You know that feeling when something is brewing behind the scenes—and then, out of nowhere, it explodes into the open? That’s exactly what just went down in Tallahassee. Florida State head coach Mike Norvell, who usually plays it close to the chest during spring practice, just dropped a huge update that could reshape the narrative heading into 2025. For a program trying to climb out of a 2–10 crater, this isn’t just noise. Good vibes hit at the core of FSU’s future, addressing both sides of the ball: one on defense with veteran linebacker Stefon Thompson and the other at quarterback with Thomas Castellanos, a transfer whose arrival might just be the spark the Seminoles need.
Let’s start with the bombshell: Thompson is back—and better than ever.
During a mid-spring media session, a reporter pointed out, “The returning linebackers seem like they’re grasping this defense pretty well.” Norvell didn’t hesitate to spotlight Thompson, responding, “You know for guys that are returning, you see the confidence; you see the work that they put in. You know, I think Stefon has been awesome in that room. Because you know, he’s a guy that has a lot of experience.”
That “experience” isn’t just coach speak. Thompson’s resume speaks volumes. Standing at 6’1” and weighing 240 pounds, he brings a wealth of production from both Syracuse and Nebraska. Across 47 career games with 22 starts, he’s racked up 199 tackles, 20.0 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and two pass breakups. He even broke Syracuse’s freshman record with 4.0 TFLs against Louisville in 2020. And yes, he’s worn the No. 7 jersey with pride—the first true freshman in a decade to start a season opener for the Orange.
But what makes Norvell’s update so significant is Thompson’s recovery. “With his movements, he’s back to being you know back to being fully healthy,” Norvell revealed. “He had a knee issue a few years ago and just in the recovery of it. But you know, I think he’s doing a great job and so you feel the cohesiveness of that group.”
Dec 2, 2023; Charlotte, NC, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell walks the sidelines during the third quarter against the Louisville Cardinals at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
That knee injury was no minor setback—it ended Thompson’s 2022 season in Week 1. But even then, he managed to tally three tackles before going down. Since then, the grind has been real. He’s now heading into his sixth year of college football, using that extra year from the 2020 pandemic when he was a freshman at Syracuse. Even though he contributed at Nebraska last fall with 27 tackles, Coach Matt Rhule admitted, “Stefon’s had a difficult transition,” explaining, “He didn’t come in in the best of shape, hadn’t really done our offseason program before. All very new to him. And it’s been a struggle.”
So, while it’s still tough to say if he’s fully recovered this year and ready to be a starter at FSU, it sounds like he’s shaken off the rust and regained his confidence. Now, Thompson is in a spot to really lead a defense that desperately needs it after losing some key guys. And he’s not the only one looking to bounce back this year. Enter Thomas Castellanos…
Mike Norvell has got his guy—Castellanos is the game plan
While Thompson is bringing muscle to the defense, Castellanos is being handed the keys to the offense—and by all indications, Norvell isn’t just handing him the playbook. He’s designing it around him. ‘Castellanos is the game plan’ isn’t just a catchy headline—it’s the philosophy. As FSU recalibrates, it’s no coincidence that two of the program’s most crucial additions, Thompson and Castellanos, share one defining trait: resilience.
After bouncing from Boston College, Castellanos arrives with unfinished business. Last year, he nearly led the Eagles to a road upset over the Noles—then pulled it off later in the season. Now, the 5’9″, 196-pound dual-threat quarterback is in a system that finally feels tailor-made for him. On3’s J.D. PicKell nailed it when he said, “He’s a guy that is a tremendous runner of the football, does great when he has some ad-lib potential. He’s not a guy that’s going to sit back there, do a three-step drop for you, stay in the pocket, and just be a statue—that’s not his game.”
PicKell made it clear that Castellanos is in the right place at the right time. “With how it shook out at Boston College, the feeling is they didn’t really do a lot to cater the offense to Thomas Castellanos’ skill set. That’s the absolute opposite of what they’re going to do here in 2025 in the Gus Malzahn system with him running the show.”
That last part? Crucial. Because Gus Malzahn, now FSU’s offensive coordinator, is known for designing creative, QB-friendly offenses that thrive on unpredictability and mobility. Castellanos played for him during his time at UCF, and that familiarity could be a game-changer.
Let’s not forget how chaotic the quarterback room has been in Tallahassee. FSU cycled through three different starters last season—Luke Kromenhoek, DJ Uiagalelei, and Brock Glenn. Uiagalelei declared for the NFL Draft. Kromenhoek transferred to Mississippi State. Glenn stuck around, but now he’ll have to fight to stay relevant in a system that feels tailor-made for Castellanos.
FSU is no longer just trying to plug gaps—it’s reinventing itself. ESPN’s Greg McElroy also sees the big picture. “I love the marriage, though, that Gus Malzahn is going to have with his new quarterback. And if you look at Gus Malzahn’s time as a playcaller, he’s been most dangerous when he’s had a super dynamic quarterback in the run game, a guy that can take off and do a lot of dangerous things with the ball in his hands, in his own right…”
That kind of chemistry—the blend of Norvell’s vision, Malzahn’s creativity, and Castellanos’ athleticism—is what gives this offense real upside. Throw in a healthy and experienced Thompson on defense, and suddenly FSU doesn’t look like a 2–10 team anymore. Instead, it looks like a program quietly building a comeback script—one built on hunger, redemption, and strategic fit. These aren’t just transfer portal Band-Aids. Norvell is making calculated moves, choosing players who bring both skill and intangibles.
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