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- 🏹 November 18th - The Chief Brief 🏹
🏹 November 18th - The Chief Brief 🏹
Biletnikoff Buzz, Anderson Commits, and NC State Prep Tweaks
The Chief
November 18, 2025
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Will FSU beat NC State on Friday? |
🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹
Happy Tuesday, Seminole!
A loaded Tuesday edition with new schedules dropping, NCAA tournament action starting, hoops back home at the Tuck, major football recruiting wins, and fresh injury + rivalry updates as the Noles fight for bowl eligibility.
⚓ 🏖️ Beach Volleyball Drops 2026 Schedule 🏖️
FSU enters its first Big 12 season with a retooled roster, a February home opener, and matchups against defending champ TCU.
🎾 Eva Shaw Makes NCAA Singles Debut 🎾
Shaw becomes the first Seminole to qualify for the fall NCAA singles championships — and opens play today in Orlando.
🏀 FSU Hosts UT Martin + Honors Leonard Hamilton 🏀
The Noles return to the Tucker Center tonight looking to bounce back — with a halftime tribute to the winningest coach in program history.
🎾 Miguel & Schiessl Begin NCAA Championships 🎾
FSU men’s tennis sends both a singles qualifier and a 6–1 doubles pairing into this week’s national individual championships.
🏆 Duce Robinson Named Biletnikoff Semifinalist 🏆
FSU’s star WR continues his monster season, earning national recognition as one of the 13 best receivers in college football.
🐊 FSU–Florida Kick Time Window Set 🐊
Rivalry Week is locked in for Nov. 29 — with kickoff slotted for either 3:30 or 4:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
❌ Ja’Bril Rawls Out for the Season ❌
FSU loses its steadiest cornerback just as the defense was gaining rhythm — freshman Shamar Arnoux steps into the starting role.
🔥 FSU Lands No. 1 JUCO EDGE Jalen Anderson 🔥
Mike Norvell adds major pass-rush help for 2026 as Anderson — the top JUCO EDGE in America — commits to the Noles.
🚨 FSU Tweaks Travel Routine Before NC State 🚨
With bowl eligibility on the line and road woes piling up, Norvell alters the team’s travel and prep plan for Friday’s must-win game.
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🏖️ FSU Beach Volleyball Releases 2026 Schedule 🏖️
Florida State beach volleyball dropped its 2026 schedule on Monday, marking the start of a new era as the program prepares for life in the Big 12.
🔥 Key Dates
Season opener: Feb. 20 at home
Additional home matches: Feb. 27–28 & Apr. 2–4
Big 12 Championship debut: April
NCAA Tournament: May 1–3 in Gulf Shores, AL
💨 Program Outlook
Head coach Brooke Niles enters her 11th season, coming off a 26–13 campaign with appearances in the CCSA finals and NCAA quarterfinals.
Niles, already the winningest coach in NCAA beach volleyball history, is still chasing FSU’s first national title.
The 2026 roster features five freshmen and three transfers, with major tests ahead — including defending national champion TCU.
🧠 Why It Matters
FSU heads into its Big 12 debut with a refreshed roster and legitimate postseason ambitions under one of the sport’s elite coaches.
🎾 Eva Shaw Set for NCAA Singles Championship Debut 🎾
Florida State junior Eva Shaw will make her NCAA Tournament debut Tuesday at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, becoming the first Seminole to qualify for the fall-version singles championships.
🔥 How She Got Here
Qualified after finishing T-5th at the ITA South Sectional in Baton Rouge
First FSU player to reach the NCAA fall singles event since its format change
Last Seminoles to qualify: Victoria Allen & Ellie Schoppe (May 2024)
💨 Matchup Info
Round of 64: vs. Denver’s Louise Wikander
First serve: 4:30 p.m.
Wikander enters at 9–3 and is the ITA Mountain Regional champion
🌟 Notable Win
Shaw’s biggest result this fall: a three-set upset of No. 69 Raquel Gonzalez (Miami), 6–4, 2–6, 7–5, en route to the Sectional quarterfinals.
