Florida State and Mike Norvell have been in an adamant pursuit of redemption after their two-win season in 2024. The head coach has acknowledged the blow and dubbed the season as the biggest disappointment in the school’s history. After finishing 13-1 and being placed first in the ACC conference, no one could see what the next year had in store for the Seminoles. The sharp decline forced the coach to take massive corrective actions to improve in 2025. The hirings of Gus Malzahn and Thomas Castellanos have been pivotal among them.

Mike Norvell got rid of his OC (Alex Atkins) and DC (Adam Fuller) in November 2024. How did Malzahn come into the picture? Well, the two go way back—to 2007—when both worked as assistant coaches on Todd Graham’s staff at Tulsa. A new OC and a breath of fresh air, maybe? Well, Mike Norvell would hope so, considering Gus Malzahn is coming on a three-year, $6 million deal.

The popular belief is the reunion between the UCF/Boston College transfer Thomas Castellanos and Malzahn can pull out something great for the program. How is this gliding into reality? Let’s look into the spring game progress from the first week. QB Castellanos is building connections with the team, proceeding toward his lofty goal for the looming year. The quarterback on the watch met with the media after the first padded practice this weekend and weighed in on certain crucial aspects of the game and his ongoing progress and vision. It’s not only just the new Seminoles OC that the former Boston QB has had a prior tie with. He also has a great bond with the new USC transfer receiver, Duce Robinson.

The spring practice serves as a stupendous platform for the newbies to set the early momentum, build solid team bonding, and keep enhancing the pace. Castellanos isn’t the exception. FSU had a tumultuous quarterback fate last season, with DJ Uiagalelei holding the key to the offense. Well, of course, he is just a part of an entire rotten offensive disaster; a 53.8% completion rate, 1,065 yards, and just four touchdowns didn’t leave the room to defend him either.

Now, the Malzahn-Castellanos duo smells like a new dawn for Mike Norvell and the Seminoles. Addressing the early advancement, Thomas dished some optimistic confetti, “It’s been great. Gus is a great coach. And his play-calling is really good. So just getting back used to being under him and running his offense.”

Castellanos played sparingly for Malzahn in 2022 in Orlando, throwing 16 passes in five games before settling into Boston. Their UCF stint together holds a lot of chemistry and numbers. The new Florida State QB knows OC Gus Malzahn’s no-huddle offense. He reaffirmed that the offense is going to be explosive under his OG man, and he can’t wait to be a part of it.

However, he is equally trying to cope with coach Tony White’s defensive style and norm. The two-time Broyles Award nominee is shaking up the old defense of the Seminoles, and Castellanos is taking his sweet time to decipher. “I’m just
 playing ball [with] whatever they throw out there at me. And show me how I’m just going to react. And get the ball to the right spot,” the former UCF QB added.

He might be a newbie to the state of Florida, but not at all a rookie. Thomas is already picking up the pace, feeling at home with the entire system. He didn’t shy away from showcasing confidence in his remarks. “I think I’m pretty comfortable with it. I’ve been a quarterback in college for quite some time now. So any playbook they give me, I just study it and go over it.”

However, all these headways didn’t yet hand him a sure-shot entry to the starting spot.

Mike Norvell weighs in on Thomas Castellanos’ spring progress 

With last season being the major QB room downfall, Mike Norvell didn’t risk it anymore. He is keeping his options wide and varied. Following DJ Uiagalelei’s lackluster performance, Brock Glenn came to the fore as the starting QB for FSU. Luke Kromenhoek chimed in between. With Luke jumping ship to Mississippi State, the starting spot is up to two young stalwarts in the line, Brock Glenn and Thomas Castellanos.

Both QBs are strengthening their chance to win the job. They are getting more and more reps, and perfecting their craft during spring practice. Glenn racked up 597 yards with 4 touchdowns and 5 interceptions for the Seminoles last year. Castellanos is yet to make an impact. But Coach Norvel is hopeful that he will soon.

During an appearance on Florida State Football-Warchant TV, Mike Norvell shed light on Thomas’ progress, saying, “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.”

Mike Norvell is equally interested and optimistic about the other QB as well, deeming him a go-getter. Now, it will be interesting to see how the competition pans out down the stretch, aligning with Norvell’s big vision for the school. After all, if another garbage season is recorded in Norvell’s sixth-year resume, his contract may not save him.