Mike Norvell never would have dreamed he’d steer a ship from 2023’s 13-1 glory to a 2-10 disaster in 2024, making Florida State the first Power Five team in AP poll history to suffer an 11-win nosedive. But fate handed him a second swing at redemption, a rare lifeline most coaches never get. Just take Ellis Johnson, for example, who was fired at Southern Miss in 2012 after a 0-12 season following Larry Fedora’s 12-2 run. Luckily for Norvell, he had a massive $63.8 million safety net—his buyout. So, he took his shot, initially hitching his hopes on quarterback Thomas Castellanos for a much-needed revival. But can he pull it off?

Last year, FSU’s quarterback play was nothing short of a freak show. Players like DJ Uiagalelei fell short on yardage throws and screen passes, and even Brock Glenn and Luke Kromenhoek found no success. Back in November, both of them were sacked 26 times combined. The worst part? After their loss against SMU, the team had only scored 57 points, and both quarterbacks had multiple games last season where they couldn’t even record over 100 passing yards. That’s precisely what they can’t repeat this season with Castellanos.

This season is nothing but a redemption arc for Mike Norvell, and key to that is Thomas Castellanos’s success. Brian Smith didn’t mince words before giving him a tough reality check on Locked on Seminoles. “Florida State needs somebody that’s going to go out there and make plays, who has the ability to do so and, quite frankly, make those plays consistent enough that at least outweighs any turnovers, drops, or anything of that nature. Thomas Castellanos has the arm strength and the experience to do that this year,” Smith said.

So, if FSU wants to regain its status in the league, they need to make consistent plays, even if it results in an interception. “I expect him now maybe to approach 10 interceptions, and it’d be a good thing. I know that is really, really weird to say, but if Thomas Castellanos is not pushing the ball down the field, which Florida State was just dreadful at last year, especially DJ, he either threw the bomb or he threw a check down, like he just kind of forced it, or he just took the easy throw,” Smith explained. DJ’s accuracy was nothing but disastrous last season. Remember how he showed poor pocket presence and made several inaccurate throws against Boston College?

And that’s exactly what Mike Norvell and the team can’t repeat this season. “So Florida State was just in a horrid, horrid situation with the quarterback because if you don’t push the ball down the field and have success with it, everybody just suffocates your running game,” Smith said. There’s no doubt that Castellanos is an extraordinary player, with 1,366 yards, 18 TDs, and just 5 interceptions last season, but let’s not forget he still needs to improve his completion rate, which sits at 61.5%.

The key to that?

Taking chances and making plays. But if he’s not taking chances, especially against tough teams like Miami, Alabama, Florida, and NC State, and considering they also have to play at Clemson—if they’re not taking shots in those games, Florida State’s chances of winning probably aren’t very good anyway. You have to be able to throw the ball down the field, do it consistently, and have the ability to back off the defense. “Florida State has to push the ball down the field, and Castellanos has about the arm to do it. So I’m cool if he does go over eight [interceptions],” Smith added. So, now, pressure sits squarely on Thomas Castellanos’ shoulders, while Mike Norvell is planning something massive.

Mike Norvell’s clear plan for this season

A pitiful 2-10 season for Florida State in 2024 transformed Doak Campbell Stadium into a symbol of the team’s crushing defeat. The offense was lifeless, and the defense was equally inept. After two successful seasons, including a 10-3 run and a 13-1 ACC championship year, Mike Norvell’s position suddenly stood at the eye of the storm. The result? A major program overhaul, the largest in years, saw an influx of new coaches and talent aiming to turn things around.

With their season opener against Alabama on the horizon, the Seminoles are relying on all their new additions, whether it’s bringing in Gus Malzahn or getting in blue-chip recruits like Kevin Wynn, LaJesse Harrold, and Jayvan Boggs. “Anytime you have a season like last year, it’s extremely disappointing. I’m disappointed in it but you don’t get caught up dwelling on the things that happened,” Norvell said. “You look at the things that we’ve done coming off of last year, some of the new additions, whether it’s coaching staff, players. The guys that are young that have grown and really established themselves in new roles and then what it is to be a Florida State Seminole.”

A season opener against Alabama is not an easy stretch, but let’s not forget it’s the same team that lost against Oklahoma and Vanderbilt, so there’s hope. And that’s exactly what Mike Norvell has chosen to rally on. “I’m proud of this place, I’m proud of our program, and the work that we’re putting in and I’m excited about where it’s going,” Norvell added. “It’s one of those things, you never get too high when you’re living high and obviously when you get knocked down it’s about how quick you can get up and continue to push moving forward. We are moving forward and I have great expectations for what’s in front of us. We’re going to work every day to go make that our reality.”

Despite lingering doubts, an upset victory against Alabama could flip the script for Mike Norvell’s team. Then games against Louisiana Tech, Kent State, and Miami follow—each a crucial step toward redemption. Every play will determine the success or failure of this rebuild. Coach Norvell now leads a team eager to prove themselves and silence doubters, transforming a season of setbacks into a potential sprint to success.