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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

From record-breaking performances to strategic moves in the transfer portal, here's what'son the warpath:

🏀 Latson’s Dominance: Ta’Niya Latson’s historic scoring week earned her ACC Player of the Week honors. With back-to-back career highs and national scoring accolades, she’s cementing her legacy in FSU basketball history.

🏅 Hall of Fame Honor: FSU track and field legend Kim Jones is heading to the Florida Track & Field Hall of Fame, adding another chapter to her storied career of dominance.

🏈 Coaching Shakeup: Herb Hand joins FSU’s staff as the new offensive line coach, bringing decades of experience to rebuild a struggling unit.

🛡️ Portal Departures: Key players have entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, signaling big changes ahead for FSU's roster as the team aims to bounce back in 2025.

🎯 Quarterback Target: FSU hosted dual-threat QB Thomas Castellanos, whose dynamic playmaking could bring new energy to the offense.

🔗 Nebraska Connection: Leveraging new coaching hires, FSU is tapping into Nebraska talent, with two defensive linemen confirmed for visits.

🚨 Transfer Portal Watch: FSU extends an offer to breakout WR Reggie Virgil and explores other key players in the portal to bolster the roster.

🏀 Ta’Niya Latson Named ACC Player of the Week 🏀

Florida State junior guard Ta’Niya Latson continues to cement her legacy, earning ACC Player of the Week honors for the second time this season. The league’s Blue Ribbon Panel recognized Latson’s dominant performances, where she averaged an astounding 38.5 points per game across two matchups last week.

🌟 Historic Performances:
Latson’s week was one for the record books, as she scored a combined 77 points—the most by a Seminole in consecutive games.

• At Tennessee (Dec. 6): Latson dropped a career-high 38 points, making 15 field goals, the most in a single game nationally this season. Her scoring tied the third-best performance in program history.

• Against SMU (Dec. 10): Latson followed up with 39 points, tying the second-highest single-game total in FSU history, originally set by Roneeka Hodges in 2005.

Latson now owns eight of the top 20 scoring performances in Florida State history.

🏀 National Leader:
As the nation’s leading scorer at 28.6 points per game, Latson has the third- and fourth-highest single-game totals in the country this season. She is also the only Power 4 player to record multiple 38-point games this year.

🔥 Career Highlights:
Latson has scored 30+ points in 18 career games, including four this season. Her dynamic play contributes to FSU’s status as the nation’s second-highest scoring team, averaging 94.2 points per game.

🔜 Upcoming Matchup:
FSU (9-1) returns to action on Dec. 15, hosting Drexel at 2 p.m. on ACC Network Extra. Fans will be eager to see if Latson can continue her historic run.

Read more here

🏅 Kim Jones Inducted into Florida Track & Field Hall of Fame 🏅

Former Florida State track and field standout Kim Jones has been selected for the State of Florida Track and Field Hall of Fame Class of 2025, a testament to her remarkable athletic career both at FSU and beyond.

🌟 FSU Legacy:
During her time at Florida State (1999-2003), Jones became a six-time ACC Champion and earned five All-American Honorable Mentions across events including the 60-meter hurdles, 100-meter hurdles, and both indoor and outdoor long jump. A four-year letter winner, she dominated the ACC scene and later competed professionally under a six-year sponsorship with Nike.

🏆 High School Achievements:
Before her collegiate and professional stardom, Jones excelled at Grimsley High School in North Carolina, where she captured six outdoor individual state titles and two indoor championships. Her long jump record of 18 feet, 9.25 inches stood until 2005, and she was twice named the NCHSAA 4A Women's Outdoor Track Championship MVP. She also earned North Carolina Gatorade Track and Field Athlete of the Year honors.

🎉 Induction Details:
The official ceremony will take place this January at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando, where Jones will join a distinguished group of Florida track and field legends.

Read more here

🏈 FSU Hires Herb Hand as Offensive Line Coach 🏈

Florida State continues its coaching overhaul with the addition of Herb Hand as its new offensive line coach. Hand joins the Seminoles after serving under Gus Malzahn at UCF, marking another key move in reshaping FSU’s staff following a challenging 2024 season.

🌟 Coaching Credentials:
Hand, 56, brings over three decades of coaching experience, including stints at prominent programs like Auburn, Penn State, Texas, and UCF. He began coaching offensive lines in 2007 under Malzahn at Tulsa, where current FSU head coach Mike Norvell was also part of the staff.

🎖️ Notable Achievements:

• Three-time finalist for Football Scoop’s Offensive Line Coach of the Year (2008, 2016, 2017).

• Developed several NFL-caliber players, including Braden Smith (All-SEC, second-round pick), Samuel Cosmi (unanimous All-Big 12, second-round pick), and Wesley Johnson (fifth-round pick).

