Florida State’s quarterback situation is drawing plenty of attention, and Ashton Daniels knows the chatter isn’t going away anytime soon.
The Seminoles are coming off two rough seasons, and the uncertainty around the program has only intensified. With speculation swirling about what Florida State could look like by December, Daniels has become one of the faces of the conversation, especially after winning the starting job over Kevin Sperry this spring.
Still, the veteran quarterback isn’t spending much time worrying about the outside noise. That was clear Wednesday at the ACC Kickoff, where Daniels was one of Florida State’s three player representatives and was asked directly how he handles criticism.
"It's such a hard thing to handle because obviously, you see that kind of stuff every single day. That's social media nowadays, that's football, that's how the world is," Daniels said. "You see that kind of stuff, but I think what separates the best players from the worst is how they handle that kind of stuff."
"If you sit there and you look at it and you sulk about it, you're not going to get anywhere from it," Daniels added.
Daniels has already been left out of some preseason quarterback talk. Earlier this month, he was not included in On3’s Andy Staples rankings of the ACC’s top 10 quarterbacks, another reminder that plenty of analysts remain unconvinced.
Daniels said he saw the criticism, but he isn’t letting it steer his focus.
"Obviously, I saw that, but I don't care; people can say whatever they want to. I don't care," Daniels said. "What's going to show is, like what coach said, the actions on the field."
"Using that kind of as bulletin board material, yeah, that's in the back of my mind, but I just want to win every single day," Daniels continued. "I want to show up to the facility, give my best every single day, and that's what I'm focused on."
There are reasons for the skepticism. Daniels is at his third school in as many years, and his career numbers sit at 24 touchdowns and 22 interceptions.
But Florida State is betting on him to steady the offense, and Daniels can start changing the conversation when the season opens against New Mexico State on August 29.
Florida State’s 2026 schedule: Saturday, August 29 vs.
New Mexico State - Tallahassee - 7:00 p.m. ET on The CW
Monday, September 7 vs. SMU - Tallahassee - 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Saturday, September 19 at Alabama - Tuscaloosa, Ala. - 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC
Saturday, September 26 vs. Central Arkansas - Tallahassee (Family Weekend/Hall of Fame)
Saturday, October 3 vs. Virginia - Tallahassee (Cancer Awareness)
Friday, October 9 at Louisville - Louisville, Ky. - 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN
Saturday, October 17 at Miami - Miami Gardens, Fla.
Saturday, October 31 vs. Clemson - Tallahassee (Military Appreciation)
Saturday, November 7 at Boston College - Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Saturday, November 13 at Pitt - Pittsburgh, Pa. - 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN
Saturday, November 21 vs. NC State - Tallahassee (Homecoming/Seminole Heritage/Athlete Alumni Reunion)
Friday, November 27 vs. Florida - Tallahassee - 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC
In Other News...
Florida State Just Made A Recruiting Move Fans Will Love
Florida State has jumped into the mix for one of the early names to know in the 2028 class, extending a scholarship offer to Cornbread Adams. The Baylor School transfer is already drawing serious attention as a rising junior, and his profile has only grown since he arrived in Tennessee, where he has started stacking up interest from some of the biggest programs in the country.
Adams is already sitting near the top of the national conversation for his class, and the offer list reflects that kind of buzz. Florida State is now competing in a crowded race that already includes several SEC powers, which is exactly the sort of recruiting battle that can tell you a lot about how a prospect is viewed this early in the process. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Awaits Defining Recruiting Decision In Battle For Elite DT
The next big recruiting domino for Florida State is almost here, with four-star defensive tackle Karlos May set to make his college choice tomorrow afternoon. One of the more coveted interior linemen in the class, May is ranked among the nations top prospects and has narrowed his list to Auburn, Florida State, Georgia and Ohio State after taking a close look at each program and what it can offer.
For the Seminoles, the appeal has centered on development, the chance for early playing time and the energy Mike Norvell has brought to the pitch, along with the sense that Florida State needs to keep winning at a high level. Mays profile also helps explain why so many heavyweights are still in the mix: he plays with a gap-shooting style, brings strength and athleticism, and looks like the kind of multiyear line piece programs build around, even after missing his sophomore season because of injury. [Read more 🡒]
FSUs Newest Transfer Just Raised The Stakes For This O-Line
Xavier Chaplin arrived at Florida State with a rsum that already made him one of the more notable transfers in the ACC, and On3 backed that up by slotting the former Auburn offensive tackle at No. 8 on its list of the leagues most impactful newcomers for 2026. He brings 38 games of experience, including 25 straight starts at Virginia Tech and a full season at Auburn, which gives the Seminoles a veteran presence as they try to rebuild up front.
The fit matters even more because Florida State is counting on Chaplin to be a central piece of an offensive line that has to replace all five starters from last season. There is still some uncertainty around which version of Chaplin the Seminoles are getting after an average stretch at Auburn compared with his earlier high-end work at Virginia Tech, but the upside is obvious enough that his arrival has already changed the conversation around the line. [Read more 🡒]