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- 🏹 January 14th - The Chief Brief 🏹
🏹 January 14th - The Chief Brief 🏹
Fight on the court, trophies on the pitch, and a program reckoning with the real cost of modern college football.
The Chief
January 14, 2026
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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹
Happy hump day, Seminole!
A little bit of everything today: men’s hoops showed real fight (but still can’t finish), FSU soccer added another national trophy to an absurd era of dominance, and the football program continues living in the portal/NIL pressure cooker — with new additions, new visitors, and a national-level reality check on where the sport (and FSU) sits right now.
🏀 Road Fight, Same Result 🏀
FSU hung around at Syracuse, traded punches, and even reclaimed the lead late — but turnovers, transition defense, and late-game execution kept the Seminoles winless in the ACC heading into a huge get-right spot at home vs. Wake.
⚽ A National Crown For A National Champion ⚽
Jordynn Dudley just won the Honda Sport Award — a “best player in the country” type honor — and it reinforces the truth: no program in women’s soccer has owned this era like Florida State.
🛡️ Portal Churn, Safety Adds, Linebacker Visits 🛡️
FSU added Duke safety Ma’khi Jones quickly and quietly, Ashlynd Barker tried to close the loop publicly after his livestream comments, and the linebacker visitor list keeps growing — with Mikai Gbayor expected Thursday as FSU hunts functional snaps fast.
🌪️ The Portal Board Is Thinning — And Getting Pricier 🌪️
Jordan Seaton entering the portal reshuffled the entire top of the remaining board, and the Desir twins remain a headline-level storyline sitting right at the intersection of money, leverage, and roster survival.
💰 FSU’s Biggest Bet Might Be Off The Field 💰
Between front-office level salaries for player personnel, buyout protections, and coaching raises/extensions, FSU is spending like a program trying to modernize its infrastructure — not just patch a roster.
🩸 The Column That Says The Quiet Part Out Loud 🩸
The opinion piece at the end captures what fans feel daily: the cost isn’t just dollars — it’s belief. And the longer the drip of bad news continues, the more expensive trust becomes to rebuild.
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🏀🗽 FSU Men’s Hoops Competes, But Falls Late at Syracuse 🗽🏀
Florida State showed fight Tuesday night but couldn’t close, dropping a 94–86 road decision to Syracuse Orange men's basketball at the JMA Wireless Dome.
🔥 How It Unfolded
FSU led for nearly 16 minutes in the first half before a 13–4 Syracuse run flipped momentum heading into halftime.
The Orange opened the second half with a 10–0 burst, briefly pushing the lead to double digits.
The Seminoles battled back to regain a one-point edge midway through the half, but Syracuse answered and controlled the final stretch.
📊 Who Stepped Up
Kobe MaGee led all Seminoles with 20 points, while Robert McCray V added 14 points and a team-high six assists.
Off the bench, Martin Somerville chipped in 18 points and Lajae Jones added 13 points and a team-best seven rebounds.
FSU shot a solid 45% from the field and 37% from three, but turnovers (14) led to 25 Syracuse points.
🧠 The Difference
Syracuse’s ball movement (22 assists) and transition scoring (24 fastbreak points) proved decisive.
Despite winning second-chance points 21–9 and holding a rebounding edge on the offensive glass, FSU couldn’t overcome defensive lapses late.
📉 Where Things Stand
The Seminoles fall to 7–10 overall and 0–4 in ACC play, still searching for their first conference win.
FSU is now 0–7 away from home this season.
⏭️ What’s Next
Florida State returns home Saturday to face Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.
🧠 Why It Matters
This was a step forward in competitiveness after recent blowouts — but moral victories won’t stop the slide. Execution in transition defense and late-game composure remain the difference between progress and results.
⚽🏆 Jordynn Dudley Wins Honda Sport Award, Makes History for FSU Soccer 🏆⚽
Florida State star forward Jordynn Dudley has been named the Honda Sport Award winner for Soccer for the Class of 2026, the Collegiate Women Sports Awards announced Tuesday.
🔥 Why This Is Massive
The Honda Award recognizes the best collegiate player in the country, and Dudley becomes the fourth winner in FSU program history.
Since 2018, Florida State has now claimed four of the last eight Honda Soccer Awards — no other program has more than one.
Dudley advances as a finalist for the Honda Cup (Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year), to be awarded in July.
📊 A Championship Resume
Led FSU to its fifth NCAA national championship in 2025 — her second title in three seasons.
First Team All-American, Best XI First Team, MAC Hermann Trophy finalist.
Finished the season with 14 assists, 36 points, 11 goals, and ranked top-20 nationally in multiple offensive categories.
🧠 Program Context
Dudley joins former Seminole greats Natalia Kuikka, Jaelin Howell, and Onyi Echegini as Honda Award winners.
She’s the first player in program history to earn three All-America honors in her first three seasons, including two First Team selections.
🛡️🔁 FSU Adds Duke Safety Transfer Ma’khi Jones 🔁🛡️
Florida State has picked up another defensive back via the portal, signing Ma'khi Jones, a freshman safety transfer from Duke Blue Devils football, per reports from Matt Zenitz and Chris Hummer.
