🏹 October 25th - The Chief Brief 🏹

Momentum in Motion: From Link Jarrett’s extension to elite recruits and dominant wins

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The Chief
October 25, 2025

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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

⚾ What’s your take on Link Jarrett’s contract extension through 2031?

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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Saturday and Bye Week, Seminole!

From the hardwood to the diamond, it was a week of resilience and resurgence across Seminole sports — with programs stacking wins, extensions, and elite commitments while football retools its recruiting push.

🏐 Home-Court Momentum
FSU volleyball powered past Virginia behind a dominant duo in Iane Henke and Kyleene Filimaua, while Mio Yamamoto’s six-ace performance sealed the four-set victory in Tully Gym.

🏌️‍♂️ Steady Swings in Georgia
Men’s golf opened the Georgia Collegiate at 3-under, led by Tyler Weaver and Jack Whaley’s matching 70s — both tied for 15th heading into the weekend.

🏊‍♀️ Poolside Perfection
Seminole swimmers and divers dominated the All-Florida Invite, winning 29 of 32 events as Mary Leigh Hardman and Logan Robinson headlined another all-around team performance.

⚾ Baseball Stays Home — and Long-Term
Link Jarrett’s new contract extension runs through 2031, locking in stability (and a major raise) for one of college baseball’s premier coaches. The Noles also host UAB for a fall home exhibition Saturday before next week’s Garnet & Gold All-Star Game.

🏀 Honoring Greatness
Women’s basketball will retire Natasha Howard’s jersey Nov. 16 — immortalizing one of the greatest Noles to ever wear Garnet and Gold.

🥎 Recruiting Fireworks
FSU softball flipped Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year McLaine Hudson, while dual-sport phenom Missy Odom committed to play both basketball and softball in Tallahassee.

🏈 All Eyes on the Trail
Despite on-field uncertainty, Norvell’s staff is gearing up for a critical stretch of official visits — with several flip candidates and commits slated for the Wake Forest and Virginia Tech home games.

It’s a defining stretch for FSU athletics — a weekend of home-court energy, recruiting momentum, and the kind of foundational moves that shape the future.

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🏐 Henke, Filimaua, and Yamamoto Power FSU Past Virginia in Four Sets 🏐

Florida State volleyball (10–8, 4–5 ACC) returned home and delivered its most efficient offensive performance in nearly a month, taking down Virginia 3–1 on Friday night inside Tully Gym.

🔥 Offensive Onslaught
The Noles hit .324 as a team — their best mark since September 28 — behind the dominant duo of Iane Henke and Kyleene Filimaua:

  • Henke: 21 kills (.297), 13 digs — her fourth straight 20+ kill match.

  • Filimaua: 19 kills (.378), 10 digs — another double-double in a breakout stretch.

💥 Service Game Seals It
After dropping the opening set 25–19, FSU flipped momentum from the service line. Mio Yamamoto was electric, recording six total aces — including three in a row to close out the second set and another clutch ace late in the fourth to help seal the win.

🧱 Composure Under Pressure
The Noles hit .500 in the third set and held firm in a tight fourth, closing with back-to-back kills from Henke and a decisive overpass putaway to clinch the 3–1 victory (21–25, 25–19, 25–14, 25–23).

Why It Matters: Florida State is finding rhythm at the right time — led by a veteran core that’s heating up ahead of Sunday’s Paint It Pink match vs. Virginia Tech (1 p.m., ACCNX).

🏌️‍♂️ FSU Opens Georgia Collegiate at 3-Under, Weaver & Whaley Lead Charge 🏌️‍♂️

The No. 22 Florida State men’s golf team kicked off the Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate Invitational strong, finishing the opening round at 3-under (285) and tied for sixth place in the 14-team field.

🔥 Leaders of the Pack
Sophomores Tyler Weaver and Jack Whaley paced the Seminoles with matching 2-under 70s, each sitting tied for 15th overall.

  • Whaley surged late, birdieing four holes on the back nine.

  • Weaver stayed steady throughout with three birdies and zero big mistakes.

📊 Supporting Scores

  • Andrew McLauchlan: Even-par 72 (T-29th)

  • Wilmer Ederö: 1-over 73 (T-39th)

  • Carson Brewer: Competing individually, tees off Saturday at 10:06 a.m.

⛳ What’s Next
The Seminoles will start Round 2 from the 10th tee on Saturday, paired with Clemson and Utah, looking to climb the leaderboard heading into Sunday’s finale.

🏊‍♀️ Seminoles Dominate All-Florida Invite with 29 Wins at Home 🏊‍♂️

The No. 18/RV Florida State swimming and diving team put on a clinic at the All-Florida Invite, winning 29 of 32 events in a commanding home performance at the Morcom Aquatics Center.

🔥 Total Team Takeover
FSU swept every team dual, with the men and women defeating Florida Southern, and the women also topping North Florida and West Florida. The Seminoles posted nine 1–2–3 finishes and another eight 1–2 sweeps, showcasing elite depth across the board.