• Primary recruiter for top-tier prospects, including five-star lineman Calvin Ashley.

📉 Revamping a Struggling Unit:
FSU’s offensive line struggled significantly in 2024, failing to meet high expectations and contributing to the Seminoles’ 2-10 record. With the line ranked among the worst in Power 4 conferences, the poor performance led to Alex Atkins’ dismissal as offensive line coach. Hand is tasked with rebuilding the unit, which will lose at least three starters heading into 2025.

Read more here.

🏈 FSU Roster Overhaul: Transfer Portal Departures 🏈

Florida State’s roster continues to experience significant turnover as several players have entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. Coming off a challenging season, we are expected to see substantial attrition as they reshape their squad for 2025. Here’s a look at the latest departures:

🌟 Wide Receiver Departures

Darion Williamson

• The redshirt senior wide receiver entered the portal as a graduate transfer after four seasons at FSU.

• Career Stats: 35 receptions, 454 yards, and one touchdown.

• Williamson appeared in 12 games this season, recording five receptions for 71 yards.

Destyn Hill

• Hill, a redshirt freshman, entered the portal after missing the 2024 season due to injury.

• In 2023, he played 10 games as a true freshman, tallying six receptions for 87 yards.

🏈 Tight Ends on the Move

Brian Courtney

• A converted prep quarterback, Courtney contributed primarily on special teams during his three seasons at FSU.

• Career Stats: Two receptions for 15 yards and two successful two-point conversions.

Jerrale Powers

• Powers, a redshirt sophomore, played in two games for FSU but did not record any statistics.

• Injuries hindered the development of the Texas native, who has two years of eligibility remaining.

🛡️ Defensive Departures

Lamont Green Jr.

• The redshirt freshman defensive end will leave FSU with three years of eligibility remaining.

• Green Jr., a legacy player whose father was a standout Seminole, appeared in just two games over two seasons.

🏗️ Offensive Line Changes

Julian Armella

• Armella, another legacy player, departs FSU after three seasons, having played in 17 games primarily on special teams.

• The former top recruit from the 2022 cycle will have two years of eligibility remaining.

🔮 What’s Next for FSU?

FSU has consistently been active in the transfer portal under Mike Norvell, both in acquiring talent and managing outgoing transfers.

While the Seminoles lost 22 players to the portal last year, the current cycle is shaping up to bring similar volume.

🏈 Seminoles Host Dual-Threat QB Thomas Castellanos on Visit 🏈

Florida State is making a strong push for Boston College quarterback Thomas Castellanos, hosting the dynamic playmaker on an official visit this week from Wednesday through Thursday. The transfer portal target is also considering Missouri and Vanderbilt, with visits to those programs reportedly on his schedule.

🌟 A Familiar Foe
Seminole fans know Castellanos well after back-to-back standout performances against FSU:

• 2023 Thriller: Castellanos nearly orchestrated a comeback in a narrow FSU win at Boston College, throwing for 305 yards and rushing for 95 yards with two total touchdowns.

• 2024 Triumph: Castellanos led the Eagles to a 28-13 victory in Doak Campbell Stadium, accounting for three touchdowns with 179 combined passing and rushing yards.

📈 Statistical Snapshot

• 2023 Season: 2,146 passing yards (57.1% completion), 15 TDs, 13 INTs; 957 rushing yards, 11 TDs.

• 2024 Season: 1,366 passing yards (63%), 18 TDs, 5 INTs; 194 rushing yards, 1 TD (limited by injury).

🎯 Portal Recruitment Highlights
Castellanos, a former three-star recruit and the No. 9 QB in the transfer portal per 247Sports, has two years of eligibility remaining. His ties to FSU offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn—who recruited him to UCF—could play a pivotal role in his decision. Castellanos chose quarterback over running back during his recruitment, and his versatility has paid dividends ever since.

🚨 What’s Next for FSU?
Landing Castellanos would bolster a quarterback room that needs depth and competition after a difficult 2024 season. His dual-threat ability fits well with Malzahn’s system, offering the Seminoles a proven playmaker capable of reigniting their offensive identity.

Read more here.

🏈 FSU Taps Nebraska Pipeline for Defensive Reinforcements 🏈

Florida State is leveraging its new coaching hires to strengthen its defensive roster for the 2025 season. Defensive coordinator Tony White, defensive line coach Terrance Knighton, and safeties coach Evan Cooper—all recent additions from Nebraska—are already working to bring some of their former Cornhusker players to Tallahassee.

