🏹 January 13th - The Chief Brief 🏹

A new special teams era, portal pressure points, and baseball’s preseason reset

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The Chief
January 13, 2026

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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Tuesday, Seminole — and buckle up. Today’s edition spans coaching moves, portal pressure points, preseason optimism, and roster math in real time. Here’s what we’re tracking 👇

🦵 Special Teams Reset Begins 🦵
FSU officially hands the keys to veteran special teams ace Adam Scheier, signaling an aggressive push to turn a recent liability into a real edge.

📡 Staff Additions with Norvell DNA 📡
A familiar offensive voice could be joining the staff, while FSU hoops continues stacking respected builders behind the scenes.

🏀 Hoops at a Crossroads 🏀
Men’s basketball heads to Syracuse searching for its first ACC win, while the program’s infrastructure earns national recognition.

⚾ Baseball Is Back — With Questions to Answer ⚾
Link Jarrett opens preseason with Omaha expectations, roster turnover up the middle, and major upgrades at Dick Howser.

🕰️ The Desir Twins Clock Is Ticking 🕰️
Negotiations remain alive — barely. The next 24–48 hours could decide whether this saga ends in retention or portal loss.

🛡️ Linebacker Reload in Motion 🛡️
As the dead period lifts, FSU lines up multiple linebacker visits — including a potential instant-impact headliner.

🔄 Portal Math: What the 13 Additions Really Mean 🔄
Not just who FSU added — but how much each one is expected to matter in 2026.

Let’s get into it. 👇

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🎯🦵 FSU Hires Veteran ST Ace Adam Scheier to Overhaul Special Teams 🦵🎯

Florida State has officially filled one of its most pressing staff needs, hiring veteran special teams coach Adam Scheier as the Seminoles’ new special teams coordinator, head coach Mike Norvell announced Monday.

🔥 Why This Hire Stands Out

  • Scheier brings 24 years of special teams coordinator experience, with all-conference kickers or punters in 20 different seasons.

  • His units have produced nine special teams touchdowns in the last six years, one of the highest totals nationally.

  • Four of his teams have finished Top 10 nationally in special teams efficiency over the past 13 years.

📈 Recent Results That Matter

  • At UNLV Rebels football in 2025, Scheier helped guide a 10-win season and a trip to the Mountain West Championship Game.

  • UNLV ranked 8th nationally in blocked punts, led the conference in that category, and finished third in punt return defense.

  • His units at Rutgers produced Top-5 national efficiency finishes, broke NCAA net punting records, and developed Ray Guy finalists and All-Americans.

🧠 Philosophy Fit at FSU
Norvell emphasized Scheier’s aggressive, attack-oriented approach, aligning with a renewed emphasis on special teams after recent struggles. Scheier echoed that sentiment, pointing to Florida State’s history of turning special teams into a weapon — not a liability.

🔍 Why It Matters
Special teams quietly cost FSU field position, momentum, and points over the past two seasons. If Scheier’s track record holds, special teams could shift from weakness to edge faster than any other unit on the roster.

🎯📡 FSU Expected to Add Norvell Protégé Brady White to Staff 📡🎯

Florida State is expected to bring Brady White onto its coaching staff, adding a familiar voice with deep ties to Mike Norvell and his offensive system.

🔥 Why This Makes Sense

  • White played quarterback for Norvell at Arizona State Sun Devils football before becoming a multi-year starter at Memphis Tigers football, including the Tigers’ undefeated regular season and AAC title run in 2019.

  • He’s spent the past two seasons as an assistant wide receivers coach under Kenny Dillingham at Arizona State, gaining on-field coaching experience.

  • FSU currently has an opening for an assistant wide receivers coach, a role that would logically pair White with Tim Harris Jr..

🏀🧠 FSU Hoops Staff Earns National Recognition 🧠🏀

Florida State men’s basketball picked up a notable off-court win, with two members of Luke Loucks’ first-year staff named to Silver Waves Media’s 2026 list of the 100 Most Impactful High Major Coaches — a strong signal of the experience and credibility being assembled in Tallahassee.

🔥 Who Made the List

  • Jim Moran, first-year associate head coach, earns the honor after more than a decade of NBA and G League experience, including recent stops with the Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons, and Portland Trail Blazers organizations.

  • Michael Fly, FSU’s general manager and assistant coach, is recognized as one of the ACC’s top assistants after head coaching success at Florida Gulf Coast Eagles men's basketball and recent stints at Jacksonville and Missouri.

📈 Why It Matters
Silver Waves’ annual list has become a reliable predictor of future head coaches, and FSU is one of only three ACC programs with multiple honorees. For a program resetting its identity under Loucks, this recognition reinforces that the infrastructure — player development, scouting, analytics, and NBA-style thinking — is being built the right way.

Read more here and here

🏀🗽 FSU Men’s Hoops Heads to Syracuse Searching for First ACC Win 🗽🏀

Florida State men’s basketball hits the road Tuesday night, traveling north to face Syracuse Orange men's basketball at the JMA Wireless Dome in a late ACC Network tip.

