FSU football's Mike Norvell is hopeful to have QB Tommy Castellanos for another season
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The future of Tommy Castellanos as the quarterback for Florida State football (4-5, 1-5) could extend into next season.
On Nov. 10, head coach Mike Norvell was asked about the future of his program if he remains the head coach. That includes the quarterback position, and if Castellanos remains in the picture.
He’s working on it.
According to the new NCAA eligibility rule, known as the four-season rule, students are now allowed to play four seasons of competition within a five-year window, applicable to the 2025-26 and 2026-27 academic years.
In the eyes of the NCAA, Castellanos has played all four years of competition throughout his college career. That dates back to his two years at Boston College and one season at UCF when he was a freshman, where he appeared in five games, including playing in the American Athletic Championship in 2022.
If cleared, he would have one more year of eligibility for next season.
“Those are things that are all being worked through. Obviously, he played the one game his freshman year, which was in a championship game. I know that’s all being evaluated,” Norvell said. “The next year, they changed the rule so that it’s available.”
Castellanos is coming off a disappointing performance in FSU’s road loss to Clemson, where he threw for 250 yards and a touchdown. He also turned the ball over twice. He also had a QBR of 38.0.
What Norvell enjoyed about having Castellanos was taking accountability for his mistakes while setting a high bar for himself behind center.
“That’s what I love about him. He’s the first to take ownership,” Norvell said.
“He’s the first to call himself to a higher level of what his expectation is, but he’s going to continue to push those around him. I think that when you see what he’s done, I wouldn’t steal one rep for what he means to this program and this team right now because of his work, because of his heart and care and all of it.”
Castellanos remains the starter for the Seminoles as they look for a bounce-back win in their last home game against Virginia Tech (3-6, 2-3), which is set to kick off at 7:30 p.m. at Doak Campbell Stadium.
In all nine games, he has thrown for 2,128 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions. He continued to speak about the value he brings to the program and looks forward to seeing his growth going forward.
“I love our starting quarterback,” Norvell said.
“I think Tommy, just what he brings to our football team as a player, I think he’s played at an elite level at times, and there are times where he’s got plays that he’s got to be better at.”
Tommy Castellanos remains the starting quarterback, but the backups will be ready
Norvell was also asked about the potential of seeing either Kevin Sperry or Brock Glenn in the three remaining games.
There were thoughts of that possibility. Both have played in three games this season and have thrown for two touchdowns apiece. While Sperry is still adjusting to the speed of the game as a true freshman, Glenn, who has been with the program for all three years, has been battling injuries all year.
“We thought about it, good and bad, we’ve had those opportunities,” Norvell said.
“Like, we’ve done that. They got to play, I think, Brock, Kevin, those guys got to play in some early games. Kevin got thrown in at the Stanford game, as a critical situation as you can have. Brock has played a lot of football. Unfortunately, both those guys have kind of dealt with some injury issues that have not been devastating, but kind of been, restricted them a little bit.”
With the Seminoles moving forward with Castellanos, Norvell still will have his backups prepared for whatever scenario involves the senior QB.
“I mean, now, if there’s a play that he can’t go and he’s not in position, we’re going to have guys that are ready,” Norvell said.
“They’re going to be ready to answer the call and their opportunities. But we have a really good group in that room that I’m excited about.”
How to watch FSU vs. VA Tech
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 15
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Where: Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee
- TV: ACC Network
- Radio: Seminoles.com
Florida State football 2025 schedule
- Aug. 30, Alabama, W,31-17
- Sept. 6, East Texas A&M,W77-3
- Sept. 20, Kent State, W, 66-10
- Sept. 26, at VirginiaL 46-38 double OT
- Oct. 4, Miami,L, 28-22
- Oct. 11,Pittsburgh,L, 34-31
- Oct. 18, at Stanford,L, 20-13
- Nov. 1Wake Forest, 7:30 p.m.
- Nov. 8 at Clemson, L 24-10
- Nov. 15 Virginia Tech, 7:30 p.m.
- Nov. 21 at North Carolina State (Fri.), 8 p.m.
- Nov. 29 at Florida, TBA
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football Mike Norvell hopes to have Tommy Castellanos back in 2026
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