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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy New Years’ Eve Eve, Seminole!

A championship pipeline keeps rolling, ACC play brings history into focus, and Florida State’s roster reset is accelerating fast across multiple fronts. Let’s get into it.

⚽ From Titles to the Pros ⚽
Another Seminole makes the jump to the professional stage as FSU soccer’s championship core continues turning trophies into contracts.

🏀 ACC Play, History on the Line 🏀
Robert McCray V opens conference play in Chapel Hill with a chance to do something no Seminole has ever done — and the numbers say it’s very real.

🏈 Tone Setters and Tough Goodbyes 🏈
A new edge coach lays out his vision for restoring FSU’s pass rush, while more portal departures underline just how big this offseason reset really is.

📊 Portal Math, Roster Reality 📊
We break down which exits actually hurt, where the roster is thinnest, and why this portal cycle is about precision — not panic.

⚾ Draft Eyes on Tallahassee ⚾
FSU baseball is already stacking 2026 MLB Draft buzz, with eight Seminoles and commits showing up on early boards as Opening Day approaches.

Let’s dive in.

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⚽🌊 FSU Defender Mimi Van Zanten Signs with San Diego Wave 🌊⚽

Another Seminole is making the leap to the professional stage following Florida State’s championship run.

🔥 From Tallahassee to the NWSL

• Junior defender Mimi Van Zanten has signed with the San Diego Wave of the NWSL

• Becomes the second FSU player to sign professionally this offseason

• Joins Heather Gilchrist, who signed with Bay FC after the title run

🏆 A Championship Resume

• 2× National Champion (2023, 2025)

• 3× ACC Champion

• 2× All-ACC & All-Region honoree

• Part of a back line that produced 13 shutouts in 2025, including four in the NCAA Tournament

🧠 Why the Pros Were Ready

• Appeared in 63 matches (51 starts) over three seasons

• Logged 4,500+ career minutes

• Versatile two-way defender with international experience:

  • Jamaican National Team

  • U.S. U-17 Youth National Team

  • U20 CONCACAF Championship

💬 What They’re Saying

• Van Zanten called her FSU career “an amazing experience” and credited the staff for helping her reach the pro level

• Head coach Brian Pensky praised her as a rare blend of personality and edge:

🔍 Big Picture

Florida State’s soccer program continues to convert championships into professional opportunities. Van Zanten becomes the first Seminole to join San Diego Wave since the club’s inaugural season, reinforcing FSU’s reputation as one of the sport’s most reliable pro pipelines.

👉 Full announcement, quotes, and career breakdown at the source

🏀🎯 Game Preview: Robert McCray V Chasing ACC History at North Carolina 🎯🏀

Florida State opens ACC play Tuesday night with more than just a road test — history is on the line.

🔥 Why This Game Matters

• Robert McCray V enters the night averaging 7.1 assists per game, tied for the ACC lead

• If he finishes the season on top, he’d become the first Seminole ever to lead the conference in assists

• Only 19 players in ACC history have averaged 7.0+ assists and led the league

📊 McCray by the Numbers

• 92 assists in 13 games as a Seminole

• Four double-digit assist games this season (a school record)

• Coming off a 10-assist performance vs. Jacksonville

• Tied for 7th nationally in assists per game

🧠 Big Picture Context

McCray’s numbers aren’t coming against cupcakes — he’s done it against a demanding schedule that already includes Florida, Georgia, and Houston. Now he steps into the Dean Dome to face a North Carolina team with championship expectations.

🗓️ Game Info

• 🆚 North Carolina Tar Heels

• 🏟️ Dean E. Smith Center

• ⏰ 7:00 p.m. ET

• 📺 ESPN2

• 📻 Seminole Sports Network

👉 Why It Matters:
ACC play starts immediately in the deep end. For Florida State Seminoles, McCray’s ability to control tempo, create shots, and handle elite defenses will shape how real this team can be once league play ramps up.

👉 Full preview, historical context, and broadcast details at the source

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🏈🔥 Nick Williams Settling In And Setting the Tone for FSU’s Pass Rush Reset 🔥🏈

Florida State’s new edge coach isn’t easing into the job — Nick Williams is already recruiting, evaluating, and laying out exactly what FSU’s defensive front is about to look like.

