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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Sunday, Seminole!

A wave of movement is brewing in Tallahassee — from major roster decisions to staff shakeups to portal priorities — and insiders say the next month could redefine FSU’s entire 2026 blueprint. Meanwhile, hoops battled No. 7 Houston, a top EDGE signee explains why he came home, and a former Seminole analyst is heading back to the SEC. Plus: George Henshaw delivers one of his most brutally honest evaluations yet. Inside today’s edition:

🏈 Insiders Expect Major Staff & Roster Movement
Momentum shifts around Duce Robinson, portal battles looming for Ja’Bril Rawls, and early signs that OL will be a priority. Staff changes? Insiders say Surtain was just the start.

🏀 FSU Pushes No. 7 Houston Before Falling Late
McCray and Wiggins keep the Noles swinging, but Houston controls the final stretch.

🎙️ Cam Brooks Opens Up About His Dream-School Flip
FSU’s newest EDGE signee details the phone call that changed everything — and why he’s ready to prove himself day one.

🏈 Zach Arnett Leaves FSU for Mississippi State
Former Noles analyst returns to Starkville to run the defense in a fast-moving SEC hire.

🏈 George Henshaw Breaks Down the 2025 Collapse
The former Bowden assistant pulls no punches — from the Florida game to roster effort issues to why QB evaluation must fundamentally change.

👇️ Let’s get into it.

🏈 Insiders Still Expect Major Roster & Staff Movement 🏈

The early quiet following the Surtain dismissal is misleading — insiders say more changes are coming, and key roster decisions are already gaining traction behind the scenes.

🔥 Duce Robinson Could Return

• Momentum is building for WR Duce Robinson to stay for 2026.

• His decision hinges on two factors:
  – Updated NFL draft grade
  – FSU’s QB plan, with a transfer now widely expected

• Insiders describe his status as a coin flip, but the possibility is stronger than it was immediately after the season.

💨 Earl Little Jr. Leaning Pro

• Multiple insiders believe Earl Little Jr. is likely headed to the NFL.

• His recent East-West Shrine Game invite fueled speculation.

• Little has told some internally that he has not made a final decision yet.

🛠️ Portal Strategy: OL Will Be a Major Focus

• Insiders are curious as to if Florida State to be extremely active on the offensive line in the upcoming portal window or if they will trust in some of the upcoming young talent.

• Norvell publicly highlighted Lucas Simmons, Jonathan Daniels, and Sandman Thompson as internal options.

• Early read from insiders:
  – Sandman Thompson is expected to enter spring as FSU’s starting center.
  – The rest of the OL picture remains wide open.

💰 Retention Battle: Ja’Bril Rawls

• Insiders say FSU faces an uphill battle to keep CB Ja’Bril Rawls.

• If he hits the portal, projected NIL market value: $900K–$1M.

• That would have made him a top 3–5 paid player on last year’s roster.

• Question becomes: will he offer FSU a hometown discount?

🔍 Portal Watch: 2024 Signees

• Expect movement from some top players from the 2024 class.

• CB Cai Bates has been mentioned repeatedly in insider circles over the last 24 hours.

🧨 Staff Overhaul: Surtain Just the Start

• Warchant confirms Surtain’s exit is “first of many likely changes.”

• They stress the order of departures means nothing — only the totality of moves will matter.

• Regarding OC Gus Malzahn:
  – Insiders say he is exploring other opportunities.
  – If so, FSU gains leverage — no reason to fire a coach who may walk on his own.

🧠 Why News Is Slow Right Now
Insiders across Warchant and Noles247 emphasize:

• Rumors are everywhere.

• Expectations of significant structural and coaching changes remain high.

• But reporters won’t publish details until they have concrete enough information.

Why It Matters
The next 30 days will define the trajectory of the 2026 roster and staff. FSU appears to be entering the most dramatic turnover period since Norvell’s arrival — with star players, coaches, and the front-office structure all in motion.

👉 You can read more details here and here.

🏀 FSU Falls 82–67 to No. 7 Houston Despite Late Push 🏀

Florida State showed fight in stretches but couldn’t keep pace with a top-10 Houston squad in the Toyota Center.

🔥 McCray & Wiggins Lead the Charge

• Robert McCray scored a team-high 16 points and added 5 assists — his 7th time leading the team in assists this season.

• Chauncey Wiggins contributed 14 points, including a momentum-shifting three during FSU’s first-half run.

• Lajae Jones chipped in 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals.

💨 Game Flow: FSU’s Runs vs. Houston’s Control

• Houston opened up 15–3, but FSU rallied with a 9–2 run to cut it to 17–12.

• Back-to-back threes from Wiggins and McCray pulled the Noles within 26–21.

• Halftime: Houston 41–33 after FSU closed on a 7–2 run.

• Second half: FSU sliced a 15-point deficit to 57–52 after a 12–2 burst capped by a Jones three.

• Houston responded with stability and closed out the game.

🧱 Notable Performances

• Freshman Thomas Bassong and sophomore Alier Maluk made their first starts of the season.

• Kobe MaGee hit three threes — all his points came from deep.

📅 Next Up
FSU heads to Sunrise for the Orange Bowl Classic vs. UMass on Dec. 13.

Read the full game recap here.

🎙️ Cam Brooks Explains the Flip: Inside His Journey Back to Florida State 🎙️ 

FSU closed the Early Signing Period with one more big win — flipping high-upside pass rusher Cam Brooks from Cal and securing a long-time Seminole fan who called FSU his dream school.

