When Florida State begins the first of fifteen spring football practices in mid-March, there will be more than thirty new players on the field. There will also be six new assistant coaches, including two new coordinators. All of it was necessary as part of a massive rebuild as Mike Norvell begins his sixth season at FSU with a big-time opponent in Alabama set to visit Tallahassee on Aug. 30th.
“There’s been change on staff, there’s been change with players,” Norvell said. “I’m really excited about it. … I want guys that are desperate to go be what they desire.”
While there won’t be an FSU spring showcase in April, the Seminoles will be on the field for 15 days as they learn a new offense (under former UCF and Auburn coach Gus Malzahn) as well as a new 3-3-5 defense (under former Nebraska and Syracuse assistant Tony White). The Osceola staff will have a front-row seat for the majority of those practices. We’ll have coverage daily on our site (floridastate.rivals.com), but for now here’s what we’re looking forward to seeing in March and April from the Seminoles.
Veteran voices bring production and leadership
FSU’s coaches brought in 16 transfers, emphasizing experience, production and leadership. The Seminoles have strengthened the offensive line with four starters, including a pair of SEC tackles in Micah Pettus from Ole Miss and Gunnar Hansen from Vanderbilt. Center Luke Petitbon was also a captain at Wake Forest.
Between defensive line and linebacker, the Seminoles have added James Williams and Stefon Thompson from Nebraska, Elijah Herring and Jayson Jenkins from Tennessee, Caleb LaVallee from North Carolina, Deante McCray from Western Kentucky, and Deamontae Diggs from Coastal Carolina.
“Those guys are coming into a program, and, yes, we know that there’s limited time that they’re going to be a part of Florida State,” Norvell said. “It’s going to be a year. But you know what? If it’s everything that you have, right, in this team, well, you only get one year. What do you want to give for this team?”
A new-look offense and defense
Malzahn won a national title at Auburn as its offensive coordinator back in 2010. A few years later he was the head coach at Auburn when Florida State won the 2013 national title in the Rose Bowl. Now Malzahn is in Tallahassee, helping his longtime friend Norvell. The coaches have similar philosophies: they love to run. UCF was a top-10 rushing offense in Division I football the last three seasons, and physicality is an emphasis.
“I think it’s a mindset,” Malzahn said of physicality. “I think if you’re truly going to be that, it’s got to be who you are. It can’t just be talk about it. You do that on the practice field. You do that instilling in every one of your players, not just the linemen and all that. Really excited for that aspect.”
White will bring a defense that features three down linemen, three linebackers and five defensive backs. But he will also adjust to personnel and could show four down linemen in a scheme that is adaptable.
“We’re going to be multiple, we’re going to put the guys in the best positions possible to go out there and let them play really fast and not confused,” White said. “Be really physical, be really aggressive. And really just kind of tailor what we do to the players we have and the players coming in.”
A quarterback who could be an ideal fit
Tommy Castellanos was recruited by Florida State — just not as a quarterback. When he played at Boston College against FSU in September 2023, he nearly pulled off a stunning upset against an FSU defense that was one of the best in the nation. Castellanos completed 20 of 33 passes for 305 yards, a touchdown and an interception while picking up 95 rushing yards and a touchdown in a 31-29 FSU win.
A year later, Castellanos and BC thumped FSU 28-13 inside Doak Campbell Stadium. Castellanos had two TD passes and a rushing TD in the victory. He played with a chip on his shoulder. Castellanos was determined to be a quarterback at a Power 4 football program, but he also had a love for FSU. Growing up in Waycross, GA, in a family with some FSU graduates — running back and 2013 national champion Devonta Freeman is a cousin — gave Castellanos an appreciation for the program.
“I’ve had that interest since I was a kid,” Castellanos said. “It’s been my dream school so just excited to be here and be a part of this team.”
Now, he’s reunited with Malzahn, his coach at UCF in 2022. Castellanos has first-hand experience with the offense and thinks fans will enjoy watching it this fall.
“It’s an offense that is going to be explosive, going to be high tempo,” Castellanos said. 
Bob Ferrante
The Osceola
