![Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier, left, talks with UCF Knights head coach Gus Malzahn before rate start of the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, October 5, 2024. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_2706,h_1522/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/270/01jfb6zhe4zx3sd6tpf0.jpg "Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier, left, talks with UCF Knights head coach Gus Malzahn before rate start of the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, October 5, 2024. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]")
Florida State's offensive unit was horrific during the 2024 season, where it ranked 132nd in the FBS in total offense (out of 133 teams). This is something that head football coach Mike Norvell wanted to change right away at the conclusion of the year.
As a result, he hired three offensive coaches such as offensive coordinator Guz Malzahn, offensive line coach Herb Hand, and wide receivers coach Tim Harris Jr. We already saw the impact of Malzahn as the Seminoles landed quarterback transfer Thomas Castellanos.
Castellanos is a tremendous dual-threat signal-caller who had 1,113 rushing yards during the 2023 season. He took a step back in Year 1 of the Bill O'Brien as he was asked to run an offensive scheme that did not fit his skill set.
The offensive line was beyond bad for the Seminoles last year. The unit was expected to be a strength for the squad. However, that thought process went out the window as the veterans took a major step back. Norvell even called offensive tackle Darius Washington an All-American.
The offensive line needed a reset after letting go of offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Alex Atkins. The Seminoles have hosted/will host the following offensive linemen on visits: Gunnar Hansen (Vanderbilt), Addison Nichols (Arkansas), Marcellus Marshall (UCF), Caden Kitler (UCF), Adrian Medley (UCF).
Former quarterbacks such as Deondre Francois and James Blackman would have loved times like these at Florida State. Nonetheless, if the potential transfer portal acquisitions have anything to do with it, this should be a fun year filled with many offensive points scored.
We should be hearing Florida State announcer Jeff Culhane saying: "Touchdown, Florida State. Touchdown F-S-U!!!"