- The Chief Brief
- Posts
- 🏹 December 24th - The Chief Brief 🏹
Forwarded this email from a friend? Subscribe at the button below
Yesterday’s Poll Results
Today’s Poll
How do you feel about FSU’s quarterback reset heading into 2026? |
🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹
Happy holidays, Chief!
The semester is over, the season is in the rearview, and Florida State has officially entered the reset-and-build phase. This edition captures the full spectrum of where the program stands right now: excellence away from the spotlight, hard roster realities, and a clear-eyed look at what comes next.
🎓 Excellence Is the Baseline 🎓
FSU Athletics shattered GPA records department-wide, proving championship culture shows up in the classroom first.
⚽ From Doak to the Pros ⚽
A Seminole defender caps a historic college career by signing with the NWSL, continuing FSU soccer’s elite pro pipeline.
🏈 Quarterback Certainty Arrives 🏈
With one QB declaring for the NFL Draft and another entering the portal, FSU’s offseason direction at the position is now unmistakable.
🧠 The Big Picture at QB 🧠
A deep dive into the 2024 quarterback class reveals FSU’s reset isn’t unique — it’s the modern reality of college football.
⭐ Seminoles Shine on Sundays ⭐
Four former ‘Noles earned Pro Bowl nods, reinforcing Florida State’s reputation as an NFL factory.
⚾ Another Arm Cashes In ⚾
A former FSU pitcher lands a major MLB deal, a reminder that development pays off — sometimes a decade later.
🧩 Roster Gaps Come into Focus 🧩
Tight end and linebacker emerge as priority positions as portal season approaches, with urgency matching opportunity.
👉 Bottom line: The wins may pause, but the work doesn’t. Florida State is recalibrating — academically strong, professionally proven, and now decisively focused on fixing what broke.
Let’s get into it. 🏹
Easy setup, easy money
Your time is better spent creating content, not managing ad campaigns. Google AdSense's automatic ad placement and optimization handles the heavy lifting for you, ensuring the highest-paying, most relevant ads appear on your site.
🎓 FSU Athletics Sets All-Time Academic GPA Records 🎓
Florida State Athletics closed the fall 2025 semester with a historic academic performance across the entire department.
🧠 Record-Breaking Semester
Department-wide fall GPA: 3.333 — the highest single-semester GPA in FSU Athletics history.
Cumulative GPA now sits at 3.356, also a department record.
📊 By the Numbers
18 teams posted semester GPAs above 3.000.
358 student-athletes earned at least a 3.000 GPA.
31 student-athletes made the President’s List with perfect 4.000 GPAs.
144 student-athletes earned Dean’s List honors (3.500+).
🏆 Team Leaders
Women’s golf led all teams with a 3.752 GPA.
Men’s tennis posted a 3.526 GPA, the highest men’s mark and a program record.
Six programs set individual sport GPA records, including baseball, softball, and track & field.
🗣️ From the AD
Michael Alford called the results “nothing short of exceptional,” pointing to discipline, commitment, and a department-wide culture of academic excellence.
👉 Why It Matters: Championship culture shows up everywhere. These numbers confirm that Florida State isn’t just competing at a high level; it’s setting the standard for excellence long after the final whistle.
⚽ FSU Defender Heather Gilchrist Signs with Bay FC ⚽
Another Seminole is heading to the professional ranks, as a cornerstone of FSU’s championship back line takes the next step.
🔥 From Tallahassee to the NWSL
Senior defender Heather Gilchrist has signed with Bay FC of the National Women's Soccer League.
She’ll reunite with former Seminole teammate Taylor Huff on Bay FC’s roster.
🏆 A Championship Résumé
Two national championships (2023, 2025) and three College Cup appearances.
Two-time All-American, five ACC titles, and a 2025 College Cup All-Tournament Team selection.
Anchored a defense that posted 13 shutouts in her senior season, including four in the NCAA Tournament.
🎓 Elite On and Off the Field
First Team Academic All-America and Scholar All-America in 2025.
One of just three players in program history to earn Academic All-America and All-America honors in the same season.
Graduated with a finance degree and is currently pursuing an MBA.
🗣️ Pensky’s Praise
Head coach Brian Pensky called Gilchrist “the consummate professional,” citing her maturity, preparation, and leadership as traits built to translate seamlessly to the pro level.
🏈 QB Tommy Castellanos Declares for 2026 NFL Draft 🏈
Florida State’s quarterback situation for 2026 is now official.
📌 Decision Made
Tommy Castellanos announced he’s declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft, ending any possibility of a return to college football.
Castellanos had pursued an NCAA waiver to regain eligibility, but it was denied, prompting the move to the professional ranks.
📊 By the Numbers
One season at FSU: 2,760 passing yards, 15 TDs, 9 INTs, plus 557 rushing yards and 9 rushing TDs.
Career totals (FSU, Boston College, UCF): 6,449 passing yards, 48 passing TDs, 1,984 rushing yards, 24 rushing TDs.
Finished 5–7 as FSU’s starter in 2025.