🧠 Why It Matters
Shaw’s appearance signals real momentum for FSU women's tennis — and gives the program a fall-season NCAA qualifier for the first time ever.
🏀 FSU Hosts UT Martin Tonight, Honors Leonard Hamilton 🏀
Florida State returns to the Tucker Center tonight for a 7 p.m. matchup against undefeated UT Martin — and a special halftime tribute to legendary former head coach Leonard Hamilton, a UT Martin alum and the winningest coach in FSU history.
🔥 Game Preview
FSU (2–1) plays its first game since a narrow 78–76 loss at No. 10 Florida
The Noles are averaging 95.0 PPG under first-year HC Luke Loucks
PG Robert McCray leads the team with 17.7 PPG and 8.7 APG, including a school-record 17 assists vs. Alcorn State
💨 UT Martin at a Glance
Skyhawks (3–0) coming off a 78–67 win at Bradley
Led by Andrija Bukumirović (20.0 PPG, 5.7 RPG)
Feature 13 international players from 11 countries
0–11 all-time vs ACC teams
🔒 Series History
FSU leads the all-time series 3–0, all in Tallahassee
Last meeting: 2013
📺 How to Watch
7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra
Noles247 will provide in-game updates
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🎾 FSU’s Miguel & Schiessl Begin NCAA Singles & Doubles Championships 🎾
Florida State men’s tennis standouts Luis Felipe Miguel and Erik Schiessl open play this week at the NCAA Singles & Doubles Championships in Orlando, running November 18–23 at the USTA National Campus.
🔥 Format & Stakes
Final individual event of the D-I season
Singles: 64-player field, best-of-three sets
Doubles: Single-set matches, must win by two games
One round per day → champions crowned Nov. 23
💨 Miguel’s Singles Run
First career NCAA appearance
Enters with a 5–2 record and a five-match win streak
Notable win: three-set victory over USF’s Guglielmo Verdese at ITA Regionals
🔒 Doubles Momentum
Miguel/Schiessl: 6–1 record this fall
Qualified after upsetting Clemson’s Gales/Markov 6–3, 7–5 at ITA Sectionals
🏆 Duce Robinson Named Biletnikoff Award Semifinalist 🏆
Florida State star wideout Duce Robinson has been named one of 13 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award — fittingly named after FSU legend Fred Biletnikoff and given annually to the nation’s top receiver.
🔥 Best in the ACC — and One of the Best Nationally
49 receptions • 947 yards • 5 TDs
ACC leader in receiving yards (947) & yards per game (94.7)
5th nationally in receiving yards
In ACC play: 748 yards, 106.9 YPG — tops in the league
💨 Explosive Production
Five 120+ yard games (ACC leader)
Three 140+ yard games (ACC leader, 2nd nationally)
Career-high 173 yards vs East Texas A&M — most in the ACC this season
Two-time ACC Receiver of the Week
🔥 Big-Play Machine
Robinson ranks top-3 in the ACC in receptions of:
10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80+ yards.
He leads the league outright in 30-yard and 80-yard plays.
🧠 Why It Matters
Robinson’s 947 yards are the most by a Seminole since 2019 — and he’s on pace for FSU’s first 1,000-yard season in a decade.
🐊 Rivalry Week Set: FSU–Florida Kick Time Narrowed 🐊
Florida State closes out the 2025 regular season with a trip to Gainesville for the annual rivalry showdown at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 29.
Kick time will be 3:30 p.m. or 4:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, with the final designation announced after Nov. 22.
🔥 The Road Ahead
FSU (5–5, 2–5 ACC) travels to NC State this Friday (8 PM, ESPN) in a must-win for bowl eligibility.
Florida (3–7, 2–5 SEC) hosts No. 20 Tennessee on Nov. 22 before turning its attention to the Noles.
❌ CB Ja’Bril Rawls Out for Season After Clemson Injury ❌
Florida State suffered a significant defensive blow Monday as head coach Mike Norvell confirmed that starting cornerback Ja’Bril Rawls will miss the remainder of the 2025 season.
