There are quarterbacks who glide through fall camp like it’s a stroll on the beach; Thomas Castellanos is not one of them. His camp has started with talks of being “incredibly inconsistent” and is going up, down, maybe in a spiral. But lately, as the season looms, you see that confidence creeping in. He’s making reads quicker, his feet aren’t as jittery, and a few good throws have even coaxed applause from coaches. But football is the world’s greatest team sport, and as the camp nears its end, a question bubbles up in Tallahassee: can Castellanos really do it alone?

Now, as much as Castellanos wants to fulfill his vow to take down Alabama (with a certain coach now gone, bless retirement), those crimson boys aren’t lining up for a seven-on-seven session. They want to make him pay for every word he’s uttered, especially with their defensive line out for blood and glory. Castellanos may be getting better, but his supporting cast, especially at wide receiver and along the offensive line, is as unsettled as a ‘Who’s Starting?’ bingo card. You want bravado against Bama? You’d better protect that bravado with helmets and knees kept intact.

Coach Mike Norvell didn’t hide the situation during practice interviews. “I think that there’s still some battles, just exactly what’s going to look like… there at the receiver position. We got a really good sense of the kind of the top guys, what that’s looking like. But who’s going to also be able to get out there and be able to make the impact within that group?” Norvell said, sounding like a chef who knows his steak is cooked but isn’t quite sure about the sides yet. 

And about those sides, let’s talk injuries. Squirrel White, somehow always dinged up, will “probably be limited here this next week,” said Norvell, though the expectation is he suits up for Alabama. Gavin Blackwell, a North Carolina import and likely WR3, has just returned from his own setback, but Tim Harris Jr. noted, “Today, you wouldn’t have known that he missed some time.” Nice boost, but any missed reps at this point hurt, especially when your team is figuring out who’s catching bullets from Castellanos against a defensive backfield trained to feast.

The biggest concern? Norvell doesn’t have his first five set yet in the O-line. He likes OL versatility. “Getting [Jacob] Rizy back is huge. I think that adds such a great component to the competition. And you know, we’re still working to see who’s going to be the first five as we kick off there in August.” For Castellanos, a QB who’s happiest when running, not knowing who’s paving his escape routes is a recipe for chaos. And the stakes? Alabama’s defensive line, led by LT Overton (All-SEC, preseason 2nd team) and deep with talent, is one of the nastiest units in the nation, built to chase down mobile QBs and, frankly, punish them.

You know what comes next? The punchline. Castellanos ran his mouth, but will he run for his life? Florida State’s camp picture is half-sculpted right now. Talent everywhere, answers nowhere. Castellanos may be ready to walk the talk, but with an unclear starting OL and nicked-up receivers, every step could be supervised by Alabama’s hungry D-line. Now let’s see if he delivers the show or gets swallowed by the smoke. Keep your popcorn handy, because this opener’s got all the drama Tallahassee can muster.

Castellanos’ fall camp rollercoaster

It’s no secret that Thomas Castellanos has been an adventure under center this fall, sometimes dazzling, sometimes downright puzzling. Florida State fans hoping for instant fireworks after his iconic “no Nick Saban to save them” jab have watched as Castellanos has struggled more than anyone expected to mesh with Gus Malzahn’s playbook and his new cast of teammates. ESPN’s Greg McElroy summed it up best as he said, “It sounds like right now he’s a little bit not playing as well as he’s capable of playing.” That’s not exactly confidence-inspiring with Alabama looming.

The sight of Castellanos getting regularly sacked in camp has sparked real concern. As McElroy bluntly points out, “If you’re a Florida State fan and you’re concerned about sacks that the very mobile Castellanos is taking, that’s not a great indicator of what things might look like when it’s live game action.” It fits perfectly with what Mike Norvell has been saying about the O-line battles and the receivers room; the supporting cast isn’t locked in, and that means extra turbulence for Castellanos, no matter how nimble he is.

But don’t write him off just yet. McElroy also dropped a reality check and said, “This guy is outrageously mobile. So, if taking sacks is something that you’re concerned about, I’m not.” If history tells us anything from Castellanos’ BC days, it is that his ability to improvise on the move is surprisingly amazing. Still, with the O-line in flux and receivers just getting healthy, Castellanos is going to need all his magic and maybe then some to live up to the hype when the lights get bright.