30-07-2025
FSU's Tommy Castellanos should stand on business. That's the type of QB Mike Norvell wants
Florida State quarterback Tommy Castellanos is standing on business.
As he should
It was obvious that Castellanos would address his previous comment about Alabama sooner, before the opener, which is a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on Aug. 30 at Doak Campbell Stadium.
A reminder of what he said about the Crimson Tide, in an interview with On3, Castellanos stated that without Nick Saban, Alabama's defense will struggle against him.
In day two of the ACC Media Kickoff, Castellanos remained confident about dealing with Bama in FSU's season opener and seemed to have the support of teammates who feel the same way.
"We stand on what I said," Castellanos said.
"But there's no disrespect between that team or anything like that. It's just the confidence that I have in my teammates and the way we've been preparing and putting this preparation together this off-season, I just feel confident in the guys and the work that we've been putting in. Just feel confident in me and my teammates and Coach Norvell and how he's get."
Whether the results will go against Castellanos' favor, and the internet world will react to it in the worst way possible, his point has been made.
Why can't Castellanos feel that no defensive team can stop him?
This is the same quarterback who produced 3,300 total yards and 28 total touchdowns on his own as a sophomore, including 1,113 yards on the ground.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Tommy Castellanos' confidence is exactly what FSU football needs
No football player, coach, or fan needs a choir boy behind center. Even for head coach Mike Norvell, when he fiercely stated that he is not looking for sidekicks.
Castellanos seems like the no-sidekick kind of guy. The moment he enrolled at FSU, Castellanos was viewed as a leader. He does have an enriching personality, as he alluded to on different occasions.
He is the complete opposite of DJ Uiagalelei last, who was quiet and as aggressive when commanding his teammates, at least from what we've seen from a distance.
Castellanos has a combination of a Jameis Winston-type attitude, as he compares himself, but also a mixture of Jordan Travis when it comes to swag, and can back things up with his level of play.
No, we didn't see it last in his final tenure at Boston College. Castellanos clearly didn't fit the pro-style offense created by Bill O'Brien, which led to a complete fall-off in his season and ultimately resulted in his departure from the program after being benched late in the year.
"You know, I'm very thankful for Boston College and all the people there that supported mewhen I was there," Castellanos said.
"I had a great time there. But we're past that. I'm focused on this season and focused on everything going forward with my new teammates and my new team."
Castellanos has a clean slate with nothing to lose. He's off the radar of everyone as one of the top QBs in his own conference, let alone on a national scale. That means no one will see it coming, except Castellanos.
More: FSU football's Mike Norvell fiery message at ACC Kickoff: 'I've got great expectations'
Florida State football 2025 schedule
Aug. 30, Alabama, 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 6, East Texas A&M, Noon
Sept. 20, Kent State, TBA
Sept. 26, at Virginia (Friday), 7 p.m.
Oct. 4, Miami, TBA
Oct. 11, Pittsburgh, TBA
Oct. 18, at Stanford, 10:30 p.m.
Nov. 1 Wake Forest, TBA
Nov. 8 at Clemson, TBA
Nov. 15 Virginia Tech, TBA
Nov. 21 North Carolina State (Fri.), 8 p.m.
Nov. 29, Florida, TBA
More: ACC new policy on storming the field, court: What this means for Florida State footballThis article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Why FSU football's Tommy Castellanos should stand his ground on comments
