Florida State’s quarterback picture took on a little more heat after Mike Norvell’s latest fall camp update, and junior transfer Malachi Marshall is suddenly a name to watch.
The Seminoles finished their second team scrimmage Sunday night, and Norvell came away talking up Marshall in a big way. He pointed to the quarterback’s arm talent, the way he has handled himself since arriving in the summer, and the amount of work he has put in to get up to speed.
"Really excited about him. Great arm talent, he's an exciting player to watch....
What I've really appreciated about him is coming in the summer. The amount of time he's spending, the amount of study that he's done to have a grasp," Norvell said.
Norvell also said Marshall still has things to clean up as he continues learning the offense, but the larger message was clear: the staff has noticed him, and his teammates have too. Ashton Daniels is QB1, but Marshall’s push could put him in position to grab the QB2 job.
That matters for sophomore Kevin Sperry, who entered camp with the edge in experience but not necessarily with the backup role locked down. A four-star recruit, Sperry has been in the program for two years and has worked under Norvell’s staff, yet he still hasn’t fully separated himself. Last season, while redshirting, he appeared in three games and completed 12 of 17 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns.
Marshall’s path to this point has been different, and a little bumpy. He transferred to Florida State this offseason but did not officially enroll until May, which delayed his chance to get rolling with the playbook and the practice field.
He also missed the first scrimmage because of an undisclosed injury. Even so, he made his presence felt in the second one.
Before arriving in Tallahassee, Marshall began his college career at Stony Brook and then moved on to Iowa Western Community College, where he turned into one of the top JUCO quarterbacks in the country. He helped Iowa Western to a 12-1 record and the NJCAA Division I National Championship. Over 13 games, he threw for 2,750 yards with 33 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
For Florida State, the encouraging part is obvious: Marshall has the tools to make this thing real. Norvell’s comments about his arm strength and how quickly he’s processing the offense suggest there’s legitimate competition brewing behind Daniels.
The Seminoles have not exactly built a reputation for quarterback development during Norvell’s tenure, and Sperry still has a chance to keep that from becoming part of the story here. But if Marshall keeps stacking good days, the backup job could be his.
Sperry had the head start. Marshall is closing fast. And with a little more than two weeks left before the season begins, this battle is suddenly worth watching.
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Florida States secondary took an early hit with Karson Hobbs out for the season after suffering a torn ACL, a blow that lands hardest at nickel, where the Seminoles had been counting on steadier depth. The timing matters because defensive coordinator Tony White is already piecing together a new-look back end, and Hobbs absence removes one of the players who could have helped stabilize the rotation.
Now the pressure shifts to Duke transfer MaKhi Jones, who is expected to open as the starter at nickel while the rest of the depth chart behind him remains unsettled. White has options to shuffle personnel and adjust roles, but the injury leaves Florida State with another secondary question to solve before the season even gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Defense Is Setting The Tone As Norvell Faces Tough Camp Calls
Florida State wrapped its second fall camp scrimmage with the defense making a clear early impression, and Mike Norvell said that side of the ball was the one setting the tone. The Seminoles logged multiple tackles for loss and pressures, with Mandrell, Darryll Desir, Jalen Anderson, Omar Graham Jr. and Charles Lester III drawing specific praise as the unit continued to show up around the ball.
The offense had its share of bright spots too, with Ashton Daniels helping spark several explosive plays and Sam Singleton Jr. and Ousmane Kromah contributing in the run game. Receivers Duce Robinson and TaeShaun Gelsey also flashed, while freshman Jasen Lopez made a positive showing, leaving Norvell with a camp full of useful evaluation points as the staff keeps sorting through tough decisions. [Read more 🡒]