🔥 What to Know
Jones entered the transfer portal Monday with a do-not-contact tag and committed to FSU without taking an official visit.
The 5’10”, 190-pound safety played in 14 games as a true freshman in 2025, logging 305 snaps.
Stat line: 35 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 1 sack, plus a forced fumble and fumble recovery.
📊 Under-the-Hood Metrics
66.4 overall defensive grade (PFF)
78.1 run defense grade and 72.5 tackling grade highlight physical reliability
Allowed 8 catches on 14 targets for 87 yards, no touchdowns allowed
🧠 Context
Jones split time between St. Joseph’s Regional (NJ) and Milton (GA) in high school.
He adds to a rapidly reworked safety room as FSU continues stacking young, playable depth in the secondary.
🔍 Why It Matters
This is another efficiency move: a young ACC-tested safety with solid run defense and tackling grades, added quickly and quietly. Jones fits the profile of a rotational contributor now with developmental upside later — exactly the kind of piece FSU has been targeting as it rebuilds the back end.
One Scoop Ahead
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🎙️⚠️ FSU Safety Ashlynd Barker Issues Public Apology After Social Media Comments ⚠️🎙️
Florida State safety Ashlynd Barker issued a public apology Tuesday night following comments he made about the Seminoles during a social media livestream earlier this week.
🧾 What Barker Said
Barker apologized for how he phrased his comments, saying he “did not choose [his] words as well as [he] could have.”
He emphasized appreciation for Florida State Seminoles football, his teammates, and his opportunity in Tallahassee.
Barker said he was sorry that his remarks created the “opposite impression” of how he truly feels about the program.
📱 What Sparked It
During a lengthy TikTok livestream Monday, Barker openly criticized roster turnover and FSU’s portal-heavy approach in the secondary.
He expressed frustration over players leaving after he chose to return and suggested regret about not taking visits elsewhere.
Barker later said parts of the stream were meant jokingly, though the comments quickly gained traction.
🏈 On-Field Context
Barker started 9 of 11 games last season and was one of FSU’s more productive defenders.
Stat line: 48 tackles, 5.0 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, and 2 PBUs in an otherwise uneven defensive year.
🧠 Why It Matters
Public frustration, portal churn, and NIL uncertainty now play out in real time — often on social media. Barker’s apology likely closes the book publicly, but it underscores how fragile locker-room optics can become during heavy portal cycles.
🛡️🔁 FSU Adds Familiar Face to LB Visitor List: Mikai Gbayor Expected Thursday 🔁🛡️
Florida State is continuing its linebacker push as the dead period lifts, with former Nebraska and North Carolina linebacker Mikai Gbayor expected to visit Tallahassee on Thursday, sources tell Noles247.
🔥 What to Know
Gbayor began his career at Nebraska Cornhuskers football, where he developed into a regular contributor over two seasons.
In 2024, he started 11 games and posted 49 tackles, 6.0 TFLs, 1.0 sack, three PBUs, and two fumble recoveries.
He later spent a season at North Carolina Tar Heels football, recording 39 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, a sack, and a forced fumble, earning a 67.1 PFF grade.
🧠 Familiar Fit
Gbayor previously played under Tony White at Nebraska — now a key figure on FSU’s defensive staff.
That prior relationship could ease both schematic fit and transition if things progress.
⏳ Eligibility Note
Gbayor is not yet ranked by 247Sports as a transfer prospect.
He is expected to require an NCAA waiver to secure another season of eligibility.
🧠 Why It Matters
FSU needs functional linebacker snaps — fast. Gbayor isn’t a splashy name, but he’s experienced, versatile, and already fluent in Tony White’s system. In a portal cycle where familiarity and readiness matter, that combination could make this visit quietly important.
🌪️📊 Portal Watch: Top Remaining Names Shift as Jordan Seaton Enters the Mix 📊🌪️
The 2026 transfer portal board shifted in a big way Monday night, with Jordan Seaton entering the portal and instantly becoming the top-ranked non-quarterback still available — and one of the most expensive.
🔥 Big Picture Update
Jordan Seaton (OT, Colorado Buffaloes football) is now the highest-ranked player still on the board.
Former five-star, 6’5”, 330 lbs
Started nine games at left tackle in 2025
Expected NIL price tag: north of $3 million
Several elite names came off the board Monday:
James Smith landed at Ohio State Buckeyes football
Koi Perich committed to Oregon Ducks football
🧠 FSU-Relevant Names Still Uncommitted
Mandrell Desir (No. 11 overall portal rank)
Darryll Desir (No. 21 overall)
The Desir twins remain among the most coveted defenders available, with continued discussions about a possible return to Florida State Seminoles football still ongoing.
