Picture this: one minute, you’re flying high in a private jet; the next, you’re crash-landing in a cornfield. Talk about a crash and burn! Florida State went from 13-0 in 2023 to 2-10 in 2024. What a whiplash! The offense didn’t just stall; it straight-up burst into flames. Now that the dust has settled, all eyes are on Mike Norvell and the QB battle in Tallahassee. Get ready, because FSU’s about to see who’s in charge of the rebuild.
This season is a make-or-break moment for Mike Norvell and FSU due to the presence of a promising quarterback prospect. Following DJ Uiagalelei’s underwhelming performance, Brock Glenn stepped up as the starting QB for FSU. Despite his efforts, he managed 597 yards with 4 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Then Norvell even threw Luke Kromenhoek in the mix, but he ended his season with only 502 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. With Luke now at Mississippi State, the FSU QB competition is down to Brock Glenn and the new contender, Thomas Castellanos, a transfer from Boston College. The spring game for Florida State, like those of Michigan and Colorado, is intensifying, complicating Norvell’s decision-making process.
Both QBs are showcasing their talents during spring practice, fueling Norvell’s excitement as discussed on Florida State Football-Warchant TV. Talking about Thomas’ progress, Coach Norvell said, “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.”
If we talk about Tommy’s standing, his stats are way better than Brock’s. Last season he recorded 1,366 yards for 18 TDs with just 5 interceptions. Which makes him a strong QB1 candidate.
Now, even Brock Glenn isn’t trailing behind in the race, Mike Norvell seems pretty impressed by his spring showing also, as he says, “I mean, he’s a competitor. You know, Brock’s got a lot of winners in him. I mean, he is, and you saw that in his high school career. He believes in the opportunity that’s there, and you know, he’s coming, he’s fighting every day trying to push himself to be better.” This is Glenn’s last year in college, and if he doesn’t get a fair chance to prove himself, staying at FSU will mean nothing.
As Mike Norvell said, his potential is undeniable. Glenn’s high school stats support this. That guy was a beast at Lausanne Collegiate; 3,928 passing yards, 57 TDs, plus another 1,654 rushing yards and 11 more scores! The talent? Obvious. But with all this opinion in the mix, it’s pretty evident that Coach Norvell doesn’t want to repeat the same mistake they did with DJ Uiagalelei last season.
Mike Norvell’s FSU quarterback fate
FSU fans didn’t just watch their season go up in flames—they felt every agonizing second of it. Most of the criticism fell on DJ Uiagalelei, but honestly, he played behind an offensive line as flimsy as paper mache. The guy barely had time to breathe, let alone make plays, and it showed. A 53.8% completion rate, 1,065 yards, and just four touchdowns? Ugly.
And speaking of that O-line disaster, FSU’s ground game turned into a joke. At one point, they were averaging 1.3 yards per carry. That’s not just bad—it’s awful. The offense had no rhythm, and Norvell’s decision-making had folks questioning reality. The fanbase wasn’t just frustrated; they were done. The situation became so dire that the team dismissed both OC Alex Atkins and DC Adam Fuller before fan outrage escalated.
Then, just as it seemed like Mike Norvell was struggling, he made a bold move by bringing Tony White on as defensive coordinator and, in a surprising twist, appointing Gus Malzahn as OC. This decision caused a stir in the college football world. Malzahn is no ordinary coach; he is an offensive genius with a playbook that seems like it’s from a science fiction movie. He led Auburn to a national title game, won one as an OC, and has a reputation for outsmarting defenses throughout his career.
Now, FSU’s offense is not just aiming for improvement; it is on the path to a complete revival. With Malzahn in charge, defenses will be caught off guard. The real question is not if things will improve, but how quickly this offense can transform from a joke to a serious threat.
The post Mike Norvell Offers Early Spring Verdict on Brock Glenn and Tommy Castellanos as QB Battle Heats Up after DJ Uiagalelei Letdown appeared first on EssentiallySports.