🏹 January 12th - The Chief Brief 🏹

🎯 Momentum, Milestones, and Recruiting Wins 🎯

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The Chief
January 12, 2025

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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

From standout athletic performances to key recruiting updates, today’s edition is packed with all the latest Florida State news.

🏀 Double-Double Effort Falls Short
Despite Malique Ewin’s 15-point, 10-rebound performance, FSU couldn’t overcome Clemson’s hot shooting, falling 77-57. Next stop: a pivotal home stretch.

🏃‍♂️ Breaking Records at Clemson Invitational
The indoor track season started strong with Kyvon Tatham and Cooper Crowell etching their names into FSU’s all-time top 10, alongside stellar performances across the board.

🎾 Home Court Dominance Continues
The No. 9 men’s tennis team swept Florida Gulf Coast and Alabama State, extending their streak of home-opening wins to an impressive 39 years.

🔮 Crystal Ball Prediction for Chastan Brown
FSU is gaining momentum with four-star OT Chastan Brown, who has labeled FSU his “dream school” and is expected to visit soon.

🏈 Recruiting Weekend Spotlight
Tallahassee hosted key 2025 recruits, including Zahir Mathis and legacy DB Antonio Cromartie Jr., as FSU solidifies its future class.

🛣️ Scouting 2026 Prospects Nationwide
FSU’s coaching staff hit the road to connect with top 2026 talents, including five-star athlete Brandon ‘Dash’ Arrington Jr. and four-star LB Jordan Campbell, building strong foundations for future classes.

🏀 Seminoles Fall to Clemson Despite Ewin’s Double-Double 🏀

Florida State dropped to 11-5 (2-3 ACC) after a tough 77-57 loss to Clemson at Littlejohn Coliseum. Despite the loss, junior Malique Ewin delivered his fourth career double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, continuing his streak of double-digit scoring in every game since November 15.

🌟 Key Performances:

  • Malique Ewin: Led the Seminoles with 15 points and nine rebounds, shooting 6-for-11 from the field and adding three free throws.

  • Jamir Watkins & Jerry Deng: Scored 11 points each, with Watkins also contributing two steals and a block.

  • Daquan Davis: Dished out a team-high five assists, bringing his two-game total to 15. He added seven points, three rebounds, and a steal.

🛡️ Defensive Effort: FSU, the ACC leader in blocked shots and steals, maintained its defensive intensity with six steals and four blocks. Taylor Bol Bowen and Watkins tallied two steals each, while four players recorded blocks.

🕹️ Game Flow: The first half saw a competitive battle with five ties and two lead changes before Clemson pulled ahead 36-29. The Tigers exploded in the second half, starting with a 13-2 run and outscoring the Seminoles 41-28. FSU outscored Clemson in the paint 30-26 but couldn’t overcome the Tigers’ 13 three-pointers.

🏟️ What’s Next: Florida State returns to Tallahassee for a two-game home stretch, starting with Pittsburgh on Wednesday, January 15, at 9 PM in the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.

🏃‍♂️ Seminoles Shine at Clemson Invitational 🏃‍♀️

Florida State kicked off its 2025 indoor track season with standout performances at the Clemson Invitational. The Seminoles delivered personal bests, record-book marks, and top finishes across multiple events, signaling a strong start to the year.

🌟 Record-Breaking Highlights:

  • Kyvon Tatham: Won the triple jump with a lifetime best of 15.89m (52-1¾), the 10th farthest jump in FSU history.

  • Cooper Crowell: Placed third in the men's weight throw with a mark of 18.38m (60-3¾), ranking seventh all-time for the Seminoles.

🏅 Top Performances:

  • Curtis Williams: Took first place in the long jump (7.52m), followed by Jaiden Rollins in second (6.83m).

  • Shenese Walker: Won the women’s 60m with a collegiate-leading time of 7.20.

  • Tyler Azcano: Won the men’s 60m in 6.63, with Neo Mosebi finishing second at 6.66.

  • Suus Altorf: Secured a victory in the 800m with a time of 2:07.13.

🛠️ Coach’s Corner: Head coach Matt Kane praised the team’s efforts: “We saw passion, personal bests, and signs of significant improvement. It’s exciting to see our athletes and new coaching staff come together for such a strong start.”