🔥 What to Know

  • Florida State enters at 7–9 overall and 0–3 in ACC play, still searching for its first league win under Luke Loucks.

  • The Seminoles are 0–6 away from home this season, making this another stiff test of resolve and execution.

  • Syracuse comes in 11–5 (2–1 ACC), riding a two-game winning streak and holding a strong 9–2 home record.

📊 Series Context

  • Syracuse leads the all-time series 11–8.

  • FSU has won three straight games at Syracuse, though the Orange took the most recent meeting in last March’s NCAA Tournament.

🧠 Why It Matters
After a bruising stretch and mounting pressure, FSU needs signs of competitiveness, composure, and progress away from Tallahassee if this ACC season is going to stabilize at all.

📅 Tip-Off: Tuesday, 9 p.m. ET
📺 TV: ACC Network
⏭️ Up Next: Home vs. Wake Forest on Saturday (ESPN)

One Scoop Ahead

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⚾🔥 FSU Baseball Opens Preseason with High Expectations and Big Questions 🔥⚾

Florida State baseball officially opened its 2026 preseason on Monday, giving head coach Link Jarrett and his staff four full weeks to shape a roster that blends proven success with significant turnover.

🔥 The Big Picture

  • The preseason window has expanded from three weeks to four, allowing FSU to start practice earlier and evaluate roles more deliberately.

  • The Seminoles open the season Feb. 13 at home vs. James Madison Dukes baseball — the fourth time in five years FSU has opened against JMU (and they’ve swept the last three).

  • FSU is ranked No. 9 by Perfect Game and No. 16 by D1Baseball, coming off a 42–16 season that ended one win shy of Omaha in the Corvallis Super Regional.

🧠 Roster Questions to Solve
Jarrett didn’t shy away from the challenge ahead — particularly up the middle.

  • Catcher and middle infield are the biggest early priorities after losing All-American SS Alex Lodise and MLB draftee Drew Faurot, who combined for 33 HR and 119 RBIs.

  • Jarrett mentioned Cal Fisher as a possible shortstop option, with Eli Putnam (Davidson transfer), Gabe Fraser (Arkansas transfer), Jace Estes, Noah Sheffield, and freshman John Stuetzer all in the mix.

  • In the outfield, the return of Chase Williams plus additions like Brayden Dowd (USC) give FSU flexibility and athleticism across all three spots.

💪 On the Mound
Replacing first-rounder Jamie Arnold and Saturday starter Joey Volini won’t be simple, but Jarrett believes the depth is there.

  • Wes Mendes and transfer Trey Beard are early weekend candidates, with Beard earning preseason All-American honors.

  • The staff is intentionally building 10 arms toward 70–75 pitch readiness by Opening Weekend to stabilize both the rotation and bullpen.

🏟️ Program & Facility Upgrades
Beyond the roster, Jarrett highlighted major upgrades at Dick Howser Stadium:

  • New video board, sound system, and concourse lighting.

  • Batting cage and player-development technology additions he called a “game-changer” for hitters and pitchers alike.

🧠 Why It Matters
FSU has Omaha-level expectations again, but the path runs through solving catcher, middle infield, and rotation roles quickly. The talent is there. The next four weeks determine whether it all clicks by February.

👉 For Jarrett’s full preseason comments, position-by-position battles, and a deeper look at how FSU plans to replace its stars, dive into the complete breakdown here.

🔄🕰️ Desir Twins Talks Still Alive — Clock Ticking 🕰️🔄

Florida State and the Desir twins remain in active discussions as of Monday night, with no final resolution yet — but the window is narrowing.

🔥 Latest Update (Monday)

  • Communication between FSU and the Desirs’ camp is still ongoing, following up on Friday’s report.

  • If there’s no breakthrough, the twins are expected to officially appear in the transfer portal by Tuesday morning.

  • The current recruiting dead period runs through Wednesday, meaning no visits can happen yet — buying FSU a small but real amount of time.

⏳ What That Means

  • As long as the twins aren’t on planes to other campuses, FSU still has a chance to land a deal.

  • Once portal entry is official and visits begin later this week, the odds drop sharply.

🧠 Why It Matters
This has become a high-stakes waiting game. FSU isn’t out — but leverage is thinning fast. The next 24–48 hours will likely determine whether this saga ends in retention or officially turns into a portal loss.

🧨 FSU Parts Ways with EDGE Signee Damaad Lewis 🧨

Florida State will not enroll three-star edge rusher Damaad Lewis, who is expected to be released from his grant-in-aid after announcing his decommitment on Monday.

🔥 What Happened

  • Lewis signed with Florida State in early December but is no longer expected to join the program.

  • The 6’4”, 245-pound edge rusher reopened his recruitment after previously weighing options that included Nebraska Cornhuskers football and NC State Wolfpack football.

📊 Player Snapshot

  • Ranked the No. 50 defensive lineman nationally in the 2026 class by 247Sports.

  • Posted 32 tackles, seven TFLs, and four sacks as a senior.

  • Comes from pedigree — his older brother Damien Lewis won a national title at LSU and now plays for the Seattle Seahawks.

