Former FSU quarterback Luke Kromenhoek was the crown jewel of the 2024 recruiting class. A top-five player nationally at the quarterback position, Kromenhoek got thrust into action too early as a freshman in the abysmal 2024 season.
However, it allowed him to gain some experience, and show some flashes, but showed how far away he was from becoming a starter on a team with expectations to win eight or more games in 2025.
It was a trial run for the talented player, but he wasn't ready, and FSU went to the transfer portal and obtained Thomas Castellanos, a player with one year of eligibility remaining. It was the perfect setting for Kromenhoek to continue developing with the chance to play a reserve role and ascend to the starting quarterback spot in 2026 as a junior.
However, Kromenhoek(more his dad) didn't want to wait and cited Mike Norvell hiring Gus Malzahn as the offensive coordinator as a reason to enter the transfer portal. The claim was the offense wasn't a good fit, though it's incredibly similar to Mike Norvell's offense.
Interestingly enough, no major teams pursued Kromenhoek once he entered the portal and he wound up signing with another team that went 2-10 last season, perennial SEC cellar dweller Mississippi State.
The Bulldogs signed blue-chip quarterback Kamario Taylor(No. 118 overall, No. 11 QB) in the 2025 recruiting class. Taylor enrolled in the spring and has already turned heads at practice.
From Miss. State true freshman QB KaMario Taylor’s @On3Recruits Scouting Summary:
— Charles Power (@CharlesPower) April 10, 2025
“…most dangerous improvisational QB in 2025.”
“…extremely fluid and natural with the ball in his hands.”
“…rare body lean and highly slippery”https://t.co/jcxC62ah4m pic.twitter.com/0QvCTzfIwq
Kromenhoek has to compete with a freshman instead of a senior, and that's probably not going to work out in his favor. The crazy part is Taylor is a dual-threat quarterback and Mississippi State's offense won't be too different than what Malzahn likes to do.
Had Kromenhoek's folks showed some patience and humility, he'd probably be the guy at a program with a much higher ceiling than Mississippi State. If things keep going the way they're going, I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the transfer portal again in the next year or two.
The grass isn't always greener when players enter the transfer portal!