAA circuit.

• Strengths: playmaking, fluid handle, finishing with both hands.

• Needs: improved perimeter shooting (23% from 3, 55% FT) and strength to finish through contact.

👀 Schools in Play

• Official Visits: Florida State, Loyola (Chicago).

• Other Offers: DePaul, Miami, Ole Miss, Seton Hall, Mississippi State, Virginia Tech, Georgetown, and more.

📊 Why He’s a Fit
Paul brings two-way versatility—able to initiate the break, create for teammates, and use his length to rebound and defend multiple spots. His upside depends on finding the right system to put the ball in his hands and let him develop.

👉️ Tune into the live announcement on CBS Sports YouTube, Sept. 3 @ 7 PM ET

🏈 4⭐ RB Amari Latimer Still Hearing from FSU 🏈

Tyrone (Ga.) Sandy Creek star Amari Latimer, a Wisconsin commit, is off to a blazing senior season—and Florida State isn’t giving up on flipping him.

🔥 On the Field

• 551 rushing yards + 6 TDs through 3 games.

• Added 68 receiving yards as Sandy Creek opened 3–0.

📝 Recruitment Snapshot

• Committed to Wisconsin in June, where his older brother plays DB.

• Still being pursued by FSU, Georgia, Tennessee, and Georgia Tech.

• Father Geimere Latimer: “For the most part he’s very much locked in with Wisconsin… but you can only choose one, and there are several schools I can see him at.”

🍢 FSU’s Pitch

• Consistency: “They haven’t been pushy or forceful… they acknowledge he’s with Wisconsin but keep the door open.”

• Coaching ties: Gus Malzahn’s offensive vision, RB coach David Johnson’s reputation, and Tim Harris (first to offer Latimer back when he was at Miami).

• Family appreciates FSU’s tone: “If you do change your mind, you have a home with us.”

🔒 Reality Check

• Dad admits flipping him will be “hard,” with Wisconsin’s trust and older brother already on the roster giving the Badgers a major edge.

👉️ Full Rivals report here

And that’s a wrap!

From Castellanos’ breakout, to Norvell’s national sweep, to the poll surge and recruiting ripple effects—Florida State isn’t just back, they’re front and center in the college football conversation again. The road ahead will be tough, but the Noles just proved they can stand toe-to-toe with anybody.

See you tomorrow, Chief Brief readers. Until then—
🍢 Keep it garnet, keep it gold, and keep chopping. 🍢