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Which storyline matters most to you today?
🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹
Happy Saturday, Seminole!
A packed edition today — records falling, road tests looming, recruiting leverage forming, and a reminder that not every portal swing is worth taking.
Here’s what’s inside:
🏃♀️ Track Sets the Tone 🏃♂️
FSU indoor track keeps rolling, shattering a decade-old school record at Clemson while stacking podium finishes across events — early proof this group is built for March.
🏀 Men’s Hoops Road Reality Check 🏀
Fresh off their first ACC win, the Noles head to Dallas for a tough test against an SMU team that’s been dominant at home — plus a fun coaching subplot.
🎾 Tennis in Tournament Mode 🎾
Both men’s and women’s tennis open ITA Kickoff Weekend play with national stakes on the line and zero margin for error.
🏈 Portal Lessons & Recruiting Leverage 🏈
From the James Williams cautionary tale to a Junior Day that could shape FSU’s 2027 board, this edition digs into process — not just names.
🧲 Optionality on the WR Front 🧲
Joshisa Trader hits the portal, and FSU is at least a name to monitor — not a must, but an interesting lever if the math works.
Let’s get into it.
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🏃♀️🔥 FSU Track & Field Shatters Records at Clemson 🔥🏃♂️
Florida State delivered a statement weekend at the Orange & Purple Invitational — headlined by a school record and elite depth across events.
⚡ The Headliner
Kaelyaah Liburd — 🥈 400m in 51.68, breaking a 10-year-old school record
🏆 Standout Wins & Podiums
Leah Taylor — 🥇 800m (PB, 8th-fastest in FSU history)
Shenese Walker — 🥇 60m semifinal (PB, 2nd-fastest ever at FSU)
Suus Altorf — 🥈 Mile (PB, 3rd-fastest in program history)
Aniol Borras — 🥈 Men’s 800 (PB, 7th-fastest in FSU history)
💪 Depth on Display
Men’s long jump sweep (1–2–3)
Men’s 4x400 — 3:06.87 (4th-fastest in program history)
⏭️ Next
Razorback Invitational (Jan. 31–Feb. 1) — early look at the NCAA Indoor site.
🏀✈️ FSU Men’s Hoops Heads to Dallas for ACC Test at SMU ✈️🏀
Florida State hits the road again Saturday, squaring off with SMU Mustangs men's basketball in Dallas.
🗓️ Game Info
When: Saturday, 4:00 p.m. ET
Where: Moody Coliseum (first-ever FSU visit)
📺 TV: ACC Network
🔥 Why This One Matters
FSU is coming off its first ACC win — a gritty road victory at Miami
SMU is 11–1 at home this season
First meeting in Dallas; series tied 2–1 FSU
🧠 Coaching Subplot
SMU is led by Andy Enfield, a former FSU assistant
Enfield once recruited Luke Loucks — now they meet as head coaches
📊 Quick Records
FSU: 8–11 (1–5 ACC)
SMU: 14–5 (3–3 ACC)
🔁 Looking Ahead
Rematch comes March 7 in Tallahassee (regular-season finale)
🎾🚍 No. 20 FSU Men’s Tennis Opens ITA Kickoff Weekend vs. Pepperdine 🚍🎾
Florida State men’s tennis is back on the road Saturday, opening ITA Kickoff Weekend play against Pepperdine Waves men's tennis in Arizona.
🗓️ Match Info
When: Saturday, 2:00 p.m. ET
Where: Robson Tennis Center (Tempe, AZ)
Event: ITA Kickoff Weekend
📊 The Setup
FSU: No. 20 nationally (5–1 overall)
Pepperdine: No. 22 nationally (1–0 overall)
Winner advances toward a berth in the ITA National Team Indoor Championship (Feb. 13–17)
🧠 Why It Matters
Fourth straight ITA Kickoff appearance for FSU
Only one team per site advances to Indoors
Florida State is coming off a road loss to Arizona, making this an immediate bounce-back spot
🔥 Recent Context
FSU won 18 straight home matches before heading west
Pepperdine has played just once this season (4–3 win over FAU)
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🎾✈️ FSU Women’s Tennis Heads to Auburn for ITA Kickoff Weekend ✈️🎾
Florida State women’s tennis hits the road this weekend for the 18th annual ITA Kickoff Weekend, opening play against Nevada Wolf Pack women's tennis in Auburn.
🗓️ Match Info
When: Saturday | 4:00 p.m. ET
Where: Yarbrough Tennis Center (Auburn, AL)
Event: ITA Kickoff Weekend
📊 The Field
Auburn Tigers women's tennis (host)
Florida State Seminoles women's tennis
Nevada
Tulane Green Wave women's tennis
Winner advances to the ITA National Team Indoor Championship (Feb. 6–10).
🧠 Why It Matters
FSU is making its 16th ITA Kickoff appearance in 18 years
Two all-time Indoor bids (most recently 2020)
First-ever meeting with Nevada
🔥 Momentum Check
Opened spring with a 6–1 win over USF
Millie Bissett and Eva Shaw swept doubles
Laura Putz earned wins in both singles and doubles
🏈⚠️ When Portal Hype Turns Toxic — The James Williams Lesson ⚠️🏈
Every year, a portal arrival shows up with buzz — and every year, at least one of those stories goes sideways.
This one did.
Former Nebraska Cornhuskers football defensive end James Williams arrived at Florida State Seminoles football with confidence, public belief, and coaching backing. Expectations skyrocketed.
The production never followed.
📉 On-Field Reality
In 12 games at FSU, Williams totaled:
19 tackles
3 tackles for loss
1.5 sacks
1 QB hurry
For a player brought in to rush the passer, that output simply didn’t match the hype.
