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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy hump day, Seminole!

Here’s everything you need to know across FSU sports today: from Hall of Fame milestones to transfer portal movement to a deep dive into how the 2025 Seminoles really performed under the hood.

⚡ FSU Legend April Traylor-Percy Earns Hall of Fame Induction ⚡
One of the greatest players in FSU women’s basketball history just added another honor: induction into the 2026 Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.

🏆 FSU Soccer Celebrates Fifth National Title 🏆
The Seminoles returned home to a hero’s welcome after Monday’s NCAA Championship win over Stanford — marking their third national title in five seasons.

🚪 Portal Moves: OL Mario Nash & DL Tyeland Coleman Exit 🚪
FSU loses two depth pieces as freshman OL Mario Nash and JUCO DL Tyeland Coleman enter the transfer portal ahead of the 2026 window.

🛑 Recruiting Hit: 4★ CB Bryce Williams Decommits 🛑
A key 2027 cornerback target backs off his pledge amid staff turnover at the DBs coach position.

🔥 How the Desir Twins Helped Fuel an Elite 2026 DL Class 🔥
FSU’s massive defensive line haul traces directly to the instant success of freshmen Mandrell & Darryll Desir — providing proof of opportunity and development.

📊 FSU’s Final 2025 Statistical Profile: What the Numbers Really Say 📊
The regular-season data reveals a strong-but-inconsistent team: elite efficiency inflated by weaker opponents, major special teams issues, and defensive gaps that must be addressed in 2026.

Why More Seafood (and Less Red Meat) Might Be the Wellness Shift You’ve Been Looking For

 If you’re thinking about cutting back on red meat for better health, wild-caught seafood could be your secret weapon. Science shows that eating fish 1-2 times a week can support healthy heart and brain function, help reduce inflammation, and even may give your metabolism a little boost.

Here’s what wild-caught seafood delivers: essential n‑3 polyunsaturated fats (specifically, the marine-based omega-3 fatty acids that nutritionists love so much!), lean and digestible protein, and a smorgasbord of nutrients. Compare that to conventional red meat, which often comes with higher saturated fat, an unhealthy balance of omega‑6 fatty acids, and a limited range of nutrients.

Switching to seafood as your go-to protein is not just a shift away from a red meat rut. It’s a shift toward higher-quality nutrients and a more diversified diet for well-rounded health.

🏐 FSU Volleyball Stars Earn AVCA Southeast Region Honors 🏐

Two of Florida State’s top offensive weapons have been recognized among the best in the Southeast Region, as outside hitters Iane Henke and Kyleene Filimaua picked up AVCA honors on Tuesday. Henke earned First Team recognition, while Filimaua was named Honorable Mention.

🔥 Henke Rewrites the Record Book

• Finished 3rd all-time at FSU in kills per set (4.43) and 2nd all-time in points per set (5.10) — both 4th in the ACC this season.

• Totaled 425 kills despite missing five matches.

• Four-match stretch vs. UNF, USF, South Carolina, and Oklahoma:
  – 15+ kills in all four
  – Hit .300+ in all four
  – First Nole since 2001 (Norisha Campbell) to hit that mark.

• Recorded 20+ kills in four straight matches (Clemson, Georgia Tech, Cal, Virginia) — a first in FSU program history in the rally-scoring era.

• Drafted 24th overall by the Orlando Valkyries in the MLV Draft.

💨 Filimaua’s Monster Season

• Posted 443 kills — the 8th-most in FSU rally scoring era history and the most by any Nole since 2019.

• Averaged 4.35 points per set, ranking 9th in program history.

• Led the team with 42 aces.

• Added 13 double-doubles and 270 digs (2nd-most on the team), proving to be one of the ACC’s most complete six-rotation players.

👉 Read more from the source here

🏀 April Traylor-Percy Inducted Into Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame 🏀

Florida State legend April Traylor-Percy has been selected to the 2026 Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame class; cementing her status as one of the greatest players ever to come out of Indiana and FSU.

