Florida State football concluded its fall camp a week ago without naming a starting quarterback, and it looked like that battle would carry on into the summer and potentially fall camp. However, Florida State decided to announce QB1 on Tuesday, and it came as no surprise that transfer Ashton Daniels was the announced starter.
Some folks were not happy and believed it wasn’t a true competition in spring camp between Daniels and redshirt freshman Kevin Sperry. Another segment of the Florida State fan base was upset that JUCO signee Malachi Marshall wasn’t given the chance to compete for the starting job when he arrived this summer.
Malachi Marshall has some impressive tools, but let's not get too carried away with reality.
Yes, a quarterback who isn’t on campus yet and didn’t practice with the team at all this spring could win the starting job. I don’t know how to say this any clearer, but players who don’t or can’t enroll in the spring usually don’t play well or become impact players during the season. There isn’t enough time to get the reps needed to effectively learn the offense, learn all the nuances, and build trust with teammates.
Marshall is a fine talent, but playing at the JUCO level and making the leap to the competition Florida State plays is a different world. I think he’ll be more than capable in due time, but expecting a player to win the job without any spring reps is probably borderline delusional. How many players have made the jump from JUCO to the Power Four level without enrolling in the summer and been successful? The answer is few and far between.
Sure, maybe he’s a fast learner and just a natural in the summer and fall camp. If that’s the case, there will be opportunities for him to play this fall. However, he already said he’s coming to FSU to learn and develop for the chance to be the starter in 2027 when he committed. Let’s not make more of the situation than it is.
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