It’s January 2026, and if you're a Florida State fan, you probably still have a bit of whiplash from how the last couple of years unfolded. Looking back at Florida State’s quarterback last year, the 2025 season was a wild ride that felt like a complete 180 from the disaster of 2024. If you remember the misery of that 2-10 season—where the offense basically went into a coma—you know why 2025 felt so high-stakes.
Mike Norvell didn't just tweak the roster; he blew it up and brought in a dynamic playmaker who changed the entire geometry of the field.
Honestly, the name you need to know for the 2025 season is Tommy Castellanos. After the "DJ Uiagalelei experiment" failed to launch in '24 and Luke Kromenhoek eventually hit the portal for Mississippi State, Norvell went back to the transfer portal to find a spark. He found it in the former Boston College starter.
The Tommy Castellanos Era in Tallahassee
When Castellanos arrived, there was plenty of skepticism. People called him "undersized" (he’s about 5-11 on a good day) and worried about his turnover history. But he was exactly what the Seminoles needed to transition into the new offensive scheme under Gus Malzahn—who Norvell brought in as OC to fix the scoring drought.
Last year, Castellanos wasn't just "the guy"; he was the entire engine. He started every single game. That’s a big deal. For a program that had been shuffling through QBs like a deck of cards, having one guy start all 12 games was a breath of fresh air.
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He put up some ridiculous numbers that didn't even seem possible a year prior:
- Passing: 2,760 yards and 15 touchdowns.
- Rushing: 557 yards and 9 touchdowns.
That rushing total actually broke the school record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a single season. He had this "kinda" chaotic style where he’d look like he was about to be sacked for a 10-yard loss, only to spin out and find Duce Robinson for a first down. It wasn't always pretty, but it worked.
What Happened to the Other Guys?
You might be wondering about Brock Glenn. He was the hero-turned-backup who stayed loyal when everyone else was jumping ship. Last year, Glenn was the clear QB2. He didn't see a ton of action because Castellanos was so durable, but he did pop in for four games, mostly in relief or during blowout wins like the massive shellacking of East Texas A&M.
Glenn finished the 2025 campaign with 69 passing yards and a couple of scores. He’s basically the veteran presence in the room now, but he eventually decided to head to Western Kentucky for his final season of eligibility in 2026 to finally get a starting nod.
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Then there was the freshman buzz. Kevin Sperry arrived with a lot of hype. He was the four-star recruit everyone thought might push for the starting job early. While he didn't unseat Castellanos, he showed flashes in the three games he played, completing about 70% of his passes for nearly 200 yards.
The 2025 Season Recap: Highs and Lows
It started with a bang. I mean, beating No. 8 Alabama in the opener? Nobody saw that coming. For a few weeks, FSU looked like a top-10 team again. Castellanos was hitting his stride, the offensive line (led by guys like Gunnar Hansen and Luke Petitbon) was actually holding up, and the vibes were immaculate.
But college football is rarely a straight line. The middle of the season was a "sorta" nightmare. Four straight losses. Losing to Miami and Clemson in the same month is a recipe for a fan base meltdown.
The defense, led by Azareye'h Thomas before he headed to the Jets in the draft, kept them in games, but the offense went through a mid-season lull where they couldn't find the end zone. They eventually bounced back to get bowl-eligible, which was a massive improvement over the previous year's 10-loss catastrophe.
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Key Takeaways from the Quarterback Room
Looking back at Florida State’s quarterback last year, the 2025 season proved that the "transfer portal era" is a double-edged sword. FSU lost a talented youngster in Kromenhoek but gained a seasoned, albeit unconventional, leader in Castellanos.
If you’re trying to keep track of the stats from that 2025 run, here’s the breakdown of the passing leaders:
- Tommy Castellanos: 180/309, 2,760 yards, 15 TD, 9 INT.
- Kevin Sperry: 12/17, 194 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT.
- Brock Glenn: 6/10, 69 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT.
It’s clear that Norvell has pivoted back to a dual-threat model. The pocket passer era of 2024 is officially dead in Tallahassee.
If you're looking to dive deeper into how FSU is shaping up for the upcoming season, your best bet is to keep an eye on the spring practice reports. The quarterback room is changing again, but the blueprint Castellanos left behind—using the QB as a primary runner—is likely here to stay as long as Malzahn is calling the plays. You should check out the latest recruiting rankings to see if the 'Noles have landed their next dual-threat star to fill the void.