📊 Other Notable Results:

  • Women’s Mile: Bieke Schipperen led a dominant FSU showing with a personal best of 4:38.89. The Noles claimed nine of the top 12 spots.

  • Men’s 4x400 Relay: Finished second with a time of 3:11.74.

  • Women’s 4x400 Relay: A-team placed second at 3:38.97.

🏟️ What’s Next: The Seminoles return to action at the Jimmy Carnes Invitational in Gainesville, Florida, on January 17.

🎾 Seminoles Dominate Home Openers with Back-to-Back Sweeps 🎾

The No. 9 Florida State men’s tennis team extended its home-opening streak to an impressive 39 years, securing commanding 4-0 victories over Florida Gulf Coast and Alabama State at the Indoor Tennis Courts.

🌟 Match Highlights:

  • Dynamic Doubles:
    Youcef Rihane and Alex Bulte, the reigning NCAA Doubles semifinalists, cruised to a 6-2 victory in their season debut, setting the tone against FGCU. The ranked pairing of Jamie Connel and Corey Craig made an emphatic spring debut, clinching the doubles point against Alabama State.

  • Singles Standouts:

    • Justin Lyons: Secured two wins on Court 5, maintaining his perfect record with six career victories.

    • Jamie Connel: Dominated on Court 1, clinching his second main court victory in just a week.

    • Jan Sebesta: Celebrated his first career singles win, dropping just three games in a commanding performance.

    • Azariah Rusher: Blitzed through his match to claim a decisive 6-1, 6-4 win.

🗣️ Coach’s Corner: “Playing three matches in one week is always a challenge, but sweeping two opponents at home after traveling thousands of miles is incredibly rewarding,” head coach Dwayne Hultquist said. “We played nine members of the team today, and they’ve embraced their chances.”

🏆 Continuing the Momentum: The Seminoles have now won nine straight indoor matches, showcasing their depth and consistency. Florida State will wrap up the weekend with a home match against Georgia Southern at the Scott Speicher Memorial Tennis Center on Sunday at 2 PM.

🔮 Crystal Ball Prediction: FSU Poised to Land 4⭐ OT Chastan Brown 🔮 

Florida State received a major boost on Thursday as 247Sports insider Anna Adams placed a Crystal Ball prediction for the Seminoles to secure 2025 four-star offensive tackle Chastan Brown from Warner Robins (Ga.) Northside. Brown, ranked as the nation’s No. 21 offensive tackle and No. 226 overall prospect, is expected to sign on National Signing Day in February.

🌟 Why FSU Stands Out:

  • Connection with Gus Malzahn:
    Brown initially committed to UCF but decommitted following Malzahn's departure in November. Now serving as FSU’s offensive coordinator, Malzahn’s prior relationship with Brown has given the Seminoles a significant advantage.

  • “Dream School” Status:
    Brown has described Florida State as his "dream school" in past interviews and is reportedly only planning to visit FSU between now and National Signing Day.

  • Upcoming Official Visit:
    Brown is expected to visit Tallahassee during one of the two final weekends of January, further solidifying FSU's position as his top choice.

🌟 Scouting Report (via 247Sports Analyst Hudson Standish):

  • Physical Tools:
    At 6’7” and 240 pounds, Brown’s elite wingspan and arm length stand out as his defining physical attributes. His frame has immense potential for growth in a collegiate strength program.

  • Skill Set:
    Brown showcases reactive quickness and polished hand usage, likely influenced by his AAU basketball background. However, he needs to improve his ability to anchor against larger defenders and refine his run-game mechanics.

  • High Potential:
    A “lottery ticket” left tackle prospect, Brown could deliver significant long-term returns with the right development.

🌟 Recruitment Context:

  • Other Offers:
    Brown has received offers from programs like Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Missouri, Boston College, and Duke, but none have resonated as strongly as FSU.

  • Multi-Sport Talent:
    In addition to his football prowess, Brown is also a basketball player, considering the possibility of competing in both sports at the collegiate level.