🔥 “This Is Home”

• Williams grew up in South Georgia and has deep ties to Florida State

• Called the return to Tallahassee “home” and said he hasn’t been this happy in a long time

• Spoke passionately about walking the halls, seeing FSU legends, and working alongside Odell Haggins and Ernie Sims

🧠 His Edge Philosophy (And What FSU’s Been Missing)

Williams was clear about what he wants off the edge:

• Speed, bend, and flexibility first

• Length matters — “guys who can really win on the edge and affect the quarterback”

• Loves football IQ as much as raw talent

• Coaching approach: identify weaknesses → build drills → fix them (without tearing players down)

He emphasized that modern edge defenders must understand full defensive structure, not just rush — including coverage responsibilities and spacing.

⚡ Energy, Accountability, and Development

• Williams leads by example — high energy, every rep, every day

• Holds players accountable to their own goals (NFL, All-ACC, elite production)

• Believes confidence comes from preparation and clarity, not hype

🧭 What He’s Focused on Right Now

• Pass rush is the priority — “We need dogs off the edge”

• Actively evaluating portal prospects as the window opens

• Working Junior Days hard, targeting top juniors early

• Recruiting relentlessly: parents, prospects, film, visits

🧠 Big Picture

Williams didn’t dance around it — Florida State’s best defenses were built on elite edge play, and that’s the standard again. Between portal evals, recruiting weekends, and a clear vision for development, FSU’s pass rush reset is officially underway.

👉 Full interview highlights, philosophy breakdown, and insight into Williams’ early impact at the source

🚪🧱 FSU OT Lucas Simmons Enters Transfer Portal 🧱🚪

Florida State is losing another former high-upside offensive lineman as Lucas Simmons plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal.

📌 The Basics

• Redshirt sophomore offensive tackle

• 6’8”, 311 pounds

• Two years of eligibility remaining

📊 FSU Tenure

• Appeared in 24 games over the past two seasons

• Logged just 84 total offensive snaps across three years

• Redshirted in 2023

🧠 Why This One’s Notable

• Simmons was viewed as a Top-10 offensive tackle prospect coming out of high school

• His recruitment was widely praised at the time, especially given FSU’s long-term struggles developing true tackles under Mike Norvell

• Ultimately never carved out a consistent role despite rare size and pedigree

🔍 Big Picture

This is less about losing a current contributor and more about another high-ceiling OL evaluation that never materialized on the field. With FSU already facing a massive offensive line rebuild through the portal, Simmons’ departure reinforces how much reset — and urgency — exists up front.

👉 More context on Simmons’ departure and what it means for FSU’s offensive line outlook at the source

🏈📊 Portal Exodus + Roster Reset: Where FSU Stands Entering January 📊🏈

With the transfer portal days from opening, Florida State is already experiencing one of the heaviest waves of departures in the country — while simultaneously reshaping its roster through high school additions. Here’s how the exits actually impact the program, and what the current roster tells us about where portal help is mandatory, not optional.

🚪 Recent Portal Departures — Impact Breakdown

🟢 Minimal Impact

These exits thin depth but don’t materially change FSU’s competitive outlook:

• QB Brock Glenn — Career backup; unlikely to factor into FSU’s QB plans moving forward.

• WR Elijah Moore — Blue-chip traits, but never cracked the rotation consistently.

• OL Manasse Itete — Scout-team lineman who wasn’t trending toward the two-deep.

• EDGE James Williams — Portal swing that didn’t connect; limited pass-rush impact.

👉 Net effect: Roster churn, not roster damage.

🟡 Moderate Impact

Replaceable, but still meaningful losses due to prior investment or short-term role:

• RB Gavin Sawchuk — Led the team in rushing yards; role declined late, but leaves a thin RB room.

• TE Landen Thomas — High-profile recruit who never fully popped, but absorbed snaps.

• WR Jayvan Boggs — Promising freshman starter derailed by injuries; long-term upside loss.

👉 Net effect: Raises portal urgency at RB and TE, reduces margin for error.

🔴 Significant Impact

One departure that genuinely hurts:

• S Ashlynd Barker — Starting safety in a scheme that prioritizes the position; JUCO eval hit who was trending up before injury.

👉 Net effect: Forces FSU to find an experienced safety, not just depth.

