🏹 January 14th - The Chief Brief 🏹

Legacies Continue, Rankings Rise, and FSU Dominates on Every Front

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The Chief
January 14, 2025

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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

This edition is packed with excitement, as Florida State sports continue to dominate on and off the field. From standout transfer additions and new coaching hires to remarkable academic achievements and NFL playoff performances, here’s a preview of today’s top stories:

🏐 Volleyball Boost: FSU secures standout TCU transfer Lily Nicholson, bringing her impressive skills and experience to the 2025 roster.

🏆 Lacrosse Addition: Four-time All-American Megan Carney joins FSU as an assistant coach, fueling excitement for the inaugural 2026 season.

📚 Academic Milestone: Beach volleyball leads the way as FSU Athletics achieves a record-breaking GPA across all programs.

⚾ Baseball in the Top 10: With preseason rankings placing the Seminoles among the nation’s elite, FSU is ready for another run at Omaha.

🔒 Legacy Commitment: Antonio Cromartie Jr. continues his family’s FSU tradition, joining the Seminoles as a 2025 defensive back.

🏈 NFL Stars Shine: Former Seminoles make headlines in the NFL Wild Card Round, delivering game-changing performances.

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🏐 Florida State Volleyball Lands Top Transfer Lily Nicholson 🏐

Florida State volleyball bolstered its roster for the 2025 season with the addition of standout setter Lily Nicholson, a transfer from TCU. With two seasons of eligibility remaining, Nicholson brings both collegiate success and high-level experience to the Seminoles.

🌟 Why Nicholson Stands Out:
Nicholson was a pivotal player for TCU, appearing in 54 matches with 41 starts over two seasons. Her standout sophomore season in 2024 included:

  • 1,108 Assists: Ranking fifth in the Big 12 and 60th nationally with 9.89 assists per set.

  • Efficiency Leader: Helped TCU achieve a .252 hitting percentage, tied for the second-best in program history.

  • Big Moments: Played 112 of TCU's 113 sets, contributing to the Horned Frogs’ first 20-win season since 2011.

🌟 Coach Poole’s Excitement:
“We are excited to add Lily to our team this spring,” said FSU Head Coach Chris Poole. “She has been part of a Top 25 successful program the last two years at TCU and will bring good experience to our program. Lily’s experience at the college and club level as a setter will help her connect with our hitters quickly.”

🌟 High School Pedigree:
A McKinney, Texas native, Nicholson was a First Team AVCA All-American in 2022 and named Setter of the Year by the Dallas Morning News as a high school junior. She recorded an impressive 3,274 career assists at McKinney North High School.

🏆 Florida State Welcomes Megan Carney as Assistant Lacrosse Coach 🏆

Florida State’s lacrosse program continues to build its foundation for success, announcing the hiring of four-time All-American Megan Carney as an assistant coach. Carney, a standout at Syracuse and gold medalist with Team USA, joins head coach Sara Tisdale and associate head coach MacKenzie Plaskey as the Seminoles gear up for their inaugural 2026 season.

🌟 Why Carney Stands Out:

  • Elite Playing Career:
    At Syracuse, Carney tallied 192 career goals and 271 points, ranking in the top 10 in program history. She served as team captain for two seasons and was pivotal in leading the Orange to an ACC title and deep NCAA Tournament runs.

  • Proven Leadership:
    Carney’s experience as an ACC athlete and Team USA gold medalist equips her to guide FSU’s offense and contribute to recruitment efforts.

  • Passion for Building Legacy:
    “I’m thrilled to help build something special here at FSU,” Carney said. “It’s an honor to contribute to the legacy of this great university.”

📚 Beach Volleyball Leads FSU’s Academic Excellence 📚

Florida State’s beach volleyball team hit new heights this fall—not just in the sand, but in the classroom. The squad posted a record-breaking 3.7 team GPA, the highest in program history and a full .2 points above their previous best.

🌟 Academic Highlights:

  • Team GPA: Beach volleyball’s 3.7 GPA set the tone for FSU Athletics’ first-ever department-wide average of 3.3.

  • Program Milestone: For the first time in school history, every FSU program achieved a GPA above 3.0.