🏈 Seminoles Host Key Official and Unofficial Visitors in Tallahassee 🏈

Florida State welcomed a trio of official visitors and at least one unofficial visitor on campus this weekend, kicking off an important recruiting push for the 2025 signing class.

🌟 Official Visitors:

  • Zahir Mathis (4⭐ DE, Philadelphia, PA):

    • The No. 73 overall player in the 2025 class, Mathis reopened his recruitment after decommitting from Ohio State.

    • FSU has established strong ties through defensive line coach Terrance Knighton and is competing with Michigan and UCLA.

    • Mathis described his relationship with FSU as “a good base right now,” positioning the Seminoles as a key contender.

  • Chavez ‘Sandman’ Thompson (3⭐ OL, Cocoa, FL):

    • A versatile interior lineman, Thompson has a long-standing relationship with FSU offensive line coach Herb Hand, who previously recruited him at UCF.

    • With 33 pancake blocks during his senior season, Thompson has been identified as a potential center of the future for FSU.

    • The Seminoles appear to be in a strong position to land Thompson, who also holds a commitment to FIU.

  • Antonio Cromartie Jr. (Legacy DB, Carrollton, GA):

    • The son of FSU and NFL legend Antonio Cromartie, the unranked defensive back brings versatility and football IQ to the secondary.

    • Cromartie Jr. received a Christmas Day offer from FSU, fulfilling his dream of joining the program he has loved since childhood.

    • While a commitment seems likely, Cromartie is taking the weekend to build rapport with the coaching staff and assess his fit within the program.

🌟 Unofficial Visitors:

  • Jayce Johnson (2027 QB, Valdosta, GA):

    • Offered by FSU in October 2024, Johnson has visited Tallahassee multiple times and continues to develop his relationship with the coaching staff.

🌟 Additional Notes:
FSU is set to host a larger Junior Day next Saturday, January 18, with several notable 2026 recruits, including four-star OL G’Nivre Carr and three-star OL Joel Ervin, expected to attend.

👉 Stay tuned here and here for updates on this weekend’s visits as FSU continues to shape its 2025 recruiting class.

🛣️ FSU Coaching Staff Hits the Road to Scout Top 2026 Prospects 🛣️ 

Florida State’s football staff has been busy traveling coast-to-coast, focusing on 2026 recruits as the transfer portal window closes. From visiting elite prospects to offering new names, the Seminoles are laying the groundwork for their future recruiting classes.

🌟 Key Visits This Week:

Brandon ‘Dash’ Arrington Jr. (5⭐ ATH, San Diego, CA):

  • The No. 8 overall player and top-ranked athlete in the 2026 class, Arrington has a strong relationship with new FSU defensive coordinator Tony White, dating back to White’s time at Nebraska.

  • While Arrington excels as both a receiver and cornerback, FSU is recruiting him as a corner.

  • Arrington praised his connection with White, noting their ability to discuss almost anything.

Jordan Campbell (4⭐ LB, South Florida):

  • Ranked as the No. 3 linebacker and a top-75 player nationally, Campbell met with head coach Mike Norvell and linebackers coach John Papuchis this week.

  • The FSU staff impressed Campbell with personalized feedback on his game and advice for preparing for the next level.

Javian Osborne (4⭐ RB, Dallas, TX):

  • A top-five running back in the 2026 class, Osborne appreciated the attention from Norvell and offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, who emphasized his status as a priority recruit.

  • Osborne, ranked in the top 65 nationally, described his meeting with the Seminoles' staff as "awesome" and was intrigued by their recruitment efforts.

Joel Ervin (3⭐ IOL, Fort Myers, FL):

  • Offensive line coach Herb Hand extended an offer to Ervin this week, building on their existing relationship from Hand’s time at UCF.

  • Ervin, a 6’6”, 280-pound interior lineman, was slated to visit FSU but didn’t make the trip. However, he expressed interest in the program and appreciated Hand’s guidance on the recruiting process.

And that’s a wrap!

From thrilling performances on the court and track to pivotal recruiting news shaping FSU’s future, this week has been packed with milestones and momentum. As always, we’ll keep you updated with the latest from Seminole Nation. Stay tuned for more highlights, insights, and victories ahead!

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