Florida State's Transfer QB Thomas Castellanos Turns Heads With Alabama Comments
A budding rivalry between the Florida State Seminoles and the Alabama Crimson Tide appears to be heating up ahead of their Week 1 ACC-SEC matchup on August 30.
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The two highly coveted football schools will begin each of their 2025 seasons playing against each other, with new starting quarterbacks in Boston College transfer Thomas Castellanos for Florida State and redshirt junior Ty Simpson for Alabama.
Florida State's transfer quarterback took an early jab at Alabama ahead of their matchup, telling Pete Nakos of On3 Sports, "They don't have Nick Saban to save them. I just don't see them stopping me." Castellanos also said that it has been a dream of his to face Alabama.
Castellanos is set to play for his third school as he committed to Florida State in December of 2024, after spending his freshman year at UCF and his sophomore and junior seasons at Boston College.
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At 5-foot-9, 196 pounds, the dual-threat quarterback has compiled over 3,600 passing yards, over 1,400 rushing yards, and 48 total touchdowns in the 26 games he's played in Division-I college football.
Castellanos was the starting quarterback for Boston College to begin the 2024 season but was replaced during their Nov. 9 game against Syracuse for Grayson James following a declining performance mixed with injuries.
Boston College Eagles head coach Bill O'Brien talks to quarterback Thomas Castellanos (1).Peter Casey-Imagn Images
He'll be joining a Mike Norvell led Florida State team that's looking to flip their program around after a disappointing 2024 that resulted in a 2-10 record.
Meanwhile, Alabama will look to rally back in the SEC after missing the College Football Playoff last season and losing to Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
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It will be just the sixth time the two decorated football schools will face off against each other.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
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