🧱 Roster Snapshot by Position (Post-Departures)

Florida State has:

• ~20 players exhaust eligibility

• 25+ portal exits

• 32 signees added in December

• 89 total scholarship players

• ~16 open spots for portal additions

Here’s what the roster actually looks like:

🔥 Must-Add Positions

• QB — No QB1 on roster; portal starter required.

• OL — Entire starting unit gone; multiple portal starters needed.

• EDGE — No consistent organic pass rush; disruptor required.

• CB — Both 2025 starters gone; at least one CB1 needed.

• S — Three-safety scheme + Barker exit = portal necessity.

🧠 High Priority

• LB — Cryer/Nichelson return, but another starter is required.

• TE — Room gutted; portal starter likely.

🟢 Lower Urgency / Depth Only

• WR — Top-end talent likely returns; portal depth optional.

• RB — Needs clarity more than panic; portal addition likely but role-dependent.

• DL (Interior) — Young talent helps, but one proven body still needed.

🔍 The Big Picture

FSU isn’t in trouble because of volume — it’s in trouble because of where the losses are concentrated.

• The spine of the roster (QB, OL, secondary, EDGE) must be rebuilt through the portal.

• The good news: with 16 open spots, Florida State has flexibility.

• The bad news: this margin disappears quickly if early portal evaluations miss.

👉 Why It Matters:
Hit at quarterback, offensive line, and edge and the entire roster stabilizes fast. Miss, and the cycle resets again.

👉 Full departure analysis, position-by-position roster breakdown, and portal math at the source

⚾📋 FSU Baseball’s 2026 Draft Class Is Already Taking Shape 📋⚾

With Opening Day just 46 days away (Feb. 13), Florida State baseball is once again well-represented on early MLB Draft boards — a continuation of last summer’s historic run that saw 11 Seminoles drafted, the most in the nation.

Across MLB Pipeline (Top 100), Perfect Game (Top 300), and Prep Baseball Report (Top 200), eight current Seminoles or commits already appear in 2026 rankings.

Here’s who scouts are circling early:

🌟 The Headliners

RHP Kaden Waechter (HS commit)

• Pipeline: No. 37 | PG: No. 29 | PBR: No. 21

• Highest-ranked Seminole across every outlet

• Polished mid-90s arm with command, four-pitch mix, plus athleticism

• Son of former MLB pitcher Doug Waechter

INF Landon Thome (HS commit)

• Pipeline: No. 42 | PG: No. 65 | PBR: No. 43

• Tennessee flip, top-ranked player in Illinois

• Advanced left-handed bat; multi-position infield defender

🔥 Impact College Pieces

1B Myles Bailey

• Pipeline: No. 96 | PG: No. 117 | PBR: No. 148

• Freshman breakout: .327 AVG, 19 HR, 1.104 OPS

• Draft-eligible sophomore with elite power profile

LHP Trey Beard (FAU transfer)

• Pipeline: No. 66 | PG: No. 60 | PBR: No. 177

• Portal ace, Golden Spikes watch list arm

• 118 Ks in 86 innings with advanced pitchability

LHP Wes Mendes

• PG: No. 103 | PBR: No. 83

• Weekend starter in 2025

• Stuff ticked up into mid-90s this fall

C Hunter Carns

• PG: No. 90 | PBR: No. 104

• Draft-eligible sophomore catcher

• 40 games as a freshman with power upside

🧨 High-Upside Arms & Athletes

RHP Cole Stokes

• PG: No. 120

• 38.6% strikeout rate, elite whiff numbers

• Big arm, control remains the separator

SS/RHP Ben Kuglitsch (HS commit)

• PG: No. 268

• True two-way athlete: 93 mph on mound, 6.42 speed

• One of the more toolsy prep prospects in the class

🔍 Why It Matters

FSU is sustaining elite draft relevance across high school, portal, and returning college talent. With the season nearing and multiple draft-eligible sophomores on the roster, the Seminoles once again look positioned to blend immediate impact with long-term pro upside.

👉 Full draft rankings, scouting notes, and how this class stacks up nationally at the source

And that’s a wrap!

That’s it for today. The portal opens, ACC play ramps up, and the next few weeks will shape far more than just depth charts. We’ll be here to break it all down — one move at a time.