🔍 What’s Next for FSU
Head coach Mike Norvell previously noted the program would plan as if Castellanos wasn’t returning.
FSU is expected to explore the transfer portal this winter as it shapes the 2026 quarterback room.
👉 Why It Matters: Castellanos’ decision removes uncertainty and accelerates the offseason reset; locking FSU into a portal-driven QB search as the Seminoles reshape the roster for 2026.
What if You Never Had to Clean Gutters Again?
Most gutter guards promise the world but still leave you climbing ladders to clear debris.
LeafGuard takes a completely different approach—instead of adding another layer to your existing
gutters, they replace your entire system with a one-piece design that's engineered so debris never gets
inside.
The science is pretty straightforward: water follows the curved hood into the gutter using liquid
adhesion, while leaves, pine needles, and debris roll right off. No joints mean no leaks, and the
aluminum is 20% thicker than standard gutters. With over 650,000 ladder-related injuries happening
annually, eliminating gutter maintenance isn't just convenient—it's smart.
The Chief Brief readers can take advantage of 75% off installation plus an additional $200 off. That's
significant savings on a system backed by a lifetime no-clog guarantee and 25+ years of proven
performance.
🏈 QB Brock Glenn Enters Transfer Portal 🏈
Another quarterback domino has fallen for Florida State as the offseason reshaping continues.
📉 Roster Movement
Brock Glenn has decided to leave the program via the NCAA Transfer Portal after three seasons in Tallahassee.
The redshirt sophomore appeared in 16 games with seven starts during his FSU career.
📊 Career Snapshot
2025 (RS Sophomore): 6-of-10, 69 yards, 2 TDs; added 43 rushing yards in spot duty.
2024: Seven games, five starts; 597 passing yards, 4 TDs, 5 INTs.
2023 (True Freshman): Started the ACC Championship and Orange Bowl; earned a redshirt.
📅 What’s Next
Glenn will have two years of eligibility remaining at his next stop.
The Division I transfer portal window runs January 2–16, with just one window in 2026.
👉 Why It Matters: With both quarterbacks now moving on, Florida State’s QB room officially turns the page and the portal search for 2026 becomes a full-speed priority.
🏈 The QB Mirage: Every Top-10 QB from the 2024 Class — Where They Are Now 🏈
As Florida State turns the page at quarterback, the broader context matters. The much-hyped 2024 QB class was supposed to stabilize programs for years. Two seasons later, it’s become a case study in volatility.
Here’s how all 10 of the top quarterbacks from that class have unfolded:
🔥 1. DJ Lagway — Florida → Portal
Former No. 1 QB recruit struggled to take the next step in Year 2.
Entered the portal after questions about fit and development under new staff.
🔥 2. Dylan Raiola — Nebraska → Portal
Put up efficient numbers but operated one of the nation’s most conservative offenses.
Season-ending injury and scheme questions preceded portal entry.
🔥 3. Julian Sayin — Alabama → Ohio State (Star)
Never played at Alabama; transferred immediately.
Emerged as one of the nation’s best QBs at Ohio State, leading the country in completion percentage.
🔥 4. Luke Kromenhoek — FSU → Mississippi State
Appeared in six games during FSU’s 2024 collapse.
Transferred and again landed third on the depth chart, attempting just four passes in 2025.
🔥 5. Walker White — Auburn → Baylor
Buried at Auburn, transferred for opportunity.
Never saw the field at Baylor.
🔥 6. CJ Carr — Notre Dame (Hit)
The only top-10 QB to develop into a long-term starter at his original school.
Threw for 2,700+ yards with TDs in every game this season.
🔥 7. Air Noland — Ohio State → South Carolina → Portal
Lost depth-chart battles twice.
Now seeking his third school in three years.
🔥 8. Ethan Grunkemeyer — Penn State (TBD)
Took over after injury and showed flashes as a starter.
Future uncertain amid a coaching change.
🔥 9. Jadyn Davis — Michigan → Portal
Lost the job before it started after a five-star flip.
Entered the portal with minimal game reps.
🔥 10. Ryan Puglisi — Georgia (Backup)
Still at Georgia but faces another season blocked on the depth chart.
Has yet to establish a clear path to starting snaps.
👉 Why It Matters:
Seven portal entries. One clear success story. Two still waiting.
The 2024 quarterback class didn’t fail, the system did. Development windows are shrinking, patience is gone, and elite rankings now signal leverage more than longevity. Florida State’s QB reset isn’t a warning sign; it’s the modern blueprint.
🏈 Four Seminoles Named to 2026 Pro Bowl Games 🏈
Florida State’s NFL pipeline was on full display as four former Seminoles earned Pro Bowl selections for the 2026 Pro Bowl Games.
⭐ FSU Pro Bowlers
Jalen Ramsey (Pittsburgh Steelers) — AFC starter
Derwin James (Los Angeles Chargers) — AFC
Brian Burns (New York Giants) — NFC starter
Jared Verse (Los Angeles Rams) — NFC starter
🧠 By the Numbers
Ramsey: Eighth Pro Bowl; moved to safety this season and delivered 77 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT, and 7 PBUs.