🔁 How It Ended
As frustration grew, Williams entered the portal again and landed at Oklahoma State Cowboys football. Instead of a quiet exit, the story took another turn.
Williams began engaging with FSU fans on social media — commenting, messaging, and inserting himself into conversations that didn’t require his voice. That reopened wounds and reignited backlash.
🧠 Why This Matters
This isn’t just about one player.
It’s about process.
Transfer rankings inflate expectations
Staff optimism can blur warning signs
Public posturing raises the stakes even higher
When all three collide — and the performance doesn’t arrive — the fallout is predictable.
🧠 The Real Lesson
Florida State will always be bigger than any individual player.
But this episode is another reminder that:
Fit matters more than flash
Behavior patterns tend to repeat
Portal misses cost more than snaps — they cost trust and resources
The warning signs were there at Nebraska.
FSU chose to believe the upside instead.
This time, the gamble didn’t pay off.
🧲🏹 Junior Day No. 2: Where FSU Can Gain Real Leverage 🏹🧲
Florida State hosts its second of three January Junior Days this weekend — smaller than last week’s mega-event, but still loaded with priority pieces at quarterback, the trenches, and skill positions.
This one is less about volume — and more about positioning.
🔥 The Headliner: QB Derrick Baker
A longtime quarterback target, Baker is firmly on the board.
Multiple recent in-person meetings with Mike Norvell and QB coach Austin Tucker
Frequent visitor with strong family ties to the program
One of four QBs FSU is actively evaluating for 2027
This visit reinforces what’s already clear: Baker is a real priority, not a courtesy invite.
🏃♂️ RB Nigel Newkirk — Board-Setter Weekend
Don’t let the three-star label fool you.
1,496 yards, 19 TDs, 8.1 YPC as a junior
Heavy interest from Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State
New RB coach Kam Martin has pushed him up the board
Where Newkirk stands after this visit will tell us a lot about FSU’s RB plan moving forward.
🧱 OL Jatori Williams — Familiar, But Still Crucial
One of the most important visits of the weekend.
Former Alabama commit
Regular on campus, including during the 2025 season
Ideal fit for FSU’s run-heavy identity (6’5”, 320 lbs)
Georgia remains a real factor
This is about reaffirming momentum, not restarting the pitch.
🎯 WR Jabari Watkins — High Ceiling, Ground to Make Up
Watkins is elite — and FSU knows it.
Nationally regarded top WR
Georgia and Auburn currently set the pace
Proximity gives FSU a natural advantage — if the visit hits
This is a must-win impression if FSU wants to stay alive here.
🧲 Defensive Focus: Edges, Corners, and Linebackers
Desmond Malpress (4⭐ EDGE)
10 TFLs, 6.5 sacks as a junior
Heavy SEC interest (Florida, Miami included)
FSU needs to push for an eventual official visit
JT Austin (EDGE/LB hybrid)
Evaluated as an EDGE by FSU
Miami and Purdue also involved
New edge coach Nick Williams has prioritized him early
Ellis McGaskin (LB)
Fresh off a Notre Dame decommit
First visit since reopening recruitment
160 tackles, 26 TFLs, 4 sacks as a junior
Already extremely familiar with Tallahassee
This is a massive opportunity for FSU to strike while the window is open.
🆕 New Faces to Know
Bryson Brown (4⭐ CB, Oklahoma) — First visit; offers from Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas A&M
Kyson Mallard (OL) — Recently decommitted from Georgia; Auburn visit last weekend
Kanellius Purdy (ATH) — Former FSU commit making a return visit
🧠 Why This Junior Day Matters
This weekend isn’t about headlines — it’s about control.
FSU has a chance to:
Clarify its QB pecking order
Separate from the pack with priority trench targets
Capitalize on recent decommitments
Show staff cohesion with new assistants already impacting the trail
January is about planting flags.
This Junior Day is where some of them actually stick.
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🏈🧲 Could FSU Re-Enter the Joshisa Trader Picture? 🧲🏈
Florida State has taken its lumps in South Florida recruiting the last few cycles — with high-profile misses like Rueben Bain Jr., Wesley Bissainthe, Malachi Toney, and Joshisa Trader all ending up at Miami. That stretch dented confidence, especially given how aggressively Jimbo Fisher once owned the region.
Now, an unexpected door may be reopening.
Miami wide receiver Joshisa Trader has entered the transfer portal — and Florida State is at least a name to watch.
🔍 Why FSU Could Make Sense
Trader was once projected to FSU before landing at Miami
FSU signed Jasen Lopez, one of Trader’s former high school teammates
Retention wins (Duce Robinson, Micahi Danzy, Jayvan Boggs) stabilized the WR room
That said, this isn’t a position of desperation.
🧠 The Reality Check
Gus Malzahn’s offense is built around the run — and FSU already added Texas transfer Quintrevion Wisner while returning Ousmane Kromah and Sam Singleton Jr.
Receiver help isn’t a need — it’s a luxury add.
📍 Who Else Is Involved?
If this turns into a true recruitment, LSU looms as a serious factor. Trader has Power Four talent and could help the right offense — but FSU will only pursue this if the fit (and math) make sense.
🧠 Why It Matters
This isn’t about chasing Miami leftovers — it’s about optionality.
FSU doesn’t need Joshisa Trader.
But if the staff wants to stack talent and the price aligns, this is a name worth monitoring.
Low urgency.
Moderate upside.
Interesting timing.
And that’s a wrap!
From record-setting runs on the track, to pressure-packed road games, to a Junior Day that could quietly shape the 2027 class, this one was about momentum — and knowing where it’s real and where it isn’t.
January doesn’t crown champions.
But it does reveal direction.
We’ll keep tracking what actually matters — and cut through the rest.
Talk tomorrow,
— The Chief
