Florida State coach Mike Norvell has spent all of fall camp hammering one message: growth. He wants it from the team, from individual players, from the guys fighting for snaps and roles. The question hanging over the Seminoles is whether that standard reaches the man in charge, too.
Norvell made the quarterback situation clear on Monday when he spoke about Ashton Daniels, who was elevated to QB1 after 15 spring practices. According to Norvell, Daniels is the starter, even if the depth chart itself seems to be a thing of the past.
“He's had the moments that, as a football team, he was named the starter coming into fall camp, actually exiting spring ball,” Norvell said. "Definitely proud of all the investments that he's made.
He's playing at a high level in his operation of the things that we're asking him to do and the things that he's, just making happen. Excited to watch him play.”
Norvell also singled out backup Malachi Marshall, the reigning National Junior College Division 1 Offensive Player of the Year at Iowa Western. Marshall arrived over the summer and got to work quickly, learning the offense and settling into Division 1 football.
"He's already gained 18 pounds since he's been here, being able to help some of the concerns that I had when he first came in, but now that you don't have the redshirt and there's 3 years," said Norvell. "He's put himself in a position to be able to play, and I'm definitely excited about his continued growth.”
Marshall, in Norvell’s view, has already gone beyond what was expected.
“I think Malachi has actually, I mean, he's come in and to say he exceeded expectations,” said Norvell. “I've been really pleased with what I've seen, even his physical development. He's not the biggest guy in the world."
That praise fits the tone Norvell has used throughout camp, where he has kept talking about progress and development. But the larger issue for Florida State is bigger than any one quarterback. Norvell has been the program’s head coach since the 2020 season, and he’s heading into his seventh year with four losing seasons on the ledger.
Florida State’s high point under Norvell came in 2022 and 2023, when the Seminoles put together a 23-4 run. Since then, the slide has been steep: 17 losses in the last 24 games.
That’s why the conversation around growth can’t stop with the roster. The Seminoles need it from Norvell, too.
The question isn’t whether he can talk about development. It’s whether he can show it in the way this season unfolds.
In Other News...
Florida State's Backup QB Battle Just Took A Surprising Turn
Florida States backup quarterback picture is suddenly a little more interesting, and Malachi Marshall is right in the middle of it. Mike Norvell said the JuCo transfer has added 18 pounds and improved his strength, signs that he has handled the physical transition well enough to put himself in position to help this season. Behind starter Ashton Daniels, the Seminoles are sorting through a competition that also includes second-year quarterback Kevin Sperry, and the job carries real importance given how quickly a season can change at the position.
Norvells history developing quarterbacks has often been a point of scrutiny, which is part of why this battle matters beyond simple depth-chart housekeeping. If Daniels were to go down, Florida State needs someone who can step in without the offense losing its footing, and Marshalls size gain has made him an intriguing option in that role. Sperry remains in the mix, but Marshalls recent progress gives this competition a different feel than it had a few weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State May Be Stuck With Mike Norvell Longer Than Fans Want
Mike Norvells seat has been a talking point in Tallahassee for months, and it is not hard to see why. Florida State has piled up 17 losses over the past two seasons, leaving plenty of fans frustrated and wondering how much longer the university will stand behind a coach who once looked like a long-term answer.
Even so, firing him would not be simple. Florida State would be staring at a buyout estimated in the $45 million to $50 million range, and the Seminoles are about to face a brutal stretch with SMU and Alabama on the schedule. Those games will shape the mood around the program, but they also may determine whether the conversation around Norvell turns into real movement or just more uneasy waiting. [Read more 🡒]
FSUs Backup QB Picture Just Got More Interesting Behind Ashton Daniels
The backup quarterback race at Florida State has taken on a little more shape, and Malachi Marshall is right in the middle of it. Since joining the program, he has drawn praise from the coaching staff for the progress he has made, including added weight and a better grasp of the offense. Mike Norvell has pointed to that development as a reason Marshall has become a real factor behind starter Ashton Daniels, alongside Kevin Sperry.
The new NCAA 5-for-5 eligibility rule only adds another layer to Marshall's standing in the room. Because he can play without burning a redshirt, Florida State has more flexibility in how it uses him if the need arises, which makes his growth even more relevant to the depth chart. For a team that wants reliable options behind Daniels, Marshall's rise is one of the more interesting subplots to watch. [Read more 🡒]