🔥 High School Dominance

• Led Martinsville to back-to-back state titles (1997, 1998) with a 55–1 combined record.

• Two-time AP First-Team All-State, 1997 State Finals MVP, and 1998 IndyStar Super Team Co-Player of the Year.

💨 Seminole Star Power

• Four-year starter at FSU (112 games; 106 starts).

• 1,503 career points — 10th in program history.

• Ranks 6th in steals (217) and 7th in assists (387).

• Still shares the FSU NCAA Tournament scoring record with 30 points vs. Tulane (2001).

📈 Post-FSU Impact

• ACC Legend (2013), Silver Anniversary Team (2023).

• 21-year career as a teacher/coach; now runs Ballers Basketball Academy in Miami.

🎉 Hall of Fame Ceremony: April 25, 2026 at Primo Banquet Hall in Indianapolis.

👉 Source: FSU Athletics

🏆 FSU Soccer Returns Home to Championship Celebration 🏆

The newly crowned 2025 National Champion Seminoles returned to Tallahassee on Tuesday to a hero’s welcome following their 1–0 win over Stanford.

🔥 Fans Pack Arrival & Spear Lighting

• Fans greeted the team at the airport before the squad headed to campus to light the Unconquered Statue spear.

• Festivities continue with a 5:30 p.m. celebration inside the Champions Club, where fans can hear from players/coaches and take photos with the trophy.

💨 Hudson Delivers Again

• Wrianna Hudson scored the game-winner in the 87th minute which was her second straight College Cup match with the decisive goal.

• She also scored in the 73rd minute vs. TCU in the semifinal, securing back-to-back 1–0 victories.

📈 A Modern Dynasty

• This is FSU’s fifth national title (2014, 2018, 2021, 2023, 2025).

• Second championship in three years and second under head coach Brian Pensky.

• Third national title in the last five seasons.

👉 Read more from the source here.

🚪 True Freshman OL Mario Nash Enters Transfer Portal 🚪

Florida State is set to lose another young offensive lineman as true freshman Mario Nash Jr. has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal after one season in Tallahassee.

🔥 Highly Rated Prospect, No Game Action

• Redshirted in 2025; did not appear in a game.

• Former four-star recruit who chose FSU over Clemson, LSU, Ole Miss, and others.

• Originally committed to Mississippi State before flipping to Florida State.

💨 What’s Next

• Nash has four years of eligibility remaining.

• The 2026 transfer window runs January 2–16, the lone official portal window this cycle.

👉 Read more from the source here.

🌀 DL Tyeland Coleman Enters Transfer Portal After One Season 🌀

Junior defensive lineman Tyeland Coleman is leaving Florida State after one year in Tallahassee, entering the NCAA Transfer Portal ahead of the 2026 window.

🔥 Short FSU Stint

• Arrived in 2025 from Northwest Mississippi C.C.

• Appeared in three games, recording:
  – 2 tackles
  – 1 TFL
  – 1 sack

• All production came vs. East Texas A&M.

💨 JUCO Background

• Former No. 9 JUCO prospect (247Sports).

• Logged 30 tackles, 3.5 TFL and 1.5 sacks in 2024.

• Chose FSU over Mississippi State and Illinois.

🔒 Eligibility & Portal Details

• Will have four years of eligibility at his next stop.

• The 2026 transfer window runs Jan. 2–16 — the only window for D1 players this cycle.

👉 Read more from the source here

🏈 4★ CB Bryce Williams Decommits from FSU 🏈

Florida State has lost a key defensive pledge as four-star cornerback Bryce Williams announced his decommitment.

🔥 Why He Backed Off the Pledge

• Williams had longstanding ties to FSU’s staff including recruiting director Devin Rispress and DC Tony White but…

• The departure of former DBs coach Patrick Surtain Sr., who coached Williams’ brother at American Heritage, is widely believed to have played a major role.

💨 Recruiting Impact

• Williams, a 6'2" corner from Fort Lauderdale Western, originally chose FSU over Miami, Auburn, USC, Nebraska, and Georgia Tech.

