Welcome to The Chief Brief!

Happy Sunday Seminole!

Here’s what’s lined up in today’s edition:

⚾ Scholarship Expansion a Game-Changer for FSU Baseball and Softball 🥎
FSU baseball and softball could see a huge boost with scholarship expansions set for 2025-26.

🏟️ Malik Clark Set to Visit FSU for Memphis Game 🏟️
Four-star WR commit Malik Clark returns to Tallahassee for FSU’s matchup against Memphis.

📊 Recalibrating FSU’s Expectations After 0-2 Start 📊
FSU faces a tough road ahead after a surprising 0-2 start, with bowl eligibility still in question.

🔢 Breaking Down FSU’s Poor Start: 10 Shocking Stats 🔢
A dive into the surprising statistics behind FSU’s early-season struggles.

🎙️ Jimbo Fisher Weighs In on FSU’s QB Situation After 0-2 Start 🎙️
Jimbo Fisher offers insight into Mike Norvell's tough decisions at quarterback.

💥 4-Star DL Myron Charles Flips from FSU to Texas 💥
FSU loses four-star DL Myron Charles to Texas, reshuffling their 2025 recruiting class.

⚾ Scholarship Expansion a Game-Changer for FSU Baseball and Softball 🥎

Major changes are coming to FSU baseball and softball, with scholarships potentially more than doubling by 2025-26. Baseball could jump from 11.7 to 34 scholarships, while softball could see an increase from 12 to 25. This expansion comes as part of the proposed settlement in the House vs. NCAA case, aiming to enhance roster structures across the nation. FSU will need to secure funding to compete with other ACC and SEC programs, but this could be transformative for maintaining the Seminoles’ competitive edge.

Florida's Bright Futures program and NIL deals could also help players fund their education, alleviating the burden of partial scholarships. For athletes like Kaley Mudge, NIL has been essential in covering tuition and preparing for future career paths, showcasing the broader impact on both sports and academic opportunities.

Read more here.

🏟️ Malik Clark Set to Visit FSU for Memphis Game 🏟️

Florida State four-star wide receiver commit Malik Clark will be back in Tallahassee next Saturday for the Seminoles' game against Memphis. The Rock Hill (S.C.) standout committed in July and hasn’t returned since his official visit in June. Here’s hoping our big turnaround starts next week 🤞 .

Clark, known for his speed and dynamic playmaking ability, is ranked as the No. 212 overall prospect and 24th wide receiver nationally in the 2025 class. With impressive junior stats and standout track performances, he’s poised to be a future difference-maker for FSU.

Read more here.

📊 Recalibrating FSU’s Expectations After 0-2 Start 📊 

Florida State’s disappointing start has forced a reassessment of the 2024 season outlook. Las Vegas oddsmakers have dropped FSU’s over-under to 5.5 wins, down from the preseason projection of 9.5.

Key matchups against Memphis, Cal, and SMU are critical, and the staff at The Osceola are offering their predictions. While optimism remains, FSU will need significant improvement in execution to reach bowl eligibility. Will the Noles bounce back or struggle through the season?

Evaluating the Remaining Schedule: The remaining games include Memphis, Cal, SMU, Clemson, at Duke, at Miami, North Carolina, at Notre Dame, Charleston Southern, and Florida. To reach six wins and qualify for a bowl game, FSU must take advantage of favorable matchups while turning around their early-season struggles. Some of the most critical games include:

• Memphis (Toss-Up): Memphis has struggled to run the ball, offering FSU a chance to capitalize. A strong performance could build momentum for the upcoming stretch.

• Cal & SMU (Winnable): Cal’s September trip to Tallahassee offers a significant advantage for FSU, while SMU’s vulnerability after a recent loss to BYU presents another opportunity.

• Tough Matchups Ahead: FSU faces formidable ACC foes Clemson, Miami, and North Carolina, where the Seminoles will need to be at their best. While Clemson struggled in Week 1 against Georgia, these games are seen as likely losses for FSU today.

FSU's Path to Six Wins: FSU’s staff remains cautiously optimistic. The consensus among The Osceola team is that the Seminoles have enough talent to turn things around. However, they will need to clean up errors in execution — reducing drops, overthrows, and capitalizing on turnover opportunities — to improve both offensively and defensively. Games against Memphis, Cal, SMU, Duke, and Charleston Southern appear to offer the best chances for wins, leaving FSU to find one more victory from the remaining opponents.

With Mike Norvell’s previous success in overcoming rough starts, there’s hope that FSU can still secure bowl eligibility with a 6-6 finish. However, the margin for error is slim, and the team must make significant strides to salvage the season.

🔢 Breaking Down FSU’s Poor Start: 10 Shocking Stats 🔢 

FSU’s disappointing 0-2 start has left many shocked, especially given the team’s preseason win projection of 9.5 games. Across multiple facets of the game, key players and units have struggled in ways no one predicted. Noles247 took a deep dive into 10 surprising statistics that capture FSU’s early woes. Here’s a look:

1. Darius Washington’s Struggles on the Offensive Line

FSU’s All-ACC left tackle Darius Washington, once one of the most efficient pass protectors, had a disastrous performance against Boston College. His pass-blocking grade (45.7) is the worst on the offensive line, a far cry from his dominance last season when he allowed only 11 pressures all year. Against BC, he allowed five in a single game, marking his worst performance since Week 5 of 2022.

