Mike Norvell didn’t try to hide his enthusiasm about junior college transfer Malachi Marshall. A summer arrival, Marshall is in “an absolute competition” with redshirt freshman Kevin Sperry for FSU’s No. 2 quarterback spot.

The Florida State coach is still a week away from releasing what will no doubt be an “or” filled depth chart ahead of the opener against New Mexico State. Norvell could have Marshall in front of Sperry or Sperry ahead of Marshall or list both as co-backups.

Marshall missed FSU’s first preseason scrimmage due to a minor injury, but he has impressed the coaches.

“I've been really pleased with the way that he's transitioned (from junior college to FSU),” Norvell said after Monday’s practice. “Really smart young man. He's studied, even in the portions of practice the other day, you felt his ownership of the things that he was being asked to do. When you miss a spring, it's all those reps. You have a quarterback that you want to anticipate, you want to trust what you see, but then it's got to actually happen. I think that's one area that he's grown in these last couple weeks, and still has some plays here and there. But I'm excited. I'm excited about what he's shown.”

Marshall spent his freshman year at Stony Brook before a breakout junior college season in 2025. In 13 games with Iowa Western in 2025, Marshall completed 201 passes on 319 attempts (63 percent) for 2,750 yards, 33 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He added 63 carries for 120 yards and three rushing touchdowns.

While a slim 6-foot-2 and 168 pounds, Marshall led the Reivers to a 12-1 record and the NJCAA Division I National Championship. He passed for three touchdowns and 212 yards in the championship game.

Sperry has completed 12 of 17 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns along with seven carries for 27 yards in three games.

Norvell has said Ashton Daniels has command of FSU’s playbook and has been a leader of the offense. There’s been no wavering by Norvell and the coaches that Daniels is FSU’s starter.

But it’s reasonable to expect Marshall and Sperry to get some playing time in FSU’s guarantee games against New Mexico State on Aug. 29 and against FCS Central Arkansas on Sept. 26. Marshall was taking second-team reps in the open window of Thursday’s practice.

“It's an absolute competition and push,” Norvell said. “… I thought that both guys have shown really good skill sets. They're definitely competing.”

Offensive line depth

The annual camp storyline up front is one of finding the best five on the offensive line that forms a cohesive unit along with three (or more) backups who can play multiple spots. When asked specifically about offensive line depth, Norvell mentioned Troy transfer Paul Bowling and redshirt freshmen Chavez Thompson and Sean Poret.

He also has said a few times that Bradyn Welch-Joiner has missed time in camp, noting on Monday that he “had been a little banged up.” With Welch-Joiner out at center, that’s given Thompson some reps at center. Bowling also has experience playing center and guard, doing both as a true freshman at Troy.

Poret isn’t a name that has been discussed as much, although Norvell detailed his versatility.

“Sean has really emerged as a guy that could be a utility but a guy that can play across the board,” Norvell said. “I think he's played at some point maybe four out of the five offensive line positions. You see his ownership of the offense. He's a guy that I think has a really good future.”

FSU’s starting line could be, from left, tackle Xavier Chaplin, guard Andre’ Otto, center Welch-Joiner (or Thompson or Bowling), guard Nate Pabst and tackle Chimdia Nwaiwu.

Duce Robinson on Walter Camp watch list

Senior wide receiver Duce Robinson is on the Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List, adding to his preseason honors as one of the nation’s best wide receivers. In addition to Monday’s announcement from the Walter Camp Football Foundation, Robinson is on the watch lists for the Wuerffel Trophy, Maxwell Award and Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
 
Robinson is one of 50 “players to watch” for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award. Others from ACC schools on the list:

Sammy Brown, Jr., LB, Clemson
Isaac Brown, Jr., RB, Louisville
Mark Fletcher Jr., Sr., RB, Miami
Darian Mensah, Sr., QB, Miami
Malachi Toney, So., WR/PR, Miami
CJ Bailey, Jr., QB, NC State
Kevin Jennings, 5th, QB, SMU
 
Robinson was a first-team All-ACC wide receiver and third-team All-American in 2025, catching 56 passes for 1,081 yards and six touchdowns. He was twice named ACC Receiver of the Week and was a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, named after Florida State All-American Fred Biletnikoff and presented to the nation’s best receiver.

Coming up

FSU will practice on Tuesday. Linebackers coach Ernie Sims will speak with the media after the morning practice.

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