James: Fifth Pro Bowl; elite versatility with snaps across the slot, box, line, and deep safety — plus 86 tackles, 2 INTs, and strong coverage metrics.
Burns: Third Pro Bowl (first with the Giants); 15 sacks and 20 TFLs, one of the most productive seasons in franchise history.
Verse: Second straight Pro Bowl; 59 QB pressures (top-five NFL) and 6.5 sacks after winning Defensive Rookie of the Year last season.
📅 Event Details
The 2026 Pro Bowl Games move to Super Bowl LX week in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Airing Tuesday, Feb. 3, beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN (flag game at 8 p.m.).
👀 Notable Snub
Josh Sweat (Arizona Cardinals) earned alternate status despite 11 sacks — tied for ninth in the league.
👉 Why It Matters: From starters to alternates, Florida State’s fingerprints are all over the NFL’s elite; proof that the Seminoles continue to develop difference-makers at the highest level.
⚾ Former Seminole Luke Weaver Signs with New York Mets ⚾
Another Florida State arm cashes in at the next level.
💰 New Deal in Queens
Luke Weaver signed a two-year, $22 million contract with the New York Mets, switching sides in the New York rivalry after two seasons with the Yankees.
🧠 FSU Roots
A first-round pick (No. 27 overall) in the 2014 MLB Draft, Weaver was a two-time All-ACC selection at Florida State.
Posted a 3.04 ERA across 245.2 innings as a Seminole, anchoring the rotation during his three-year run.
📈 Career Resurgence
Found his stride in the Yankees’ bullpen, logging 162 innings with a 3.22 ERA, 191 strikeouts, and a 0.99 WHIP.
In 2024, recorded a 2.89 ERA and four postseason saves as New York reached the World Series.
🏈 FSU’s Tight End Room Faces Full Reset for 2026 🏈
Florida State is staring at a near-total rebuild at tight end as the offseason churn continues.
📉 What’s Leaving
Markeston Douglas — exhausted eligibility after serving as FSU’s primary in-line blocker.
Randy Pittman Jr. — top receiving and rushing threat at the position, entered the transfer portal.
Landen Thomas — rotational contributor, also headed to the portal.
🧠 What Remains (For Now)
Chase Loftin is expected to move back to tight end after spending 2025 at wide receiver before a season-ending hamstring injury.
Two former walk-ons (Gavin Markey, Greyson Labiad) plus incoming freshmen Xavier Tiller and Corbyn Fordham.
🔍 Portal Priority
With virtually no returning production, FSU is expected to pursue two transfer tight ends when the window opens in January.
The ideal combo:
One in-line blocker who can hold up immediately.
One vertical threat / H-back type to replace Pittman’s versatility.
👉 Why It Matters: Tight end flipped from a functional piece in 2025 to a potential liability in 2026. If Florida State doesn’t land plug-and-play help via the portal, this position could quietly become one of the offense’s biggest problems next season.
🏈 Linebacker Reset: FSU Enters Offseason with Questions and Urgency 🏈
As Florida State turns the page after a 5–7 season, linebacker has emerged as one of the most pressing areas to address heading into the transfer portal window.
📉 2025 in Review
The unit was expected to be a defensive anchor but proved inconsistent, particularly in coverage.
Missed assignments and matchup issues hurt FSU in early losses (notably at UVA and vs. Pitt).
Stefon Thompson was steady when healthy, while Blake Nichelson flashed growth but lacked consistency.
Coverage struggles plagued others, and several veterans failed to take a meaningful step forward.
🧠 Who’s Back (For Now)
Nichelson and Juice Cryer remain on the roster after Omar Graham transferred out.
Caleb LaVallee could factor in after missing time with injury.
Roles are open — no starting job is locked in.
🌱 Youth Movement Coming
FSU signed one of its stronger LB classes in years, led by blue-chip Izayia Williams, alongside Karon Maycock, Noah LaVallee, and reclass Daylen Green.
Williams’ upside is elite, but he’s returning from a knee injury; Maycock profiles as a potential early contributor.
🎯 Portal Priority: 8/10
Freshmen may rotate early, but FSU still needs at least one proven starter — possibly two — from the portal to stabilize the unit.
👉 Why It Matters: Linebacker was supposed to be a strength and wasn’t. If Florida State wants a real defensive rebound in 2026, this room has to be upgraded quickly and decisively.
And that’s a wrap!
This is the quiet part of the calendar — no games, no noise — where programs either drift or decide. Florida State is clearly choosing the latter. The academic records matter. The pro success matters. And so does the uncomfortable clarity around roster holes and quarterback volatility.
There’s no spin here; just a program taking inventory and getting ready to move. The next few weeks will tell us a lot about how serious that reset really is.
Until then, enjoy the holidays, spend time with your people, and keep one eye on the portal.
We’ll be here.
— Chief 🏹🎄
How'd we do? |