  • Assistant Dean Miguel Negron’s Take: “What we have here is extremely rare... This institution is elite in every single aspect.”

⚾ Florida State Baseball Enters 2025 Ranked in Top 10 ⚾

The Seminoles are back in the national spotlight as they prepare for the 2025 season, starting February 14 with a three-game series against James Madison. After a remarkable turnaround under head coach Link Jarrett, FSU is ranked No. 6 by Perfect Game and No. 9 by D1Baseball, marking a return to prominence following their unranked status last year.

🌟 Preseason Highlights:

  • ACC Dominance: FSU is one of six ACC teams in Perfect Game’s top 25, trailing only No. 3 Virginia.

  • Historic Turnaround: The Seminoles improved by 26 wins in 2024, the largest leap in college baseball, culminating in a College World Series appearance.

  • Challenging Schedule: The 2025 slate includes nine games against three CWS teams and 42 games within Florida.

Key Roster Insights:

  • Lineup Overhaul: Despite losing five key hitters, FSU retains the core of its defense with CF Max Williams, middle infielders Alex Lodise and Drew Faurot, and catcher Jaxson West. Newcomers like Texas Tech transfer Gage Harrelson and freshmen Hunter Carns and Myles Bailey are expected to make an impact.

  • Pitching Depth: Ace Jamie Arnold returns as a top-10 MLB Draft prospect, bolstered by transfer additions Wes Mendes (Ole Miss), Joey Volini (USF), and others. Cam Leiter remains the staff’s X-factor, though his return from injury is uncertain.

🔒 Legacy Secured: Antonio Cromartie Jr. Commits to FSU 🔒

The Cromartie legacy continues in Tallahassee as 2025 defensive back Antonio Cromartie Jr. has officially committed to Florida State, fulfilling a lifelong dream to play where his father, Antonio Cromartie Sr., starred before his NFL career.

🌟 What It Means to Cromartie Jr.:

  • A Dream Realized: “It means the world to me. Been dreaming about this moment since I was five years old,” Cromartie Jr. shared after announcing his commitment.

  • Carrying the Legacy: Following in his father’s footsteps, Cromartie Jr. is ready to make his own impact in Garnet and Gold.

Why FSU Stood Out:

  • Coach Norvell’s Vision: Cromartie Jr. praised head coach Mike Norvell’s passion and dedication to building something special at FSU:
    “He really cares about this program. He really loves to coach this program.”

  • Deep Family Ties: Though the Cromartie name is already synonymous with FSU excellence, the younger Cromartie is eager to carve his own path while honoring his roots.

On the Field:

In his senior season, Cromartie Jr. showcased his versatility and playmaking ability:

  • Tackles: 85

  • Interceptions: 1

  • Passes Defended: 4

  • Forced Fumbles: 4

  • QB Pressures: 2

🏈 FSU Set to Host Four-Star TE Xavier Tiller for Junior Day 🏈

Florida State is gearing up for its biggest junior day event of the month this Saturday, and the star-studded visitor list now includes Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes four-star tight end Xavier Tiller, currently committed to Texas A&M.

🌟 Key Details:

  • Recruitment Status: Although committed to Texas A&M since November, Tiller has kept his options open and will visit Tallahassee for the first time.

  • FSU’s Early Interest: The Seminoles were among the first programs to extend a scholarship offer to Tiller in January 2024, emphasizing his long-standing appeal to the staff.

  • National Ranking: Tiller is ranked as the No. 124 overall player and No. 9 tight end in the 2025 class by 247Sports.

Junior Season Stats:

  • Receptions: 25

  • Yards: 344

  • Touchdowns: 3

Recruitment Competition:

  • Other Schools in the Mix: Auburn, Alabama, Florida, Louisville, and Miami are all vying for Tiller’s commitment.

  • Crystal Ball Prediction: Auburn holds the lone 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction at this time.

🏈 Four-Star OT Chastan Brown Schedules Official Visit to FSU 🏈

Florida State continues to make strides in its 2025 recruiting efforts, with four-star offensive tackle Chastan Brown from Warner Robins (Ga.) Northside scheduling an official visit to Tallahassee from January 25-27. Brown’s visit marks a crucial step as the Seminoles aim to secure his commitment ahead of National Signing Day on February 5.