• Ranked No. 209 nationally and No. 25 CB in the 2027 class (247Sports).

• His exit continues a turbulent stretch for FSU’s secondary recruiting as the program searches for a new cornerbacks coach.

👉 Read more from the source here.

🏈 How FSU’s Desir Twins Helped Land an Elite 2026 DL Class 🏈

FSU’s monster defensive-line haul for 2026 with nine signees, traces directly back to the instant impact of freshman twins Mandrell and Darryll Desir in 2025.

🔥 Freshman Success Set the Blueprint

• Mandrell: 6.5 sacks (team leader), Freshman All-American, 30 tackles — most disruptive FSU freshman DL in years.

• Darryll: 23 tackles, 1 sack, steady rotational contributor.

• Their production showed recruits that true freshmen can play immediately in Tallahassee.

💨 Headliners in the 2026 Class

FSU signed nine defensive linemen (5 EDGE, 4 DT) — the largest DL class of the Norvell era.

Immediate-impact candidate:

• Jalen Anderson (JUCO) — 7 sacks, 40 tackles; rated No. 2 JUCO EDGE nationally.
  Norvell: “He knows how to get to the quarterback… he’ll be a force for us.”

Top high school signees:

• Earnest Rankins (4⭐) — Elite measurables (6'4", 265), No. 12 DL nationally; stuck with FSU despite heavy late pressure.

• Franklin Whitley (4⭐) — 6'6", 265; huge frame + high-upside mover.

Other DL additions:

• Wihtlley Cadeau (DT) — 6'5", 295

• Judah Daniels (DT) — 6'3", 265

• Cam Brooks (EDGE) — 10.5-sack senior year

• Christ Carbin (EDGE) — 11 sacks

• Damaad Lewis (EDGE) — 6'3", 235, major national offers

• Jaemin Pinckney (EDGE) — 15 sacks, developmental size upside

🔒 Why It Matters
Between the twin Desirs’ rapid rise and a DL class full of length, explosiveness and depth, FSU believes multiple newcomers could contribute right away in 2026 just like the Desirs did.

👉 Read more here

📊 FSU Statistical Profile: Final Regular-Season Breakdown 📊

Here’s where the Seminoles finished statistically as the regular season closes and what the numbers really say about 2025.

🔥 Offense: Strong Efficiency, Skewed by Weak Competition

• 6.74 yards per play → 16th nationally

• 34.1 points per game → 24th

• 51% on third down → 7th

• 9.0 yards per pass → 12th

• Sack rate improved from 87th → 74th

But vs. Power Four opponents, key efficiency percentiles dropped sharply:

• Yards/play: 94th → 76th

• Points/game: 81st → 43rd

• Scoring drive rate: 83rd → 55th

💨 Defense: Good, Not Great — Especially Against the Pass

• 5.01 yards per play allowed → 31st

• 22 points per game → 43rd

• Sack rate → 11th

• Rush defense → 29th

• Pass defense lagging: 59th in yards/attempt, 73rd in passer rating allowed

Red-zone TD defense was a major problem: 105th nationally.

📉 Special Teams: Bottom of the Country

FSU finished 120th in Special Teams FEI (130th unadjusted).
Issues spanned:

• Field goal efficiency (121st)

• Punt return efficiency (100s)

• Kickoff efficiency (100s)

The only above-average metric: PAT value added (NXE).

🧠 What It Means

The raw season numbers look solid, but FSU’s offensive production was inflated by non–Power Four games. Against real competition, both the offense and special teams fell sharply, and the defense remained inconsistent especially against the pass and in the red zone.

👉 Read the full statistical breakdown from the source here

And that’s a wrap!

That’s all for today’s Brief; from championship celebrations to roster shakeups and a clearer picture of where FSU stands statistically, this program is entering an offseason filled with real opportunity and real decisions.
See you tomorrow with the latest from around Seminole Nation.
— Chief