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- 🏹 January 10th - The Chief Brief 🏹
🏹 January 10th - The Chief Brief 🏹
Measuring sticks, momentum plays, and portal pressure points
The Chief
January 10, 2026
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Yesterday’s Poll Results
Today’s Poll
If the salary cap is $21M, should FSU pay each Desir twin $1M to return for 2026? |
🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹
Happy NFL Wildcard Saturday, Seminole!
A packed edition as Florida State balances competition, coaching, and portal chess across nearly every corner of the athletic department.
🏊♂️ FSU Swimming & Diving Opens 2026 Road Slate in Athens 🏊♀️
A ranked early-season road test as the Seminoles measure themselves against elite SEC competition.
🏃♂️ Six Former Noles Return Home for World Cross Country 🌍
Tallahassee hosts the world as former Seminoles compete on a global stage at Apalachee Regional Park.
🏀 FSU Men’s Hoops Hosts NC State Looking for First ACC Win 🏀
Home court matters as the Seminoles hunt their first league win under Luke Loucks.
🏈 FSU Lands Notre Dame DB Transfer Karson Hobbs 🏈
A targeted portal addition brings depth and flexibility to the secondary.
🏈 FSU Adds Massive OL Piece with Auburn LT Xavier Chaplin 🏈
A plug-and-play veteran arrives to stabilize the edge of the offensive line.
🏈 FSU Expected to Add Veteran ST Coach Adam Scheier 🏈
Special teams overhaul incoming, with a proven fixer poised to take over.
🏈 Inside Kam Martin’s Vision for FSU Running Backs 🏈
A new voice sets a demanding standard for explosive, NFL-ready production.
🚨🧠 Desir Twins Talks Cool as Timeline Slips 🧠🚨
What was fluid is now calendar-driven as leverage and timing take center stage.
🚨🧠 Portal Board Heats Up: OL, DBs, and a Blue-Chip WR in Play 🧠🚨
FSU pushes on multiple fronts, blending immediate needs with long-term upside.
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🏊♂️ FSU Swimming & Diving Opens 2026 Road Slate in Athens 🏊♀️
Florida State swimming and diving hits the road for the first time in 2026, heading to Athens for a high-level tri-meet against No. 7/18 Georgia and Arkansas on Saturday morning.
🔥 What to Know
The Seminole men enter ranked No. 12 nationally, while the women are looking to build momentum against ranked competition.
Georgia presents a major test on both sides, while Arkansas brings a strong women’s squad with a 7–1 record this season.
FSU is coming off a dominant Villanova sweep, highlighted by Michel Arkhangelsky’s three-win day and Julia Mansson’s breaststroke clean sweep.
📺 Watch & What’s Next
Saturday, Jan. 10 | 11 a.m. ET — live on SECN+.
After Athens, the Seminoles circle a neutral-site showdown vs. Florida on Jan. 30 in Ocala.
🏃♂️ Six Former Noles Return Home for World Cross Country 🌍
Tallahassee takes the global stage this weekend as six former Seminoles compete in the World Athletics Cross Country Championships at Apalachee Regional Park — the first time the U.S. has hosted since 1992.
🔥 Seminoles on the World Stage
Linden Hall, Lauren Ryan, and Maudie Skyring will represent Australia.
David Mullarkey (Great Britain), Ahmed Muhumed (USA), and Adriaan Wildschutt (South Africa) round out a loaded former-FSU contingent.
Wildschutt returns to a course where he owns one of the fastest times in program history and a résumé that includes multiple ACC titles.
Saturday, Jan. 10 — streaming on NBC and Peacock.
👉 Why It Matters: From Tallahassee to the world, this weekend is a powerful reminder of FSU cross country’s global footprint and the program’s legacy of developing elite, international talent.
🏀 FSU Men’s Hoops Hosts NC State Looking for First ACC Win 🏀
Florida State is back at home Saturday, welcoming NC State Wolfpack men's basketball to the Donald L. Tucker Center for a noon tip on ACC Network.
🔥 What to Know
FSU enters 7–8 overall but a strong 7–2 at home, where it’s won six straight vs. NC State.
The Seminoles are 0–2 in ACC play, making this a key spot for Luke Loucks’ first league win.
NC State comes in 11–5 (2–1 ACC) under first-year head coach Will Wade.
📅 What’s Next
After Saturday, FSU heads to Syracuse on Tuesday night.
👉 Why It Matters: With conference play underway, this is a chance for FSU to steady the season, protect home court, and flip the script early in the ACC grind.
Ozempic Isn’t the Only Option... Here’s What Most People Miss
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🏈 FSU Lands Notre Dame DB Transfer Karson Hobbs 🏈
Florida State added secondary help on Saturday, securing a commitment from Notre Dame Fighting Irish football transfer Karson Hobbs.
🔥 What He Brings
A 6’1”, 189-pound defensive back with Power Five experience and multiple years of eligibility.
Hobbs chose FSU over Mississippi State and NC State, citing belief in Mike Norvell and the defensive vision in Tallahassee.
He projects as a versatile piece in Tony White’s aggressive 3-3-5 scheme, where pressure-heavy looks create opportunities for DBs to attack the ball.
🧠 Why FSU Wanted Him
The Seminoles needed safety/nickel depth following the departures of Edwin Joseph and Earl Little Jr.
Hobbs played in 16 games across two seasons at Notre Dame, including a start vs. Texas A&M, and brings size, length, and developmental upside.
👉 Why It Matters: This is a targeted portal add — not a splash, but a fit. Hobbs gives FSU immediate depth in the secondary and another tool as the staff reshapes the back end for 2026.