⚡ Other Headliners to Know
Damon Wilson II (Missouri): 9 sacks, 54 pressures in 2025
DeAndre Moore Jr. (Texas): Proven red-zone weapon
Smith Snowden (Utah): Top-ranked CB still available
🧠 Why It Matters
The portal board is thinning fast — only 10 of the Top 50 prospects remain uncommitted. With premium positions (OT, EDGE, WR, CB) still in play and NIL numbers climbing, the next wave of decisions will be about who can pay, who can develop, and who can win immediately. For FSU, the Desir situation sits right at the intersection of all three.
💰🧠 FSU Makes Major Financial Bet on Infrastructure, Evaluation, and Coaching Stability 🧠💰
Florida State has quietly made one of its most aggressive off-field investments of the Mike Norvell era, locking in long-term contracts, raises, and buyout protections across player personnel, recruiting operations, and the on-field coaching staff.
🔍 Player Personnel & Acquisition: Money Where the Mouth Is
John Garrett, FSU’s new General Manager of Player Personnel, is on a three-year deal worth up to $625,000 annually.
$575K (2026) → $600K (2027) → $625K (2028)
$25K signing/relocation bonus
75% buyout protection if fired without cause
Liquidated damages if he leaves early (heavy in Year 1)
That salary alone would place Garrett inside the Top 10 highest-paid personnel executives in college football, per USA Today comparisons — double what FSU’s previous GM earned.
Alongside him:
Two-year deal, $825K total
$400K (Year 1), $450K (Year 2)
Same 75% buyout protection
Eligible for performance incentives
🧠 Why this matters: By Year 2, Garrett + Edwards combine for $1M+ annually, signaling that FSU is treating roster building, portal evals, and NIL-era decision-making like a front office — not a side project.
FSU also extended and raised co-offensive coordinator Tim Harris Jr. following his promotion.
Contract extended to January 31, 2028
Salary bump to:
$625K (Year 2)
$650K (Year 3)
This comes after Harris helped engineer an offense that:
Led the ACC in total offense, rushing offense, third-down efficiency
Ranked Top 15 nationally in all four major categories
Developed multiple explosive receivers, led by Duce Robinson
🧠 Translation: FSU didn’t just promote Harris — they protected him from quick poaching.
FSU also finalized contracts for three key position coaches, all with:
Multi-year security
75% buyout protection if terminated without cause
Heavy penalties if they leave early (unless for NFL or coordinator roles)
Kam Martin
$425K → $450K (2 years)
$25K signing bonus
Full benefits, car allowance, Nike allotment
Nick Williams
$475K → $525K
FSU covers up to $250K buyout from previous employer
Reimbursement required if he leaves early
Danny Adams (“Blue”)
$400K → $500K
One of the largest Year 2 raises on staff
🧠 Why It Matters
This is Florida State institutionalizing seriousness.
Personnel evaluation is funded like an NFL front office
Key assistants are insulated from immediate poaching
Buyout language protects continuity
Raises are tied to production, not reputation
🩸🧠 The Cost of Standing Still — And the Price FSU Is Paying Daily 🧠🩸
A senior Noles247 columnist put into words what many around Florida State have been feeling — not reacting to one loss, one portal miss, or one bad headline, but to the cumulative weight of a program that feels like it’s bleeding out slowly, publicly, and without a clear tourniquet.
🔥 The Core Question
What’s more expensive — moving on from Mike Norvell, or not moving on?
The buyout would’ve been massive.
The cost of staying? That bill is still coming due.
📉 A Timeline That Tells the Story
The column walks through a brutal, day-by-day account since early January — portal misses, stalled NIL talks, player departures, public missteps, and optics that compound rather than stabilize.
Not one disaster.
A pattern.
QB targets visit and leave without committing
NIL negotiations fall apart in parking lots
Freshman building blocks threaten the portal
Coaches and players create public distractions
Transfers cite “negativity around the program” as a reason to go elsewhere
Each item on its own might be survivable. Together, they paint something more troubling.
🧠 Dysfunction Isn’t Loud — It’s Repetitive
The column’s sharpest insight isn’t about any single decision. It’s about accumulation.
Small cracks.
Repeated miscalculations.
A constant drip of bad news that erodes trust internally and externally.
As the writer puts it: “How you do anything is how you do everything.”
And right now, signs of disorder are showing up everywhere.
⚠️ Why This Feels Different
Every program has turbulence. This feels abnormal.
An unprecedented CFP snub
A historic collapse from 13 wins to 2
Entering another year of uncertainty with no modern precedent
Players leaving not just for opportunity — but to escape the environment
The fear isn’t that things are bad.
It’s that they’re being normalized.
🧠 Why It Matters
This isn’t about one portal window — it’s about belief.
Belief from players.
Belief from recruits.
Belief inside the locker room.
And belief, once fractured this deeply, is harder to buy back than any NIL deal.
The column stops short of calling the situation unsalvageable — but it’s clear: what’s happening isn’t sustainable… yet it is being sustained.
And that’s a wrap!
There are flashes — competitiveness in hoops, excellence in soccer, real money being committed behind the scenes — but there’s no hiding the tension around FSU football right now. The moves keep coming, the pressure isn’t easing, and the next few weeks will say a lot about whether this is stabilization… or just survival.
We’ll keep tracking every turn.
— Chief
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