🌟 Recruitment Highlights:

  • FSU Crystal Ball Prediction: Last week, a 247Sports analyst forecasted Brown to Florida State, signaling growing confidence in the Seminoles’ pursuit.

  • Connection with Gus Malzahn: Brown decommitted from UCF after Malzahn left the program in late November. Now serving as FSU’s offensive coordinator, Malzahn’s relationship with Brown has positioned the Seminoles as a top contender.

Other Offers:

Brown holds offers from several prominent programs, including Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Missouri, Boston College, and Duke. Vanderbilt, Arkansas, and Missouri extended offers after his UCF decommitment.

Scouting Report (via 247Sports Analyst Hudson Standish):

  • Physical Traits: At 6’7” and 240 pounds, Brown boasts elite wingspan and arm length, with room to develop further in a collegiate strength program.

  • Athletic Background: Brown’s quickness and hand usage benefit from his AAU basketball experience, though he needs to refine his run-game technique and anchoring ability.

  • High Upside: A developmental prospect with “lottery ticket” potential, Brown could deliver significant returns with proper training.

National Ranking:

  • Position: No. 21 offensive tackle

  • Overall: No. 226 prospect in the 2025 class

🏈 NFL Wild Card Round: Former Seminoles in Action 🏈

The NFL Wild Card Round showcased standout performances from several Florida State alumni, with Seminoles making their mark on both sides of the ball. Here's a breakdown of how FSU players fared across the games:

🌟 Top Performers:

  • Mario Edwards Jr. (Texans):
    Dominated defensively with 1.5 sacks for 13.5 yards, two quarterback hurries, and a tackle for loss in Houston’s 32-12 win over the Chargers.

  • Jared Verse (Rams):
    Made a game-changing play with a 57-yard fumble return touchdown, adding two tackles in the Rams’ 27-9 victory over the Vikings.

  • Braden Fiske (Rams):
    Shared a sack for 6.5 yards and recorded a quarterback hurry, solidifying the Rams' defensive dominance.

  • Derwin James (Chargers):
    Stuffed the stat sheet with seven tackles, a tackle for loss, a pass defended, and a fumble recovery in a tough loss to the Texans.

Game-by-Game Highlights:

AFC Wild Card Games:

  • Texans 32, Chargers 12:

    • Texans: Mario Edwards Jr. shined with 1.5 sacks and two QB hurries.

    • Chargers: Derwin James led the secondary with seven tackles. Asante Samuel Jr. remains on injured reserve.

  • Bills 31, Broncos 7:

    • Bills: Keon Coleman caught a 5-yard pass and converted a two-point try.

    • Broncos: No Seminoles featured.

  • Ravens 28, Steelers 14:

    • No FSU players involved.

NFC Wild Card Games:

  • Eagles 22, Packers 10:

    • Eagles: Josh Sweat contributed a solo tackle, while Johnny Wilson saw action but did not record stats.

    • Packers: No Seminoles featured.

  • Commanders 23, Buccaneers 20:

    • Commanders: Bobby Hart remains on the practice squad.

    • Buccaneers: No Seminoles featured.

  • Rams 27, Vikings 9:

    • Rams: Jared Verse’s fumble recovery touchdown and Braden Fiske’s impactful plays highlighted the win.

    • Vikings: Cam Akers rushed for 39 yards on five carries, including a 26-yard dash.

Looking Ahead: Division Round Matchups:

  • Saturday, Jan. 18:

    • Texans (Edwards Jr.) at Chiefs (Nnadi, Lovett [ps])

    • Commanders (Hart [ps]) at Lions

  • Sunday, Jan. 19:

    • Rams (Verse, Fiske, Thomas) at Eagles (Sweat, Wilson)

    • Ravens at Bills (Coleman)

And that’s a wrap!

🔥 That’s a Wrap, Noles Nation! 🔥
From stellar commitments to NFL playoff heroics, Florida State continues to shine on every stage. Stay tuned for more updates as FSU’s momentum carries through the spring season. Until next time, keep that Garnet and Gold spirit alive—Go Noles! 🏹✨

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