🏈 FSU Adds Massive OL Piece with Auburn LT Xavier Chaplin 🏈
Florida State landed a major portal win up front, securing a commitment from Xavier Chaplin, the starting left tackle from Auburn Tigers football.
🔥 What He Brings
6’7”, 348 pounds with proven Power Five experience.
Started all 12 games at left tackle in 2025, logging 823 snaps.
Stronger pass blocker than run blocker (71.1 PFF pass grade), allowing 3 sacks on the season.
Previously started at left tackle for Virginia Tech Hokies football in 2023–24.
🧱 Bigger Picture
Chaplin chose FSU over Kentucky Wildcats football.
He ranks No. 67 overall and No. 7 OT in the transfer portal (247Sports).
Joins a retooled transfer OL class featuring Nate Pabst, Bradyn Joiner, and Paul Bowling.
👉 Why It Matters: FSU needed proven size and stability on the edge — Chaplin delivers both. This is a plug-and-play addition as the Seminoles rebuild the offensive line with veteran bodies and real snaps.
🏈 FSU Expected to Add Veteran ST Coach Adam Scheier 🏈
Florida State is expected to bring Adam Scheier onto the staff, per multiple reports — a move that would address a glaring need on special teams following the departure of John Papuchis.
🔥 What to Know
Scheier most recently served as special teams coordinator at UNLV Rebels football, where the unit ranked 23rd nationally last season.
He brings 25+ years of special teams experience, with prior stops at Ohio State, Texas Tech, Rutgers, and Temple.
FSU ranked 123rd nationally in adjusted SFEI on special teams in 2025 and must replace its starting punter and long snapper.
🧠 Track Record
Turned Rutgers into a Top 10 ST unit in his final season there.
Engineered major year-over-year jumps at both Texas Tech and Temple after inheriting struggling units.
👉 Why It Matters: If finalized, this is a clear course-correction hire. Special teams quietly cost FSU field position and points — Scheier’s résumé suggests immediate structure, accountability, and measurable improvement.
🏈 Inside Kam Martin’s Vision for FSU Running Backs 🏈
Florida State director of broadcasting Jeff Culhane sat down with new running backs coach Kam Martin, offering a first look at the philosophy guiding FSU’s backfield rebuild.
🔥 What He Emphasizes
Game-changers only: backs who break tackles, create explosive runs, and thrive after contact.
Development with edge: “strain them, coach them hard, and get the best out of them.”
Production to prove it: Martin has coached a 1,400-yard rusher three straight seasons and a 1,000-yard back last year.
🧠 The Bigger Picture
Deep admiration for Mike Norvell and longtime mentor Gus Malzahn, whose offenses have historically thrived with elite backs.
Clear goals: lead the country in explosive runs, missed tackles forced, and yards after contact.
👉 Why It Matters: Martin is talking about restoring FSU’s identity at running back. The standard is Cook, Akers, Dunn — and he’s coaching like he expects the next one to come from this room.
🚨🧠 Desir Twins Talks Cool as Timeline Slips 🧠🚨
Negotiations between Florida State and Mandrell Desir and Darryll Desir appear to have cooled significantly as of Friday morning, with no resolution expected this weekend.
🔥 Where Things Stand (Friday a.m.)
Momentum slowed late Thursday night; a near-term breakthrough is not expected.
Portal paperwork likely won’t be officially honored until Monday or Tuesday, due to the “two business day” rule.
A potential recruiting dead period (Mon–Wed) tied to the AFCA convention could delay visits elsewhere.
Buyout/offset remains the major hurdle — sources continue to cite a near–seven-figure combined figure.
⏳ What This Means
Talks can technically continue while the twins remain out of the portal.
Once portal entry + visits happen, FSU’s leverage likely evaporates.
👉 Why It Matters: This has shifted from a day-to-day standoff to a calendar-driven chess match. If there’s no sudden movement, expect this saga to stretch into next week — with real consequences once the portal clock fully starts.
🚨🧠 Portal Board Heats Up: OL, DBs, and a Blue-Chip WR in Play 🧠🚨
Florida State’s transfer portal push is accelerating across multiple position groups, with offensive line, secondary, and wide receiver all seeing active movement this weekend.
6’5”, 305 lbs, 88-inch wingspan; arrives late Friday, visits Saturday.
Logged 803 snaps at right tackle in 2025 with an 81.4 PFF pass-block grade.
Has experience at both tackle spots; profiles as a developmental edge option with real upside.
🔒 Secondary Targets: Experience + Youth
Jardin Gilbert (LSU / Texas A&M):
Multi-year SEC starter with one year left; expected to visit this weekend.
Career includes 55-tackle season at LSU and a 61-tackle, 2-INT year at A&M.
Freshman All-American candidate; 79.7 PFF grade in 2025.
Redshirt freshman with two interceptions during a playoff run.
Visits as FSU searches for answers after multiple DB departures.
Former top-60 national recruit from Jacksonville (Mandarin HS).
Newly in the portal and interested in visiting FSU.
Appeared in four games at Texas; likely redshirt eligible with four years remaining.
FSU was heavily involved during his original recruitment.
👉 Why It Matters: FSU is simultaneously chasing immediate contributors (Gilbert), developmental upside (Nwaiwu, Richard), and long-term ceiling (Ffrench). The next 72 hours could quietly reshape multiple rooms.
And that’s a wrap!
From Athens to Apalachee, from home court to the portal board, this weekend is all about where Florida State stacks up and where it’s willing to push next. Some answers will come on the field. Others will come quietly, through visits, calls, and deadlines that don’t stop ticking.
Stay sharp. Stay patient.
We’ll be watching it all unfold.
— Chief
How'd we do? |