Florida State fans have been checked out this offseason, as the Seminoles have had six losing seasons in eight years. Head coach Mike Norvell came over from Memphis to Florida State, and individuals were already up in arms with how Willie Taggart was fired.
Nonetheless, everyone wanted Florida State to be back to the glory days of competing for championships as it did with Bobby Bowden and Jimbo Fisher. Having seven wins in two years is not the standard for a place like Florida State.
Mike Norvell had a roller coaster ride of emotion in 2025, with beating Alabama in the season opener to losing to a Florida Gators team that wasn't even bowl eligible. This is how inconsistent the Seminoles were.
Mike Norvell is hoping that the starting quarterback can infuse life into the program
Florida State football is in the middle of spring practices, and the biggest discussion is who will be the starting quarterback for the Seminoles. On3's Pete Nakos has reported that it is a two-quarterback battle between Kevin Sperry and Ashton Daniels.
Coach Norvell hasn't put his full trust into a homegrown recruit and has relied on transfer players to fill the position. The Seminoles followed suit this offseason, as they picked up former Stanford and Auburn transfer Ashton Daniels.
Sperry met with the media on Tuesday afternoon and shared his thoughts on bringing in Daniels to the quarterback room.
"I just let Coach Norvell and all of the coaches handle what they need to do. I don't talk too much about it. I'm thankful for the position that I'm in. Whatever they are going to do is whatever they are going to do. I don't really have a say in that. I'm just taking it day by day and giving my best effort every day. Whatever happens, happens."
This is a good response by the former four-star prospect in the 2025 cycle. Coming into the offseason, the Seminoles only had two quarterbacks on the roster with him and four-star signee from the 2026 cycle, Jaden O'Neal (who is injured for an extended period of time).
It was known that Florida State needed to add more bodies to the room to ensure that it had appropriate depth. If Daniels is the starter in 2026, he only has one year of eligibility remaining, then Sperry and the JUCO option, Malachi Marshall, can battle it out in 2027.
Nonetheless, this is a youngster who is focused on putting his head down and going to work for the opportunity that he has in front of him.