AMELIA ISLAND — The huddle of sportswriters at the Atlantic Coast Conference spring meetings fired a volley of questions Mike Norvell’s way including, of course, about his decision to name Ashton Daniels as Florida State’s starting quarterback after spring practice had ended.
It’s an obvious question at a position that, like it or not, becomes the face of the program.
You’ve read Norvell’s reasons in The Osceola before – consistency, maturity, leadership – which Norvell recited at Amelia Island but throughout the course of the questioning he revealed a little more about the Stanford graduate, who played at Auburn in 2025 before transferring for his final season.
Norvell did extensive research on Daniels as a player and a person before extending an offer.
Obviously, the research dug deeper than the Stanford graduate’s grim winning percentage or touchdowns to interceptions ratio (24 TDs to 22 INTs).
Daniels’ performance this spring, both as a player and a leader, validated who Norvell thought FSU was getting.
“I would say in both areas he probably exceeded expectations for what I really had,” said Norvell, who shared a chance encounter with Stanford’s General Manager Andrew Luck at the ACC meeting.
“It's funny, I was talking to Andrew Luck last night and he was talking about Ashton as a younger player and being able to see some of the traits,” Norvell said of Daniels’ journey. “I think he has gone through his progression. He's had some really good moments, had some tough challenges, some areas where he's had to grow. But coming in and watching him through spring, you know his confidence in what we're asking him to do. His confidence (being) able to live within the pocket.”
Norvell believes the talent is there.
“You could turn on film and see what he's been able to do,” Norvell said, “exciting plays, his running ability, like he's an exciting football player.”
That talent as a leader, a passer and a runner, enabled Daniels to lead Buford (Georgia) High School to three state championships, earning MVP honors in each game.
Daniels didn’t enjoy that same level of success at Stanford, where the Cardinal won only six games over the 24 games he started, with Daniels accumulating more than 4,400 yards of total offense.
Though they were seven-point losses, Daniels’ last two games at Auburn - against No. 15 Vanderbilt and No. 10 Alabama – made an impression on Norvell. Against a solid Vandy defense, Daniels had a career-high 442 yards of total offense (353 passing) and 367 total yards against Alabama the next week in the Iron Bowl, with 108 yards rushing.
“He grew in confidence throughout this last year, even having to watch a lot of it,” Norvell said. “But now it's a chance for him to go take another step. He is a great leader.”
When asked whether Daniels can be a dynamic player in his offense, Norvell replied, “I think he's capable to of being that, and I think he's going to be that, But it's good to know (he will) have a supporting cast of guys that (he won’t) have to do it all.
“You got Duce Robinson, who is one of the best receivers in college football. Micahi Danzy is the most explosive player in the country, excited about Jayvan Boggs, a guy who dealt with injuries last year, able to take another step. And then we got good guys in that receiver room, a couple of true freshmen I think have a chance to be really good. And then running back, probably as good as we've had. Top to bottom, tight ends I’m really excited about. So you tie all those skill positions with a talented and experienced group in front of you.”
Norvell believes Daniels has the experience to distribute the ball to those playmakers.
“He just gets to go play his game, and we get to tie things together for what he can do,” Norvell said. “But it's great knowing that you can get the ball on the perimeter or turn around and hand it off, and you get guys that can change the game for you. Obviously, that takes a lot of pressure off (not) having to try to be the ultimate creator. And that's something that we lacked a few years ago. It really hurt us offensively, whether it was injuries or things we were kind of forcing. Guys tried to do too much. Last year, you saw the emergence of guys in those skilled positions, who are really starting to come on, and you're excited for what it'll be here this next season.”
When asked about Daniels' propensity to throw interceptions earlier in his career, Norvell said he always asks himself one question: “What are the cause of those interceptions?”
“What's the root of it sometimes is guys trying to make too many things happen … trying to force the issue to be the ultimate playmaker,” Norvell replied. “When you look at it, know him throughout his career, there were probably some times (early in his career) where he tried to do too much.”
But Norvell liked his decision making in situational drills this spring, whether a last play, or a two-minute drive into the red zone where you want to come away with at least a field goal.
“That was something that hurt us a year ago, just the red-zone turnovers,” Norvell said. “We know when it's time to force it. We know when it's time to (hit) your easy outlet, maybe even just a throw away. I thought he did a really good job of that. You only had a handful of what I'd say are decision interceptions that you got to grow from. But coming in and learning a new offense, that's going to happen.
“I thought, all in all, the spring was really good in that regards.”
