Forwarded this email from a friend? Subscribe at the button below

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

🏆 This Week in Garnet & Gold 🏆

🏈 Camp turns the page: After Scrimmage 2, Norvell closed camp and shifted fully into Alabama install; OC Gus Malzahn and DC Tony White laid out blunt to-dos.

🛡️ Hardware watch: DL Darrell Jackson Jr. added the Bednarik Award watch-list to his preseason haul.

⚽ Rivalry rout + perfect start: No. 3 FSU blasted Florida 5–0 on Thursday, then blanked FIU 2–0 Sunday to open 2–0 while extending multiple streaks.

🔁 Recruiting flip: 4⭐ LB Izayia Williams returned to Garnet & Gold, re-anchoring the 2026 second level.

🏟️ Doak upgrades (again): In addition to the west-side renovation, Doak is getting a brand-new “lay-and-play” natural-grass surface ahead of Aug 30.

⛳ Schedules set: Men’s golf released a postseason-minded 2025-26 slate (American Dunes → Cabo → La Costa).

🏈 Camp Notebook — From Scrimmage 2 to Bama Prep

Scrimmage 2 tilted offense. With the starting OL finally intact and gelling, the unit stacked drives; Tommy Castellanos operated on time, and true-freshman RB Ousmane Kromah kept flashing every day. WR Jayvan Boggs pushed toward a starting role alongside Duce Robinson and Squirrel White (who got dinged but remains in the top trio). On defense, Darrell Jackson and James Williams were the most consistent disruptors; Tony White praised the Desir twins’ energy while asking for more across the board.

Coordinators put it on tape. Malzahn’s checklist: lock the “first five” OL, sharpen red-zone execution, and keep building a downhill run game that stresses the sideline and the deep ball. White’s message? Some defenders have “to step their ass up” to meet the standard; he singled out effort and finishing the ball as non-negotiables.

Camp closed; install begins. Norvell wrapped camp Saturday and moved into game-week rhythm: special teams emphasis, situational football with officials, and depth crystallizing. Health is trending up (WR Gavin Blackwell, TE Landen Thomas, DL Jayson Jenkins all noted), while CB2 and a safety spot remain open competitions behind steady Jeremiah (Jerry) Wilson.

Reality check via AP. FSU landed 40th in preseason AP voting with four ranked opponents ahead (No. 8 Alabama, No. 4 Clemson, No. 10 Miami, No. 15 Florida). Translation: opportunity is baked in.

🛡️ Awards & Watch-Lists

• Darrell Jackson Jr. → Bednarik Award Watch List. Veteran anchor with multi-role comfort and proven production; centerpiece of Knighton’s room.

• (From earlier in camp) Long-snapper Mason Arnold → Mannelly, RB Gavin Sawchuk → Doak Walker, several TEs on the Mackey radar — the spine is earning national looks as the opener nears.

🔁 Recruiting — Flip Landslide Energy

4⭐ LB Izayia Williams flips back to FSU. After a roller-coaster recruitment, the No. 3 LB (Composite) re-joins the class: 125 tackles and elite range when healthy, with three-down traits that fit the modern second level. He pairs with Karon Maycock and Noah LaVallee to give FSU a true speed-room at linebacker for 2026.

Alabama opener visitor list = high-stakes. Expect a crush of 2026 flip targets (Asharri Charles, Johnnie Jones, Izayia Williams now recruiting others) plus 2027 headliners (Kavian Bryant, Mark Matthews). The on-field show vs. Bama will dictate how much July/August momentum converts.

⚽ Soccer — Rivalry Rout, Streaks Stacked

5–0 vs Florida (Thu). The No. 3 Noles matched the series’ largest margin and stretched three different streaks: 8 straight over UF (24–3 aggregate), 29-game non-conference unbeaten (25-0-3), and 29-game home unbeaten (27-0-2). Heather Gilchrist netted her first-ever brace; Wrianna Hudson scored just before half; Enasia Colon dished two assists in her debut. Addie Todd posted her 8th career clean sheet. Statement made.

2–0 vs FIU (Sun). FSU improved to 2–0 behind goals from Hudson (again) and Peyton Nourse (via Solai Washington cross). True-freshman keepers Kate Ockene and Evan O’Steen split time; FIU recorded zero shots. Streaks extended to 30 straight unbeaten at home and 27-0-3 in regular-season non-conference since 2019.

Why it matters: The champs are integrating youth without sacrificing control. Early signs scream “title-defense ready.”

🏟️ Doak 2.0, Part II — Fresh Grass for Aug 30

Beyond the west-side renovation and new boards, Doak is re-sodding with a hybrid “lay-and-play” natural grass this week. Install runs 3–4 days and mirrors surfaces used in recent Super Bowls/World Cup venues. It’s playable immediately and part of the broader refresh before the Tide arrive.

⛳ Men’s Golf — Postseason Route Locked

FSU unveiled a schedule built to travel and test: American Dunes (TV) → Olympia Fields → Hamptons → Golf Club of Georgia in the fall; then Watersound, Cabo Collegiate, Seminole Intercollegiate (host), Valspar, Chitengwa, and championship stops at Sharks Tooth and La Costa. Seven returners from last year’s NCAA Finals team plus NAIA award-sweeper Jack Whaley headline the roster.

⚡ Quick Hits

• Micahi Danzy is sprinting into the WR rotation. Track-jet speed (on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List) + surprising physicality have him pushing for one of 5–6 main spots behind Robinson/White/Boggs.

• Secondary snapshot. CB1 Jeremiah (Jerry) Wilson is locked; CB2 and at least one safety spot remain open as Rawls, Quindarrius Jones, Shamar Arnoux, Edwin Joseph, and KJ Kirkland jockey.

• AP context. FSU opens outside the Top-25 but with four ranked opponents on deck — a schedule designed for fast climbs.

🌟 Player of the Week — Heather Gilchrist (WSoc) 🌟

Why: Entered the year with one career goal… left Opening Night with a brace in a 5–0 rivalry demolition. On a team packed with stars, that kind of level-up changes the ceiling.

📅 On-Deck (Aug 19–26, ET)

✍️ Sign-Off

That’s the week, Chief: a Bednarik-caliber anchor, an offense finding gear, a defense getting challenged, a stadium literally refreshed, and a champion soccer squad reminding everyone what a standard looks like. Now it’s installation, health, and details. Two Saturdays from now, the Tide walks into a very different Doak.

Stay locked, stay loud, and — as always — Go Noles!
— The Chief