Florida State’s quarterback competition is wide open this spring. That has caused some concern in the fan base, with many seeking separation in the battle and a definitive No. 1 option.

But to Ashton Daniels and Kevin Sperry, the job is to continue to develop with every practice and scrimmage. Their day to day this spring is less concerned over an eventual decision on FSU’s starting quarterback.

“There’s always a competition no matter wherever you go,” Daniels said on Tuesday after FSU’s 11th spring practice. “Something I’ve learned is nothing is just handed to you. I’ve competed everywhere that I’ve been. It’s not something that I look into too much. Wherever you go there’s going to be competition.”

Daniels has found that out, first at Stanford and again at Auburn last season. Sperry has also seen it this spring, remarking the “relationship is great” with Daniels and the guys in the quarterback room have been “really easy” to work with daily.

“I’m very thankful,” Sperry said. “I thank God every day for bringing me here and putting me in this position. Just trying to be the best I can be and not thinking too much about the outcome. But just taking every day day by day and being process-driven.”

Coach Mike Norvell is taking a similar stance, indicating after the second scrimmage there’s no rush to make a decision. With spring football wrapping up on April 15, after 12 spring practices and three scrimmages, Norvell may (or may not) have enough of a feel for a leader going into the summer.

“If we're ready to make a decision there, we'll be willing to,” Norvell said Saturday afternoon. “If it's something that's going to stretch into fall camp, obviously that's something we'll evaluate as we continue to get closer.”

Norvell has noted the mistakes on offense this spring, especially after scrimmage No. 2 with penalties and pre-snap alignment issues to some poor reads and interceptions. And at times FSU has kept Duce Robinson out of practice, due to a minor injury as well as wanting to see younger options, while also practicing without Micahi Danzy, who has been competing in track, too.

Breaking in a new group of receivers and tight ends, as well as five transfer offensive linemen, the Seminoles have encountered speed bumps while trying to blend so many new pieces.

“We’ve done a great job of going out and doing our best,” Daniels said. “And when we’re not doing our best, how we respond has been a really big thing as well.”

After three seasons at Stanford (including a redshirt) and last fall at Auburn, Daniels has confidence that’s rooted in his experiences. His Stanford years were a mixed bag, but he also threw for 396 yards and four touchdowns in a 2023 win at Colorado and had 298 passing yards, three touchdowns and an interception in a 2024 victory over Louisville. But with an ACC-leading 12 interceptions in 2024 at Stanford, he moved on to Auburn.

Daniels didn’t win the preseason quarterback battle, but he was pressed into action and nearly pulled off an upset at Vanderbilt — 31 of 44 for 353 passing yards and two touchdowns, 89 rushing yards — and he had 108 rushing yards in the season-ending loss to Alabama.

It hasn’t been lost on Daniels that this is his final season of college football, a point that he said quarterbacks coach Austin Tucker and others have emphasized.

“One of the big phrases that we have right now is ‘No regrets.’ Especially for me going into my last season they made it a big emphasis that I should be doing everything that I can to make sure I’m in the best possible place for me,” Daniels said. “Because this is my last season and I don’t want to look back on it and say, ‘I regret not doing this, I regret not hanging out with my teammates.’ Things like that. They made that a big emphasis for me.”

Sperry also talked Tuesday for the first time this spring. After completing 12 of 17 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns in three games in 2025, Sperry discussed where he has made the most progress in year 2 at FSU.

“The biggest difference going into year 2 is just my experience and just understanding this offense a little bit more,” Sperry said. “A little bit less of a learning curve with my protections and checks and things like that. Which was really my biggest emphasis for my first year. Now it’s more of being a vocal leader, leading the guys and trying to be the best leader every day.”

While Sperry lacks game experience, he’s been able to make up ground with his skill set and attitude. It also helps that he’s in his second year at FSU and playing in Norvell’s offense, a scheme that is similar to Gus Malzahn’s and familiar to him. Sperry’s development has also been helped by using FSU’s new virtual reality room in the football building.

“It’s been great,” Sperry said. “I’ve been in the VR room every week. And we have the helmet cameras, too. It records our communication and it records our point of view. It’s been great, especially for protections. We’re in there every week, pretty much, as a group. But then getting the extra work on the outside of meetings has been very, very helpful.”

FSU has four practices left, including one on Thursday and a scrimmage on Saturday. Norvell and Tim Harris Jr. continue to evaluate the quarterbacks, with the offensive coordinator pointing to the confidence the Seminoles have in Daniels and Sperry.

“We have two guys that our team really believes in,” Harris Jr. said after Tuesday’s practice. “They come in, they they show up in the building every day, and they work their tails off, and they've earned the trust of their coaches. They've earned the trust of their teammates. And you feel that with our team … 

“Our team is really rallying around both of these guys. I think it all goes back to just their work ethic and what they’ve earned from everyone in our building.”

Thanks for reading the Osceola. Subscribe now for 40 percent off to enjoy a full year of coverage of FSU athletics. You’ll also earn a $15 gift card at the Osceola’s merch store.