Mike Norvell’s job will be on the line next season. The Noles require some major fixing, and it starts with the quarterback position. FSU is setting its eyes on Anthony Colandrea, the talented QB from UNLV.

Colandrea will be coming to Tallahassee for a visit. He is seeking a new home for the second time in his career after a massive season with Dan Mullen’s Rebels. The QB hauled in 3,459 yards and 23 TDs, along with 649 rushing and 10 scores.

Before that, he had a brilliant stint at Virginia, throwing for 4,083 yards and 26 touchdowns over two years. Norvell is getting to make the first move here, which should bode well for FSU. Initially, there were disagreements about the financials between Anthony Colandrea and FSU. However, the confirmation of this visit is proof that the program is giving the transfer portal everything.

The former UNLV QB will bring experience to the Noles. Colandrea has started in 31 of his 33 games. Tommy Castellanos will not be returning in 2026, as the NCAA has refused to grant him a waiver. In such a situation, Norvell can be in for something promising with Colandrea. His UNLV heroics earned him the Mountain West Player of the Year award. That level of success in the G5, along with his knowledge of P4 football, makes for a great combo.

At Tallahassee, Anthony Colandrea would be playing under offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn. His offense is similar to what Dan Mullen rolled out in Vegas. FSU under Mike Norvell favors pro-style quarterbacks, especially those that happen to be dual-threat. Malzahn saw a lot of success with UCF quarterback John Rhys Plumlee, who was also well utilized in top-10-finishing rushing attacks.

Anthony Colandrea is a Florida native, which is a factor Norvell has to use to his advantage. The QB is among an array of targets for Florida State, which includes another FCS star in Old Dominion’s Colton Joseph. DJ Lagway and former Auburn QB Ashton Daniels are in the mix as well. However, FSU must make a solid impression on the Rebels’ QB quickly, as an SEC team is also interested in him.

Tennessee is also a top target for Anthony Colandrea

Quarterback-needy teams are lining up for Colandra. One of them is Tennessee, which was expected to host the QB first instead of FSU. Josh Heupel is scouring the portal to replace Joey Aguilar, who is fighting to get eligibility for the next season. This situation brings the Vols to Anthony Colandrea.

Before FSU, Tennessee was going to be Colandrea’s first visit. On3‘s Pete Nakos mentioned Tennessee as a school to watch out for during Colandrea’s recruitment, along with Florida State.

The QB room in Knoxville will force Colandrea to make his choice wisely. Jake Merklinger, who was expected to be in the QB1 race this year, has transferred out. This leaves Heupel with George MacIntyre and star 2026 QB Faizon Brandon.

The latter is the No. 2 player overall in the recruiting cycle, which means he has enough potential to be part of the race as well. Josh Heupel could go with the rookie or have him back up someone experienced like Colandrea. He also has only one year of eligibility left, and getting to spend that with the Vols would be a major career boost.

Florida State might not be an attractive name in the market right now, but it will still be a contender. The starter role is wide open here as well, which Anthony Colandrea can also use to his advantage. Additionally, he will face easier competition in the ACC, especially with the talent he already possesses. But Mike Norvell and Co. have to make a convincing case for Colandrea to become a part of FSU. The Seminoles will restart after a troubling 5-7 season, which is a major risk for any quarterback.