💪 Top Performers

  • Mary Leigh Hardman starred with three individual wins (50, 100, and 200 freestyle) and anchored the victorious 200 free relay.

  • Logan Robinson led the men with wins in the 100 backstroke and 100 freestyle, plus a relay victory.

  • Kayleigh Clark swept both diving events again, while freshman Thomas Matheson earned his first collegiate win in the 1000 freestyle.

💬 Coach Neal Studd:

“It was a great day. We had some really good performances across the board. It strengthens us for the three SEC opponents we have coming up.”

🏆 What’s Next
The Seminoles will stay home to host South Carolina next Friday (Oct. 31, 12 p.m. ET) — another key midseason test as FSU builds momentum for ACC play.

⚾ FSU Baseball Hosts UAB in Fall Home Exhibition Saturday ⚾

Florida State baseball returns to Dick Howser Stadium for its first home action of the fall, hosting UAB on Saturday, October 25 at 12 p.m. ET.

🔥 Game Details

  • Format: 12.5-inning exhibition with a 30-minute break after the 7th inning

  • Broadcast: First seven innings live on ACCNX (via ESPN+)

  • Gates Open: 11 a.m.

  • Tickets: $10 general admission (mobile delivery only) at Seminoles.com/Tickets

🎉 Fan Day Celebration
Fans are invited to stick around postgame for Fan Day, featuring autograph sessions and on-field fun with the team.

💥 Fall Ball Finale Coming Soon
This matchup is part of FSU’s 2025 Fall Ball, presented by GEICO, which concludes October 31 at 6:30 p.m. with the Garnet & Gold All-Star Game and a Home Run Derby under the lights at Howser.

🏀 FSU to Retire Natasha Howard’s Jersey on Nov. 16 vs. Indiana 🏀

Florida State women’s basketball will honor one of its all-time greats this fall as Natasha Howard’s jersey will be retired following the Seminoles’ game against Indiana on Nov. 16 (5 p.m.) at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.

🔥 A Legacy of Dominance
A two-time All-ACC First Team selection and All-Defensive honoree, Howard (2011–14) graduated as FSU’s all-time leader in rebounds (1,047) and double-doubles (41), while finishing with 1,811 career points and a 14.0 scoring average.

  • Set the FSU single-game record with 40 points vs. Syracuse in 2014

  • Earned All-America Honorable Mention by both the AP and WBCA

  • Started all 129 games in her career, averaging 10.6 points and 6.6 rebounds as a freshman

💫 From Seminole Star to WNBA Great
Drafted 5th overall in 2014 by the Indiana Fever, Howard has built a storied 11-year pro career:

  • 3× WNBA Champion (2017, 2018, 2020)

  • 2019 Defensive Player of the Year

  • 2× WNBA All-Star and 2× All-Defensive First Team selection

  • WNBA Most Improved Player (2018)

  • 2× EuroLeague Champion (2023, 2024) and 2024 Triple Crown winner

💬 Coach Brooke Wyckoff:

“Natasha Howard is one of the greatest to ever wear Garnet and Gold. She gave everything she had to this program, and she’s continued to make us proud every step of the way.”

👑 Seminole Immortality
Howard becomes the fifth player in program history to have her jersey retired, joining legends Sue Galkantas, Tia Paschal, Wanda Burns, and Brooke Wyckoff.

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🥎 Florida State Softball Lands 2026 Star Shortstop McLaine Hudson 🥎

Florida State softball added a major piece to its 2026 recruiting class Friday as McLaine Hudson, the Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year, flipped her commitment from Kentucky to the Seminoles.

🔥 Elite Talent on Both Sides of the Ball
The 5'4" shortstop from Bowling Green’s South Warren High School brings an elite resume:

  • .619 batting average, 73 hits, 20 home runs, and 65 RBI as a junior

  • Kentucky’s all-time hits leader (364) entering her senior year

  • 4.0 GPA student and active community volunteer

🌎 Gold Medal Pedigree
Hudson also stars internationally as part of the USA Softball Junior Women’s National Team, helping the squad win gold at the 2025 WBSC U-18 World Cup — where she batted .563 and earned All-World Team honors.

💪 Building a Powerhouse Class
Hudson joins a loaded 2026 class featuring pitcher Ava Lorenzatti and position players Kaylee Goodpaster, Addy Ware, and Callee Leffler, all part of FSU’s continued commitment to stacking top-tier national talent.

Florida State’s baseball resurgence under head coach Link Jarrett just became a long-term affair. On Thursday, FSU finalized the second amendment to Jarrett’s employment agreement, officially extending his contract through June 30, 2031 — and significantly boosting his compensation.

💰 Major Pay Raise & Retention Incentives
Jarrett’s updated deal elevates him into the top tier of college baseball salaries:

Contract Year

Total Salary (Base + Add. Pay + Bonus)

Year 4 (2025–26)

$1.85M

Year 5

$2.0M

Year 6

$2.1M

Year 7

$2.2M

Year 8

$2.3M

Year 9

$2.4M

That’s a six-year total of $12.85 million — an average of $2.14 million annually, up from the original $1.28M average.

