Florida State’s quarterbacks have been able to hold player-run practices in the summer as they take the next step in Gus Malzahn’s offense. But they have also had some on-field time with FSU’s coaching staff in June and July as the NCAA allows a limited number of windows (without pads) for instruction.
While Tommy Castellanos has two seasons as a starter at Boston College under his belt, he also has familiarity with Malzahn’s offense from 2022 at UCF. Brock Glenn, Kevin Sperry and Jaylen King are competing for various roles on the depth chart, with the No. 2 option likely seeing the field in one of FSU’s guarantee games in September against FCS East Texas A&M and Kent State.
“The good piece of it is we’re around, we’re able to provide them that structure,” quarterbacks coach Tony Tokarz said on Tuesday, a day before FSU opened preseason camp. “For the skill positions specifically — quarterbacks, receivers, running backs, tight ends — just the ability to throw routes on air, develop timing. Obviously that time of year you can’t line up people across from them.
“But even just when we’re out there, be on our P’s and Q’s when it comes down to fundamentals, execution of footwork, where their eyes should be, just what the detail needs to look like within a rep.”
FSU coach Mike Norvell said the summer workouts lack the ability to go against a defense. But he feels the quarterbacks have been able to continue their progress and build off the spring practices.
“I think you see the efficiency in how they're operating, you see the growth and just their comfort and footwork, timing,” Norvell said. “The things that they're able to do on air has been really good. And I'm excited to see that carry over as we get a chance to compete, offense (vs.) defense, here in fall camp.”
Amaree Williams to work on offense, defense in camp
Amaree Williams was recruited as a defensive end. But his athleticism was evident in high school, with Norvell and the coaches deciding to put him on offense at tight end in 2024 (instead of taking a redshirt) as he added weight and strength for a move to defense in 2025.
In the spring, Williams focused on defensive end. But now in camp, Williams will juggle both as coaches determine how to use him this season.
“We’d like for him to do both,” tight ends coach Chris Thomsen said. “He’s obviously shown he can do things as an offensive player at this level from last year. Spent a lot of time on defense in the spring to learn that. Now you get these summer workouts, these summer practices, which are really good. He’s been able to combo that both offense and defense.”
Thomsen was cautious to say he and the rest of the coaches don’t want to overload Williams. But there’s curiosity in how to use him.
“As we go through the next month, we’ll have to determine for the first game what’s the role — is it more on offense or defense or the other way around or is it split?” Thomsen said. “Whatever it is, as we go through camp that will be determined by how much he can grasp on both sides of the ball and be really good at.”
Depth, veteran experience at RB
Running back wasn’t at the very top of the list of the transfer portal needs for FSU after spring football wrapped up. But FSU’s coaches had a relationship with Gavin Sawchuk dating back to his days as a high school recruit in Colorado. And the experience was too good to pass up.
“I think the biggest thing is he’s a veteran,” FSU running backs coach David Johnson said. “You always want a veteran if you can get a veteran guy because, as we saw last year, unfortunately, you’re going to have injuries in that room.”
The Seminoles also welcome one of the nation’s top running backs in the class of 2025 in Ousmane Kromah, who Norvell said on Tuesday was the high school prospect he has watched play the most in his head coaching career when factoring in the Leesburg (Ga.) High product’s time on the football field and basketball court.
“This guy is really different,” Johnson said. “The size, speed, he can catch the ball out of the backfield. He’s really athletic. He’s a really smart football player. His high school did a really good job preparing him for this.”
Developing chemistry on the OL
FSU will have five new starters on the offensive line, a complete rebuild that was necessary. But the Seminoles also have five starters with extensive starting experience.
From Luke Petitbon (Wake Forest) to tackles Micah Pettus (Ole Miss) and Gunnar Hansen (Vanderbilt) to guard Adrian Medley (UCF), it’s a group of new transfers that has 105 college starts. Add in Richie Leonard, who has 17 starts between his time at Florida and at FSU in 2024, and it’s a potential starting five with experience that makes coaches feel confident about what the Seminoles can do up front.
The challenge is building chemistry in camp after the Seminoles had so many injuries up front back in the spring.
“The biggest goal right now going into training camp is just developing continuity, consistency with the guys working together,” FSU offensive line coach Herb Hand said. “We have a bunch of guys coming back who have played a lot of football. They just haven’t played a lot of football together. We all know how important that is.
“You can tell that the guys really like being around one another. We’re developing that brotherhood that’s so important to the position and to the program.”
Early, positive reviews of FSU’s transfer receivers
FSU’s receiver room is full of new pieces, from a trio of transfers (Squirrel White, Duce Robinson and Gavin Blackwell) to a second-year player who has changed positions (Micahi Danzy moves over from running back) to three freshmen (Jayvan Boggs, Teriq Mallory and Tae’Shaun Gelsey).
Receivers coach Tim Harris Jr. has plenty of options to evaluate in the next month. What he’s seen already from a pair of veterans in the spring excites him. Harris Jr., a track star in college, smiled when talking about White’s speed.
“He’s fast. You see his speed,” Harris said. “It stands out in in anything that we do. You watch that speed and it’s natural. That stands out big time.”
Robinson also offers a physical receiver who is 6-6 and 223 pounds, able to fight off 1-on-1 challenges from smaller corners.
“There were some times in spring ball where he did a really good job making contested catches,” Harris said. “That’s something that he’s going to have to do at a very high level in our offense. I think he’s up to the challenge. Duce is a guy, he’s a workaholic. Not only from a physical standpoint but studying his opponents. That’s something that he really takes control of.”
Watch more videos from FSU’s offensive assistants and defensive assistants on the Osceola’s YouTube channel. We’ll have notes off interviews from FSU’s defensive assistants on Wednesday. Thanks for reading the Osceola. Subscribe here
