After a tough 2025 campaign that ended with a 5-7 record, Florida State football is heading into the offseason with more questions than answers - especially at the quarterback position. And after four losing seasons in six years under Mike Norvell, the pressure is mounting in Tallahassee. If the Seminoles are going to turn things around, it starts under center.
Let’s rewind for a moment. During the 2022 and 2023 seasons, FSU went a combined 23-4, powered by the play of Jordan Travis - a dynamic, do-it-all quarterback who became the heartbeat of the program.
He wasn’t a blue-chip recruit out of high school, but he embodied what it meant to wear the garnet and gold. His leadership, playmaking, and understanding of the moment elevated the Seminoles into national relevance.
Since his departure, though, the quarterback room has been in flux. And in today’s college football landscape, that’s a position you simply can’t afford to get wrong.
Programs like Miami have stayed aggressive, adding proven talents like Cam Ward and Carson Beck. Now they’re in the mix for Darian Mensah.
It’s a reminder that elite quarterback play doesn’t just help - it changes everything.
Florida State knows that. That’s why they’ve gone shopping in the portal and beyond.
This offseason, the Seminoles added three new quarterbacks to the mix: Auburn transfer Ashton Daniels, Lafayette’s Dean DeNobile, and Iowa Western’s Malachi Marshall - a name that could end up being the most intriguing of the group.
Marshall isn’t just another transfer. He’s the top-rated JUCO quarterback in the 2026 cycle and comes to Tallahassee with three years to play two. That gives FSU flexibility and upside - a rare combination in the portal era.
At Iowa Western, Marshall put up serious numbers in 2025: 2,750 passing yards, 33 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions, according to MaxPreps. He’s not a dual-threat in the traditional sense, but he’s mobile enough to keep plays alive and navigate pressure in the pocket. His tape shows a quarterback with poise, touch, and the ability to hit tight windows - the kind of traits that translate to the next level.
Florida State needed depth at quarterback. Heading into the portal window, they had just two scholarship options: redshirt freshman Kevin Sperry and true freshman Jaden O’Neal. That’s not enough in today’s game, where injuries, transfers, and performance swings can reshape a depth chart overnight.
By bringing in Marshall, Daniels, and DeNobile, the Seminoles have added competition and experience. But Marshall, in particular, is the one to watch. He won’t arrive until summer, but don’t be surprised if he pushes for playing time sooner rather than later.
This is the kind of move that could quiet some of the noise around Mike Norvell. If Marshall lives up to the billing, he could stabilize the most important position on the field - and give Florida State the spark it’s been missing since Jordan Travis hung up his cleats.
For now, it’s just potential. But in a quarterback-driven sport, potential is everything.
Keep an eye on Malachi Marshall. The Seminoles certainly are.