🔥 A Flip Rooted in Persistence & Relationships

• Brooks had been committed to Cal for ~6 months, but FSU re-engaged immediately after his decommitment.

• He’s been visiting FSU since the 8th grade, but the Noles didn’t push early in his recruitment.

• A text from DC Tony White followed by a phone call from Mike Norvell sealed the deal:
  “For him calling me, letting me know he was going to make my dream come true — that was a blessing.”

• Tennessee, Clemson, and West Virginia all made late pushes, but Brooks ultimately returned to the school he always wanted.

💨 What FSU Is Getting in Brooks

• 6’3” EDGE with a strong senior season and 10+ sacks.

• Healthy, productive, and still climbing — Norvell praised his “high ceiling” and year-over-year growth.

• Will enroll in January, giving him a head start with strength & conditioning.

• Comes from an undefeated Thomas County Central team preparing for a state semifinal.

• Brooks: “I’ve got something to prove all the time… I know who I am. I’m going to get it done.”

🔒 Why This Matters
A local, high-motor pass rusher returning home gives FSU both a culture win and an upside injection at a premium position — especially important with the reshaping of the defensive staff and identity already underway.

👉 Read more on the interview here

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🏈 Former FSU Analyst Zach Arnett Returning to Mississippi State to Run Defense 🏈

Mississippi State is bringing back a familiar face — and a former Seminole staffer — as Jeff Lebby moves quickly to rebuild his defensive operation.

🔥 Arnett Heads Back to Starkville

Zach Arnett, who spent this past season as a defensive analyst at FSU, is returning to Mississippi State to run the Bulldog defense.
He’s expected to be on the ground as early as this weekend.

Arnett previously served as MSU’s defensive coordinator from 2020–22 under Mike Leach, earning national praise for his aggressive 3-3-5 scheme before being promoted to head coach following Leach’s passing.

💨 A Chaotic Two Years — and a Quick Turnaround

• Arnett led MSU to a ReliaQuest Bowl win in his first game as interim head coach.

• His 2023 season unraveled due to major offensive struggles, leading to his dismissal at 4–6.

• He had accepted the defensive coordinator job at UNLV under Dan Mullen before stepping away for personal reasons and joining FSU’s staff.

Now, Lebby — who knows Arnett’s defenses from his time at Ole Miss — is bringing him back to stabilize a unit that struggled under outgoing DC Coleman Hutzler.

🧠 Track Record of Development

During his first stint at MSU, Arnett helped produce:

• 1st-Team All-American CB Emmanuel Forbes

• SEC Defensive Player of the Year LB Nathaniel Watson

• All-SEC standouts Jett Johnson, Tyrus Wheat, and Jaden Crumedy

• And he played a key role in recruiting star safety Isaac Smith

Arnett, just 39, will not be assigned a specific position group — he’ll run the entire defense.

Why It Matters
FSU loses a respected defensive mind from its analyst group, while Mississippi State lands a proven SEC defensive architect just months before spring roster decisions ramp up.

👉 Read more about Arnett’s departure here

🏈 George Henshaw on FSU’s 2025 Collapse & What Must Change 🏈

Former longtime NFL coach and Bobby Bowden assistant George Henshaw sat down with Warchant to break down FSU’s 2025 season — the setbacks, the personnel issues, and the structural fixes he believes are essential.

🔥 Brutal Assessment of the Florida Loss

• Called the UF game “embarrassing” and “pitiful,” saying Florida showed more emotion, effort, and physicality.

• Said the performance made him “sick,” and that it shattered any confidence he had developed after the Alabama win.

• Admitted he and likely the staff overestimated the team after Alabama, saying FSU “was not as talented” as it appeared.

💨 Roster Reality Check

• Believes FSU must aggressively encourage certain players to hit the portal — especially those who didn’t show effort or buy in.

• Notes some players gave everything they had but simply weren’t good enough, creating difficult but necessary personnel decisions.

📉 FSU Can't Outspend the Big Dogs — So It Must Evaluate Better

• Acknowledges FSU won’t match the NIL budgets of Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State, etc.

• Compares the current moment to early Bowden years: FSU must find undervalued players and develop them.

• Believes FSU should outspend and out-recruit the ACC (except possibly Miami).

🧠 Quarterback: The #1 Issue

• Says Castellanos was essentially a “single-wing tailback” — dangerous improviser but not a true passer.

• Thinks FSU must shift the QB model:

  • “Passer first who can run,” not a runner who occasionally throws.

  • Says you cannot reach elite levels without a quarterback who can win from the pocket.

🔧 Coaching Staff & Structure Changes

• Fully expects staff turnover and says Norvell must remove anyone “not pulling their weight.”

• Strongly prefers Norvell to re-engage more deeply with the offense, noting FSU’s best years (2022–23) came when Norvell called plays.

• Supports the restructuring of scouting and front-office operations, believing it will free Norvell to focus on what he does best.

Read more from the interview here.

And that’s a wrap!

The next month will be one of the most pivotal stretches Florida State has faced in years — from staff reshuffling to portal battles to high-stakes retention fights. We’ll keep you plugged into every twist, rumor, and official move as the Noles navigate what insiders describe as a true reset moment for the program.

As always, thanks for riding along.

Go Noles!! 🍢 🏹 

— Chief