Florida State just added another piece to its quarterback room, and it’s a name Seminole fans will want to get familiar with: Dean DeNobile. The former Lafayette College signal-caller committed to FSU on Friday during his campus visit, becoming the second quarterback addition for the Seminoles through the transfer portal this offseason.
“It was great, I loved it,” DeNobile said of his visit. “It’s a great school, this is FSU, this is the place people want to be.
I actually committed. I’m excited to get to work.”
And just like that, the veteran quarterback with one year of eligibility remaining is headed to Tallahassee.
For DeNobile, the decision wasn’t just about the program’s prestige - though he made it clear he understands what it means to wear the garnet and gold. It came down to the people in the building.
“It’s my last year and I mean I loved everything about the school,” he said. “The coaches here are just incredible.
At the end of the day, that’s what it is. These coaches are people that you really want to play for and be with.
Football’s great, but those coaches are the best.”
He committed directly to head coach Mike Norvell, who, according to DeNobile, was “ecstatic” to get the news.
DeNobile is expected to arrive on campus Monday and dive into an offensive system he says feels familiar. That’s a big plus for a quarterback looking to make an immediate impact in his final collegiate season.
“It’s very similar to what I played at Lafayette,” DeNobile said. “And coach Malzahn is incredible, he’s one of the best coaches to ever do it. Playing for a guy like that is a dream come true.”
Quarterbacks coach Austin Tucker played a key role in DeNobile’s recruitment. So did Florida State general manager John Garrett, who originally recruited DeNobile to Lafayette during his time as head coach there. That prior relationship clearly helped bridge the gap between the Patriot League and the Power Five.
Standing 6-foot-1 and weighing in at 198 pounds, DeNobile hails from Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, and played his high school ball at Morris Catholic. He brings a steady hand and plenty of experience to the Seminoles’ QB room.
He’s coming off a redshirt junior season where he completed 223 of 348 passes (64.1%) for 2,542 yards, 19 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He added two scores on the ground. That year marked his second as a team captain - a testament to his leadership and presence in the locker room.
The previous season, he was 226-of-347 (65.1%) for 2,417 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, again adding two rushing touchdowns while starting all 12 games.
His breakout year came in his first season of action, when he earned All-Patriot League Second Team honors. DeNobile started 11 of 12 games, threw for 1,997 yards and 20 touchdowns with just five picks, and added six rushing scores on 86 attempts. He redshirted his freshman year in 2022, so he arrives at FSU with one final shot to leave a mark.
With DeNobile now in the mix, Florida State’s quarterback depth chart gets a much-needed boost. The Seminoles had already landed Auburn transfer Ashton Daniels earlier in the portal window and return redshirt freshman Kevin Sperry. However, Sperry is expected to miss the season following recent knee surgery, which makes DeNobile’s arrival all the more timely.
For a program looking to reload at the game’s most important position, DeNobile offers experience, leadership, and a proven ability to run a college offense. Now, it’s all about how quickly he can adapt to his new surroundings and push for playing time in a competitive quarterback room.
Florida State fans should keep an eye on this one. DeNobile might be coming from a smaller program, but he’s got the tools, the mindset, and now the opportunity to make a real impact in Tallahassee.