🔥 Rawls’ Impact Before the Injury
Started six games and was one of FSU’s most reliable defenders
40 tackles, 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery, 2 PBUs
Allowed just 151 yards and 2 TDs on 24 targets
Strong 72.3 PFF grade, consistently physical at the line
💨 Next Man Up
True freshman Shamar Arnoux slides into the starting role (started vs. Virginia Tech)
Charles Lester III listed as the backup
Both have rotated at corner and safety this season
🧠 Why It Matters
FSU loses its steadiest cover man heading into a crucial stretch — just as the defense was starting to find rhythm with young players emerging.
🔥 FSU Lands No. 1 JUCO EDGE Jalen Anderson 🔥
Florida State added a major piece to its 2026 pass-rush on Monday, securing a commitment from JUCO EDGE Jalen Anderson, the No. 1 junior-college edge rusher in the nation per 247Sports.
🎯 Why This Is Big
Anderson ranks No. 1 JUCO EDGE and No. 6 overall JUCO prospect
Chose FSU over offers from Vanderbilt, Illinois, West Virginia, and more
Arrived in Tallahassee for his official visit and watched the Noles’ 34–14 win over Virginia Tech
🔥 Why He Picked FSU
Anderson said coaches Terrance Knighton and Devin Rispress made him feel like a top priority:
“Coach Ris made me feel at home… They made it obvious I was a priority.”
💨 Production + Traits
Across two JUCO seasons at Pearl River C.C., Anderson showed consistent disruption:
2025: 41 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 7 sacks, 2 FF, 1 INT
2024: 39 tackles, 9 TFL, 2.5 sacks
Former All-State performer in Louisiana
Listed at 6'3", 241 lbs with quick feet, twitchy first step, multiple pass-rush moves
Strengths:
Polished pass-rush sequencing
Quick hands + strong balance
Bull rush, spin, dip all on tape
High-effort pursuit player
Concerns:
Not lengthy by FSU’s typical DL standards
Frame may limit long-term ceiling
Best suited for a traditional JACK role in four-down fronts
🔒 Fit in FSU’s Defense
FSU badly needs immediate juice off the edge, and Anderson brings exactly that.
He joins three-star prep EDGE Chris Carbin in the cycle and fills one of the roster’s clearest needs.
🧠 Why It Matters
A high-floor, ready-to-play pass rusher with legit production and a player FSU prioritized from day one.
🚨 FSU Tweaks Travel & Prep Routine Ahead of NC State Road Test 🚨
With bowl eligibility on the line and two road games left, Florida State is making deliberate adjustments to fix one of its biggest 2025 issues: winning away from home.
FSU is 0–3 on the road this season and hasn’t won an away game in over two years.
🔥 Norvell: “It’s time for us to go get that done.”
Mike Norvell said the staff is modifying parts of the weekly routine for this short-week Friday matchup at NC State, including:
Shortening travel segments (e.g., avoiding long, 75-minute bus rides)
Evaluating all road-game processes to correct what has been a repeating weakness
Finding ways to start faster, after defensive slow starts and low-scoring road outings at Stanford and Clemson
💨 Emphasis: Start Ahead, Stay Ahead
Norvell said FSU needs to seize control immediately:
“We’ve got to take control of the game early… play from ahead if possible.”
He emphasized that this year’s road struggles are specific to this team, not the broader 12–15 road record during his tenure.
🔊 Players Buying In
Freshman DL Mandrell Desir said Monday’s practice reflected the urgency:
“We’re raising the intensity… Everybody says we can't get a road game, and that’s what we’re going to go out there and do.”
And that’s a wrap!
That wraps today’s Brief.
From Duce’s national spotlight to Anderson’s commitment and multiple programs entering championship play, FSU’s momentum is everywhere except the one place they need it most — the road. Friday night will tell us a lot.
Back with more tomorrow.
How'd we do? |