🌟 Confirmed Visits: Defensive Line Duo

• James Williams ("Sack Man"): The sophomore pass-rusher played in every game for Nebraska in 2024, tallying 14 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 5.0 sacks. Known for his ability to disrupt the pocket, Williams is set to visit FSU next Monday.

• Jimari Butler: A seasoned defensive lineman, Butler logged 22 tackles, 7.0 TFLs, 2.0 sacks, and one fumble recovery in 11 games (six starts) while battling injuries in 2024. With one year of eligibility left, Butler’s visit is also scheduled for Monday.

🔍 Other Potential Targets

FSU is reportedly interested in pursuing additional Nebraska defenders:

• Princewill Umanmielen: An emerging talent with untapped potential.

• Keona Davis: A freshman standout with strong developmental upside.

Though visits for Umanmielen and Davis haven’t been finalized, the Seminoles are expected to remain aggressive in securing these defensive assets.

Read more here.

🏈 FSU Offers Dynamic WR Transfer Reggie Virgil 🏈

Florida State has extended a scholarship offer to Miami (Ohio) wide receiver Reggie Virgil, confirming its interest in the 6-foot-4 playmaker who has quickly emerged as a coveted transfer portal prospect.

🌟 Breakout Season
Virgil, a native of Apopka, Fla., had a standout 2024 campaign, posting:

• 816 receiving yards on 41 catches

• 9 touchdowns

After limited action in his first two seasons—just two catches total—Virgil’s explosive year has made him a national-level recruit.

🚨 In-Demand Talent
FSU isn’t the only program vying for Virgil’s commitment. He’s also received offers from Miami (Florida), Florida, and other major programs.

🎯 Homegrown Talent
Virgil played his prep football at Mount Dora Christian and would bring size and playmaking ability to a Seminole receiving corps looking for fresh impact players after a challenging season.

Read more here.

🏈 Transfer Portal Buzz: Key Names FSU Could Target 🏈

With the Transfer Portal officially open, the college football world is abuzz with players entering the market. Florida State is expected to be active in adding talent to strengthen its roster. Here's a look at some intriguing players FSU may target among the new entries:

🔑 Offensive Line

• Xavier Chaplin, Virginia Tech: A two-year starter with prototypical tackle size (6-7, 323) and a 73.7 PFF grade over 607 snaps, Chaplin is drawing major interest from SEC schools, with FSU also in the mix.

• Kam Dewberry, Texas A&M: A massive guard (6-4, 330) with 1,105 snaps under his belt, Dewberry is a competent run blocker with a 58.6 PFF grade in 2024.

• Josh Braun, Arkansas: The North Florida native and former UF starter allowed just three sacks over 1,300+ snaps. The 6-6, 338-pound guard could be a great fit for FSU’s offensive line overhaul.

🌟 Wide Receivers

• Reggie Virgil, Miami (Ohio): Already holding an offer from FSU, the 6-4, 190-pound wideout recorded 816 yards and 9 TDs in 2024.

• Eric Singleton, Georgia Tech: A speedy, productive receiver with back-to-back 700+ yard seasons, Singleton is expected to command high interest.

🛡️ Defensive Line & EDGE

• Clev Lubin, Coastal Carolina: With 43 QB pressures and 9.5 sacks, Lubin has been a dominant JUCO-to-G5 transfer. His 86.1 PFF grade could make him a coveted pass-rusher for FSU.

• Keona Davis, Nebraska: A 6-5, 255-pound freshman with impressive speed and upside, Davis is a developmental prospect who could benefit from FSU’s coaching.

🏋️ Linebackers

• Amare Campbell, UNC: One of the most physical defenders in the Portal, Campbell racked up 72 tackles and 6.5 sacks. His 74.4 PFF grade and instincts make him a strong target.

🔒 Defensive Backs

• Jalen Stroman, Virginia Tech: With NFL-caliber tools, Stroman is recovering from an injury but has shown flashes of high potential.

• Raion Strader, Miami (Ohio): The 6-foot corner is a solid cover man with a 74.1 PFF grade in 2024 and could thrive in FSU’s secondary.

🚀 Others to Watch

• DL Parker Petersen, Tulane: A run-stopping nose tackle with a 71.3 PFF grade, Petersen could fill a critical role for FSU.

• EDGE Kyran Duhon, UTEP: With 7 sacks and 43 tackles as a freshman, Duhon offers high upside for P4 programs.

Read more here.

And that’s a wrap!

From record-setting performances to strategic moves in the transfer portal, Florida State is making headlines across the board.

With so much happening on and off the field, the Seminole spirit remains as strong as ever. Stay tuned as the journey to a brighter 2025 season continues—because greatness never rests.

🎯 Got thoughts or predictions? Let us know—we’re all ears! 🎯