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  • šŸ¹ Weekly Wrap July 21st - July 28th - The Chief Brief šŸ¹

šŸ¹ Weekly Wrap July 21st - July 28th - The Chief Brief šŸ¹

Camp clocks in, Woad cashes in, and the recruiting board keeps buzzing

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šŸ¹ Welcome to The Chief Brief! šŸ¹

šŸ† This Week in Garnet & Gold šŸ†

⛳ Woad’s winning debut: Former FSU star Lottie Woad won the Women’s Scottish Open in her first professional start, closing with a 68 to finish at –21 and pull away on the back nine.

šŸˆ Camp countdown: Preseason camp opens Wednesday, July 30, with Norvell laying out the 25‑practice framework at ACC Kickoff. Expect a fuller, healthier roster than spring.

šŸˆ Doak’s facelift, ACC in town: Doak’s capacity is now 67,277 after the $265M renovation; ACC Network’s Football Road Trip features FSU on Aug. 12 (7 p.m. ET).

šŸ” Recruiting wins & watch‑lists: 4⭐ OL Da’Ron Parks committed; EDGE Andrew Rogers reclassed to 2026 and put FSU on his fall visit list; the 2026 class sits ~No. 14 heading into camp.

⚾ Draft haul finalized: FSU set a program record with 11 players drafted; headliners Jamie Arnold (A’s, No. 11) and Alex Lodise (Braves, No. 60) have signed their deals.

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šŸˆ Camp Clock: Structure, Health, and Early Leaders

Practice starts Wednesday (July 30). Norvell confirmed the NCAA’s 25 practices over 29 days format (8 full‑pad, 8 shells, 9 helmets) and said most of the roster will be full go. The notable update: DL Jayson Jenkins is ahead of schedule and expected to ramp by mid‑camp, a meaningful boost for a retooled front.

Leadership check: Second‑year DB Earl Little Jr. traveled with the veterans to ACC Kickoff and has emerged as a tone‑setter at Rover in Tony White’s 3‑3‑5, praised for versatility and edge. Expect him to be central to the defense’s identity reset.

Front‑four reset: Between returners (Darrell Jackson, Daniel Lyons), portal pieces (James Williams, Jayson Jenkins once cleared), and freshmen (Kevin Wynn, the Desir twins), the DL is long on parts and short on final answers—by design. White and DL coach Terrance Knighton will mix roles (including the Jack) to find pressure packages as camp unfolds.

Doak, but shinier: The $265M renovation trims capacity to 67,277 while adding chairbacks, massive end‑zone boards, improved concourses, concessions, and ADA access. The stadium debuts when Alabama visits Aug. 30; the ACC Football Road Trip crew arrives Aug. 12 for a primetime look at camp.

File this under ā€œwatch listā€: Senior QB Tommy Castellanos landed on the Maxwell Award Watch List, underscoring national expectations for his dual‑threat impact in Gus Malzahn’s first FSU offense.

šŸ” Recruiting Round‑Up — Parks Pops, EDGE Board Evolves

Big trench win: Da’Ron Parks (IOL/OT) committed to FSU over Auburn, Kentucky and a late Ohio State push—an immediate‑help candidate with size, movement, and a multi‑spot fit. His pledge gives Tribe26 another cornerstone up front and nudges the class into the Top‑15 (~No. 14) entering camp.

Next edges up: Andrew Rogers reclassified to 2026, named FSU among his finalists, and scheduled a fall visit to Tallahassee. He’s 6'6"/240 with production and length—exactly the profile FSU wants at EDGE/Jack after summer misses.

Flip radar: Recently minted LSU commit DeAnthony Lafayette (4⭐ EDGE) is leaving the door open for fall visits; FSU’s late offer + the hybrid Jack role have his attention.

Board churn you can feel: After expanding the pass‑rush net, FSU offered Chris Carbin (GT commit) and elevated Jarius Rodgers (Syracuse commit) and DeAnthony Lafayette to high‑priority status, with international prospect Gustaf Henriks Ras joining the eval line. OT options remain thin but active.

Underclass watch:

  • 2027 QB Jayce Johnson (Top‑100) announces Aug. 3; Aggies surged late, but insiders say FSU is still very much alive.

  • 2027 5⭐ CB Joshua Dobson hears heavy Clemson/Tennessee pressure, but FSU stays in the chase as fall trips stack up.

⛳ Fairways on Fire — Woad Wins in First Pro Start

Lottie Woad walked into the LPGA and seized a trophy, winning the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open at Dundonald Links. She handled a mid‑round charge with birdies on 13 & 14, then wedged to tap‑in range on 18 to clinch it. It’s the kind of first‑week statement that vaults her among the tour’s must‑watch rising stars. Next: a sprint into the AIG Women’s Open with real momentum.

⚾ Pro Noles — Record Draft Class, Deals Done

FSU just posted a program‑record 11 MLB draftees. The signing tracker is almost complete, headlined by:

  • LHP Jamie Arnold (1.11, Athletics) — $5.985M (full slot).

  • SS Alex Lodise (2.60, Braves) — $1.297M (underslot).

  • RHP Cam Leiter (2.65, Dodgers) — $1.349M (slot).

  • SS/3B Max Williams (3.78, Marlins) — $897K.
    With the July 28 deadline, nearly all have penned deals—another proof point in FSU’s development pipeline.

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šŸ„ New Sport, Big Hire — Lacrosse Adds a Champion

Women’s lacrosse rounded out its inaugural staff by hiring Rachel Clark—a national champion, Team USA member, and four‑time First‑Team All‑ACC attacker—bringing instant credibility, recruiting gravity, and game‑day edge as Year 1 approaches.

⚔ Quick Hits

  • Academics: Track & Field / XC earned USTFCCCA Team Academic honors, with 6 men + 10 women All‑Academic (plus XC standouts). Books and blocks thriving in tandem.

  • Summer League: M.J. Walker helped Charlotte win its first NBA Summer League title; valuable minutes for the Swarm vet in Vegas.

  • ā€œBreak the Rockā€: Darrell Jackson took the sledge to close summer workouts—one of Norvell’s top cultural markers heading into camp.

  • WR speed check: Squirrel White is full go; Castellanos called him ā€œreally fast,ā€ with motion‑heavy usage on deck.

🌟 Player of the Week — Lottie Woad šŸŒŸ

Why: Winning an LPGA event is hard. Winning one in your debut is historic. Woad’s poise, birdie timing, and closing composure screamed ā€œready now.ā€ The Noles’ fairway pipeline just authored another marquee moment.

šŸ“… On‑Deck (July 29 – Aug. 5, ET)

Date

Event

Why Watch

Tue, Jul 29

Report Day

Medicals, meetings, and the final baseline before camp.

Wed, Jul 30

FSU opens preseason camp

First looks at rotations, health checks (Jenkins), and Malzahn’s install pace.

Thu–Sun

Camp practice window

Early separation at QB/WR/OL; who pops in the DL/Jack shuffle?

Next Mon

MLB signing wrap

Final dotted lines from FSU’s record 11‑player class.

Tue, Aug 12

ACC Football Road Trip (7 p.m., ACCN)

One‑hour Tallahassee takeover, behind the scenes + camp features.

šŸ—³ļø Fan Poll — Who Owned the Week?

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āœļø Sign‑Off

That’s the wrap, Chief: a trophy on the links, a camp door swinging open, a stadium ready for prime time, and a recruiting board with fresh momentum at the spots that matter most. The next seven days are all about separation and survival in the heat—earning roles, locking rotations, and proving this roster’s ceiling.

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

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