2. Pleasant Surprises from Veteran Receivers

While the team struggles, two veteran receivers have shone bright. Kentron Poitier and Ja'Khi Douglas have been two of FSU’s most reliable players through the first two games, grading at 79.4 and 77.0, respectively. Their consistency in an otherwise shaky offense offers a glimpse of hope.

3. Uncharacteristic Drops from Toafili

Praised for his dependable hands, running back Lawrance Toafili has already recorded two drops on eight targets this season, raising his drop rate to a shocking 25%. In comparison, he only had four drops in his previous 72 catchable targets over his career, a stark contrast to his preseason expectations.

4. Poor Run Blocking

The run game, expected to be a strength, has been undermined by poor blocking across the board. Fourteen players with over 10 run-blocking snaps have posted grades below replacement level (sub-60). Without improvement, the run game will continue to struggle to find its rhythm.

5. Regression from RB Roydell Williams

Roydell Williams, brought in to bolster FSU’s run game, has disappointed so far with a rushing success rate of just 26.7%, down from 40% at Alabama last season. Trey Benson, for comparison, had a 38% success rate in 2023, highlighting the gap in performance that Williams was expected to close.

6. Lack of Pressure from the Defensive Ends

FSU’s defensive end duo of Patrick Payton and Marvin Jones Jr. has combined for only two pressures in 61 pass rush snaps. What’s more concerning is that several defensive backs, with far fewer pass-rush opportunities, have matched their pressure output.

7. Major Drop-Off from LB DJ Lundy

After a stellar 2023 season, linebacker DJ Lundy has regressed significantly. His coverage grade has plummeted to 32.3, ranking 554th out of 556 FBS defenders. He’s also allowed nine targets, the most of any FSU defender, and has struggled with missed tackles, already missing two on just 15 attempts.

8. Lack of Offensive Balance

FSU’s offense has been lopsided through two games, running 68% passing plays compared to just 32% rushing. Last year, they ran 56% passing plays, a more balanced attack. The current imbalance is likely contributing to the offense’s inconsistency.

9. Missed Tackles Piling Up

FSU’s tackling issues have returned with a vengeance. The team is on pace to record its highest missed tackle rate (16.7%) since 2019. This deficiency has plagued the defense, causing crucial plays to slip through their grasp.

10. Kevin Knowles II’s Defensive Rebound

One of the few bright spots, Kevin Knowles II has returned to form after a rough 2023 campaign. With a 71.3 PFF grade, Knowles has been among the best on FSU’s defense. His tackling, once a liability, has improved dramatically — he’s yet to miss a tackle this season, marking a significant turnaround.

🎙️ Jimbo Fisher Weighs In on FSU’s QB Situation After 0-2 Start 🎙️ 

Amid Florida State's tough 0-2 start, Jimbo Fisher weighed in on Mike Norvell’s decision-making regarding quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. Fisher emphasized patience, especially given that it’s their first season working together. "You can’t let the NIL be a factor in how you decide on somebody," Fisher said, stressing that the focus should be on-field performance.

Fisher also expressed confidence in Mike Norvell's ability to turn things around after the Seminoles' 0-2 start, but acknowledged the tough choices ahead, especially regarding quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. “I believe that 1,000% – I think he’s one heck of a football coach, I really do. I think he’s a great guy, but I think he’s a very good coach. He’ll get it right, but they’ve got some very tough decisions," Fisher said.

Read more here.

💥 4-Star DL Myron Charles Flips from FSU to Texas 💥

Florida State’s 2025 recruiting class took a significant blow as four-star defensive lineman Myron Charles decommitted and flipped to the Texas Longhorns. Charles originally committed to FSU in June after a strong relationship with DL coach Odell Haggins. However, the Longhorns' persistent contact and the Seminoles' rough 0-2 start led Charles to reconsider.

Charles made the announcement shortly after Texas' dominant win over Michigan. His decommitment drops FSU’s class ranking to No. 27, leaving only Kevin Wynn as and Javion Hilson as defensive line commits in the class. The Seminoles now shift focus to new DL targets like Jeramiah McCloud (Florida commit), Jarquez Carter (Ohio State commit), and Derry Norris (Georgia Tech commit) to fill the gap.

Read more here.

And that’s a wrap!

With key scholarship expansions on the horizon for FSU baseball and softball, important upcoming visits from top recruits, and plenty of reflection on the football team's rocky start, there's no shortage of action the keep up with.

As always, stay tuned for the latest updates and analysis.

Will the Noles turn things around, or will this season continue to challenge the program? We’ll be right here to cover it all. Until next time, keep the faith and Go Noles! 🏹 🍢