🧠 Why It Matters
This is a minor setback in isolation, but it underscores how fluid roster construction has become — even with signed prospects. FSU will look to reallocate that scholarship toward other EDGE options as recruiting and portal cycles continue to overlap.

🛡️ FSU Aggressively Reloading at Linebacker as Dead Period Lifts 🛡️

Florida State is lining up a critical stretch on the defensive side of the ball, with multiple linebacker targets converging on Tallahassee as soon as the recruiting dead period ends Thursday.

🔥 Who’s Visiting (and When)

  • Devin Hightower (LB, UAB) will visit Thursday after logging 81 tackles in 2025 and over 650 snaps. He brings Power Five experience (Michigan State Spartans football, Cincinnati Bearcats football) and a productive run at Rhode Island before landing at UAB.

  • Keith Williams Jr. (LB, Cornell) is also expected in Tallahassee Thursday. The Ivy League standout posted 64 tackles, three interceptions, and five PBUs, with two years of eligibility remaining.

  • Tymere Jackson (DE/EDGE, Texas State) is working toward a Thursday visit as well. He brings a developmental edge profile but would need a JUCO waiver for 2026 eligibility.

🚨 The Big Swing

  • Chris Jones (LB, Southern Miss) is the headliner. After decommitting from Ole Miss Rebels football, Jones plans to visit Florida State immediately after the dead period.

  • Jones was one of the most productive linebackers in the Group of Five in 2025: 134 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, plus an interception and forced fumble. He earned First-Team All-Sun Belt honors as a true sophomore.

🧠 Why It Matters
FSU hasn’t landed a true portal linebacker yet — and that gap is glaring. Jones, in particular, would be an instant-impact addition, while Hightower and Williams offer experience, versatility, and depth. How this week shakes out could define whether FSU stabilizes the second level or enters spring still scrambling.

🔄 Portal Impact Check: Projecting the Return on FSU’s 13 Additions 🔄

Florida State has been busy since the portal opened, adding 13 players with the clear intent of fixing immediate needs while reshaping the roster for 2026. Here’s a clean, position-by-position look at how much each addition is expected to matter.

QB — Ashton Daniels (Auburn)

Projected Impact: High
Daniels arrives as the presumed QB1, bringing starting experience and a skill set tailored for Gus Malzahn’s offense. While Kevin Sperry will get a chance to compete, the plan is clear: Daniels is here to lead.

RB — Tre Wisner (Texas)

Projected Impact: High
After lacking a true bell-cow, FSU landed one. Wisner rushed for 1,000+ yards at Texas and profiles as the most complete back in the room entering 2026.

TE — Desirrio Riles (ECU)

Projected Impact: Moderate
Riles fills a Swiss Army knife role similar to Randy Pittman. With Landen Thomas returning, Riles isn’t expected to dominate snaps—but he adds flexibility and experience.

OL — Nate Pabst (Bowling Green)

Projected Impact: High
Over 2,000 career snaps and positional versatility make Pabst one of the safest bets to play early, whether inside or outside.

OL — Chimdia Nwaiwu (Stephen F. Austin)

Projected Impact: High
An 800-snap right tackle with size and length, Nwaiwu has a very real path to the starting lineup in 2026.

OL — Xavier Chaplin (Auburn)

Projected Impact: High
The headliner of the OL class. Chaplin is the projected starting left tackle and the staff clearly believes a bounce-back is coming.

OL — Paul Bowling (Troy)

Projected Impact: Moderate
More developmental than immediate, Bowling profiles as an interior cornerstone rather than a Day 1 solution.

OL — Bradyn Joiner (Purdue)

Projected Impact: High
FSU moved fast here. Joiner will compete directly for the starting center job, giving the OL both stability and upside.

EDGE — Rylan Kennedy (Texas A&M)

Projected Impact: High
With the edge room gutted, Kennedy is expected to play a lot right away—possibly regardless of who else FSU adds.

CB — Nehemiah Chandler (South Alabama)

Projected Impact: High
With CB2 wide open, Chandler is the early favorite to start opposite Ja’Bril Rawls.

DB — Karson Hobbs (Notre Dame)

Projected Impact: High
Hobbs brings flexibility and will likely slot into a rotational safety role immediately, filling experience gaps.

DB — CJ Richard (Illinois State)

Projected Impact: High
Young, physical, and productive. Richard is expected to factor in quickly at safety despite the FCS-to-P4 jump.

P — Daniel Hughes (New Mexico)

Projected Impact: High
Hughes is the likely starter after Mac Chumiento’s departure, and FSU expects near plug-and-play production.

🧠 Why It Matters
This isn’t a volume portal class—it’s a functional rebuild. QB1 is secured, the offensive line is largely reworked, and the secondary has been restocked. What’s still missing is obvious (linebacker, interior DL), but the foundation is now in place.

And that’s a wrap!

Between a staff reset on special teams, portal chess at linebacker, baseball’s preseason pressure, and real roster math taking shape, this is one of those weeks where direction matters more than noise.

The next few days — especially once the dead period lifts — will tell us whether FSU is merely stabilizing… or actually turning corners.

We’ll be tracking every move.

— Chief 🏹

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