Spring football is back in Tallahassee, and with it comes the usual mix of optimism, speculation, and—at Florida State Seminoles—an unshakable sense of unfinished business. The Seminoles are shaking off the disappointment of a chaotic 2024 season, but the questions at QB1 remain front and center. Mike Norvell’s offense is undergoing yet another reset, searching for the right answer under center. While new faces were taking reps in camp, all eyes were briefly back on the man who was supposed to be the guy. DJ Uiagalelei, the former Oregon State transfer, broke his silence this week about his abrupt and disappointing stint with the Noles. Busy with the NFL Drafts, he is a late hopeful.
Mike Norvell’s gamble didn’t pay off well. He took a big swing in the transfer portal for the 2024 season, bringing in DJ Uiagalelei and other transfers, possibly spending a good chunk of their rumored $12M NIL budget on the quarterback. Uiagalelei, who had NIL deals with The Battle’s End, Beats by Dre, Circle K, and Celsius, arrived in Tallahassee with high expectations. But get this: after just five games, his time at FSU was cut short. A pinky injury put him on the sidelines, but even before that, doubts were surfacing. His performance didn’t have the efficiency Norvell needed from a veteran leader, and the offense struggled to find its groove.
When the whispers started about NIL being a factor in his decision, Uiagalelei was blunt in his response. “I didn’t transfer for money. I transferred for respect,” he said, as shared by Footballville Nation. Respect, however, is earned with performance, and the unfortunate reality for Uiagalelei is that his FSU tenure will be remembered more for what could’ve been than for what actually was.
His absence sent the Seminoles into a tailspin at the most important position on the field. Brock Glenn was thrust into action, tasked with steadying a ship that was already taking on water. The results were shaky—597 passing yards, four touchdowns, five interceptions. Then came Luke Kromenhoek, another attempt to plug the gap. He fared little better, throwing for just 502 yards, 3 TDs, and two picks before transferring out to Mississippi State. It was a season defined by inconsistency, a stark contrast to the stability FSU had under Jordan Travis just a year prior. For a program that expects to be in the playoff conversation, this kind of QB carousel wasn’t just frustrating—was unacceptable.
Now, Norvell is once again trying to get the position right, and his latest hope comes in the form of Thomas Castellanos. The Boston College transfer has wasted no time making an impression in spring ball, offering a glimpse of what could be. Norvell, never one to hype a player too early, was measured but optimistic when discussing his new thrower’s early performances.
“I thought he had a good day. I mean, he hit a couple of vertical shots that were that were extremely well-placed. His athleticism, his presence within the pocket, and I thought he did a good job of delivering the football… I thought he was pretty clean today,” Norvell said. It wasn’t a ringing endorsement, but for a coach who just endured a year of quarterback struggles, any sign of stability is a step in the right direction.
The interim QBs are now expected to do what their 6’5” predecessors couldn’t. DJU certainly looks the part, but his numbers with Noles won’t exactly have NFL scouts circling his name. Just 1,065 passing yards, four touchdowns, and six interceptions in his last season—it’s a stat line that suggests potential rather than production. He’s a late draft hopeful, banking on his natural arm talent and size to convince an NFL team to take a flyer on him.
But Norvell finally saw some hope after his ugly QB display in the spring session. They were crucial in determining whether Castellanos or Glenn emerges as the guy, but at least for now, there’s a sense that Florida State has options.
A QB wastes no time making an impression on Mike Norvell on day one
Thomas Castellanos is right at home in Gus Malzahn’s offensive system, and early reports say he’s running it to perfection. But on day one of camp, another quarterback stole the show—true freshman Kevin Sperry.
FSU head coach Mike Norvell had high praise for the entire QB room, but he made sure to single out Sperry’s sharp debut in 7-on-7 drills. “I thought the quarterbacks did a nice job on our first day,” Norvell said.
But then came the moment of the day…
“Kevin Sperry went out in his first 7-7 set, and I think he went four for four,” Norvell added. “It was impressive to see him hit the ground and going.”
Not a bad way to introduce yourself. Sperry signed with the Seminoles in December, flipping from Oklahoma to the Noles. He’s coming off a monster senior season, throwing for 2,500+ yards, rushing for 1,000+ yards, and accounting for 35 total touchdowns while leading his team on a deep postseason run. With a start like this, Sperry is adding his name to the QB1 mix. A much-needed sigh of relief for Norvell after DJ Uiagalelei’s horrors.
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