FSU football was 0-2 before Nole fans could blink after starting the preseason as the No. 10 team nationally. However, after the second loss, it didn't take long for me to identify three major red flags we missed going into the season. I wrote about them here in September 2024.
The first one was the lack of leadership. Most of the time a quarterback is one of the natural leaders of a football team. One of the things we missed last year was DJ Uiagalelei's unwillingness to take charge from the onset. He seemed to want to fit in and blend with the guys instead of being the leader the team needed at quarterback.
He was quiet and didn't show much emotion, and most of all, the players never seemed to buy in with him at quarterback. It's like they didn't trust him, and it didn't help the offensive line was terrible and the receivers were not great.
It was clear Tommy Castellanos would be the quarterback FSU would take from the transfer portal early on. I remember watching him a few times and he played with competitiveness and fire although he was small in stature.
Did he have enough cache from Boston College to attract talent to FSU? Yes, and it probably surprised some folks he attracted players like Deuce Robinson and Squirrel White. He accompanied Robinson on his official visit and had him working out.
Castellanos often organized player-led workouts before the spring semester got underway. All of his teammates have praised him and seem to respect him. However, what FSU tight end/defensive end Amaree Williams said earlier this week caught my attention (2:45 mark):
It's clear Castellanos has taken the leadership and accountability role seriously. The key for him to maximize the opportunity will be his level of play. A prime example is Jordan Travis.
It wasn't until Jordan Travis elevated his game as a passer that the FSU football team took that next step. Travis could beat teams with his arm and his legs and was willing to put his body on the line. Castellanos is built from a similar mold, but he's gonna have to make the plays and throws in real games for guys to allow him to lead them.
Nobody is gonna respect what you say if you're a scrub or not playing well. Castellanos has shown flashes over the past two years, but can he do it consistently enough to maximize the opportunity? Some of that will be up to the coaching staff to put him in positions to maximize his abilities. He has shown the willingness to take leadership seriously and hold guys accountable. He plays with an edge and passion. That's already more than what FSU had at the quarterback position last year.