🪙 Retention Bonuses
FSU will also reward Jarrett with annual retention bonuses for staying through each season:

  • $50,000 (2025) → $200,000 annually through 2031

💼 Staff & Buyout Adjustments

  • Assistant coach pool: Increased to $800K per year (up from $696K)

  • Termination without cause: FSU owes 75% of remaining contract value

  • If Jarrett leaves early: Buyout peaks at $1M in 2026, gradually declining to $600K by 2031

📈 Why It Matters
The move underscores FSU’s full confidence in Jarrett after back-to-back Super Regional runs and a 2024 College World Series appearance. Athletic Director Michael Alford has doubled down on the program’s stability and long-term vision — betting that the hometown coach who rebuilt FSU baseball can lead the Seminoles back to Omaha for good.

🏀🥎 Dual-Sport Star Missy Odom Commits to Florida State for Basketball and Softball 🏀🥎

Florida State scored a rare recruiting win this week as Missy Odom, a top 2026 forward from Montverde Academy (Jasper, AL), announced her commitment to play both basketball and softball for the Seminoles.

🔥 Elite Talent, Two Sports
Standing 6'2", Odom is one of the most versatile athletes in the 2026 class — a physical, high-motor forward with range, rebounding strength, and transition speed. On the diamond, she’s a powerful two-way player who brings both athleticism and leadership to the field.

💬 Odom on Choosing FSU

“I love their coaching staff,” Odom told Rivals. “Coach Brooke [Wyckoff] and Coach [Morgan] Toles have been so supportive of me trying to do both. They’ve been communicating with the softball program too — getting them on board was awesome.”

🔥 Why It Matters
Odom chose the Seminoles over Texas Tech, Ohio State, UCF, and Auburn, opting for a program that embraced her multi-sport ambition. FSU’s commitment to collaboration between basketball and softball, two of the school’s strongest women’s programs, made the difference.

🔥 Florida State Sets Critical Slate of Official Visits Ahead of Early Signing Period 🔥

Despite turbulence on the field, Florida State’s staff is pushing forward aggressively on the recruiting trail — setting up a pivotal stretch of official visits leading into the December Early Signing Period. With six weeks to go, several flip targets and key commits are set to visit Tallahassee for FSU’s final two home games.

🏈 November 1 (Wake Forest Game)


3⭐ LB Daylen Green (Arkansas commit)

  • Local Gadsden County product and longtime FSU target.

  • Nearly committed to FSU this summer before Arkansas landed him.

  • With Sam Pittman fired, FSU has regained traction; a flip looks increasingly likely after multiple campus visits.

3⭐ RB Qwantavius Wiggins (FIU commit)

  • Senior breakout star who earned an FSU offer earlier this fall.

  • The Seminoles’ top running back target in the 2026 class.

  • Sharing a backfield with UF commit Carsyn Baker, Wiggins has outperformed expectations — FSU aiming to secure his flip on the visit.

3⭐ Edge Damaad Lewis

  • North Carolina native with high interest in FSU since his summer offer.

  • Official visit next week will be his first trip to Tallahassee.

  • Nebraska also in the mix with an OV this weekend.

🏈 November 15 (Virginia Tech Game)


4⭐ LB Izayia Williams (FSU commit)

  • Huge midseason flip from Ole Miss.

  • FSU wants to lock down his pledge before other schools re-engage amid the Seminoles’ struggles.

3⭐ Edge Jaemin Pinckney (USF commit)

  • Earned his FSU offer after attending the Miami game.

  • Will return for his official visit as the Seminoles push to flip the explosive pass rusher.

3⭐ Edge Kamron Wilson (Syracuse commit)

  • Once an FSU lean before committing to Syracuse in the spring.

  • Has stayed in touch with the staff and recently made an unofficial visit.

  • Nebraska and UCF are also in pursuit.

3⭐ Edge Josh Warren Jr. (JUCO)

  • Georgia Military College standout and one of the top JUCO edge rushers nationally.

  • Picked up his FSU offer after visiting for the Pittsburgh game.

  • NC State, SMU, and Maryland also showing interest.

💥 Why It Matters
This two-game stretch will define FSU’s ability to stabilize its 2026 recruiting class, currently ranked Top 15 nationally. With multiple flip candidates in play and Norvell’s staff under pressure, the upcoming visits could determine whether the Seminoles close strong — or lose momentum heading into the offseason.

And that’s a wrap!

As fall competition heats up, Florida State’s programs are showing what staying power looks like — from Link Jarrett’s long-term commitment to the rise of dual-sport phenom Missy Odom and McLaine Hudson’s flip on the diamond. Even with football’s turbulence, FSU’s broader athletic machine keeps surging forward.

Stay tuned — next week brings Fan Day at Howser, Paint It Pink at Tully, and more clarity on the recruiting trail as official visits begin.

Until then — keep the faith, back the Garnet and Gold, and remember: the climb is always worth it.
— The Chief

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