Latest news with #Malzahn
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Why FSU football's offense hinges on reunion between Tommy Castellanos, Gus Malzahn
While both Tommy Castellanos and Gus Malzahn may be new faces around the Florida State football facility, the pair is not unfamiliar with each other. Castellanos played under Malzahn as a true freshman at UCF before transferring to Boston College. The year in Orlando provided Castellanos a chance to learn Malzahn's system, and now he's got the chance to showcase his understanding of it three years later in Tallahassee. "The great thing is, he does have experience. He was with me at UCF, he had two different offensive coordinators at Boston College, and now we are getting back to what he was running at UCF," Malzahn said Tuesday at FSU's pre-fall media luncheon. "We are going to play to his strengths, he's got a lot of them." Tommy Castellanos: Not just a run-first QB The pair has always been a natural fit. Malzahn's offensive scheme revolves around a mobile quarterback who can stress defenses with the ability to run or throw downfield. Castellanos is arguably one of the top rushing quarterbacks in the nation, amassing 1,427 yards on the ground during his career, and he's showcased the ability to be an adept passer, specifically in his final season with the Eagles. His agile playmaking ability pairs well with Malzahn's run-option-heavy attack that gives the quarterback freedom to use his legs. The passing ability has been a part of Casteallanos's game that has grown the most since his departure from Malzahn and UCF. He threw for 2,248 yards in his first year with Boston College, and added 15 passing touchdowns, and followed with 1,366 yards and 18 touchdowns in eight games in his junior campaign. Castellanos believes in Malzahn's offensive philosophy and he trusts in his playcalling. "Coach Malzahn is going to call plays, and he's going to dial things up. He's a great offensive-minded guy. He knows ball," Castellanos said at ACC Kickoff. "So he's going to put me in the best position for the team. Whatever he calls, I'm going to run. It's going to happen." FSU's mission: Revitalize the offense With Norvell handing the playcalling responsibility to Malzahn, he's tasked with reviving an offense that ranked near the bottom of major metrics last season. Malzahn is coming off three straight years of producing a top-20 offense at UCF, and has consistently had top-20 offenses during his coaching career. For that trend to continue in Tallahassee, Castellanos leading the Seminoles' offense under Malzahn is the key. "We are going to let him play, protecting the football, getting everything right. So far so good," Malzahn said. "His leadership, we were out there in the spring and he did some really good things. I just know from me, remembering what he was as a true freshman to where he is now, it's like night and day. "His skillset is really, really high, I think everybody knows that," Malzahn said. "I think he's in a good spot to lead our offense." FSU 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 Liam Rooney covers athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@ or on Twitter @__liamrooney This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football's Gus Malzahn knows Tommy Castellanos has many strengths
USA Today
24-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Auburn head coach brings a championship mindset to Florida State
FSU head coach Mike Norvell hopes that Gus Malzahn will play a vital role in the Seminoles making a run at the College Football Playoff. Former Auburn football head coach Gus Malzahn considered retiring from the game during the offseason, but has found a new home in Tallahassee, Florida instead. Malzahn was hired by Mike Norvell and Florida State last December after spending the last four seasons as the head coach of UCF, where he won 28 games and led the Knights to three bowl games. However, following a disappointing 4-8 year in 2024, Malzahn jumped at an opportunity to become an offensive coordinator again, a position where he thrived for many seasons. Norvell spoke on the Malzahn hire during his time at ACC kickoff this week by saying that Malzahn's championship mindset could be a major factor in the Seminoles returning to the College Football Playoff discussion. "I mean, having the opportunity to have Coach Malzahn come and be a part of our staff, it was special. It's somebody that I've had a 20-year relationship with. All the respect in the world for the man, just the coach. He's somebody that infuses confidence in everybody around him because he knows what he wants to do. He knows what he wants it to look like. It's the belief that he's able to pour into others, for what it takes on that journey. You talk about the perspective; he does. He's been a very successful head football coach. The last time he was an offensive coordinator he did win a National Championship. To make the choice and decision he made to come to Florida State, I mean, that is the purpose. That is the reason." Malzahn joined the college ranks as an offensive coordinator at Arkansas in 2006, and has held the role at four different programs. His most success came at Auburn, both as a coordinator and a head coach. He was the offensive mastermind behind the 2010 National Championship team that ranked No. 7 in overall yards with 499.2 yards per game, and produced the Heisman Trophy winner in Cam Newton. Malzahn led the Tigers to the 2013 BCS National Championship Game in his first season as the Tigers' head coach, a season that saw Auburn rank No. 1 in rushing with 328.4 yards per game. Another notable season for Malzahn at Auburn was the 2017 season, where he led Auburn to the SEC Western Division championship and scored wins over Georgia and Alabama when the teams were No. 1. Norvell and the Seminoles will look to Malzahn to bring his offensive expertise to Tallahassee as they look to return to the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2015. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Where's Gus? FSU football OC Gus Malzahn not featured in EA College Football 26
EA Sports College Football 26 is approaching. In a new feature, over 300 coaches will be part of the game, including Florida State football's head coach Mike Norvell and defensive coordinator Tony White. However, Gus Malzahn is not among those coaches. Advertisement The former UCF head coach, now offensive coordinator, has chosen not to participate in CFB '26, the football program confirmed to the Tallahassee Democrat on May 29. Both Malzahn and White are entering their first seasons as coordinators on Norvell's coaching staff following a 2-10 season. Malzahn left his head coaching gig to join Norvell's coaching staff after lasting four seasons at UCF. White joined FSU's staff in December after his two seasons with Nebraska. Need a break Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. MAKING THE CUT: EA Sports College Football 26 covers: How many players from Florida made the cut? College Football '26 released its first official trailer earlier on Thursday. FSU, unfortunately, didn't make the cut. The release date is set for July 10, but you can pre-order the deluxe edition and the MVP bundle now and have access on July 7. Advertisement FSU opens the season against Alabama on Aug. 30 at 3:30 p.m. More: Is FSU football rivalry vs. Florida in trouble as sport handles realignment, playoff expansion? Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@ or on X @_Da_pistol. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football OC Gus Malzahn not in EA College Football 26
USA Today
27-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida State offers blue-chip QB from Alabama
FSU lost blue-chip quarterback Brady Smigiel on Sunday as he decommitted from the program. Of course, this was a major blow to their 2026 recruiting class. However, it wasn't something they took lying down as they offered four-star Bowe Bentley as well as four-star Landon Duckworth, who hails from Jackson, Alabama. Once upon a time, Duckworth almost committed to UCF. Seminoles' new offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn was the head coach there at the time. So, when he departed to join Florida State's staff, it was a foregone conclusion that he would continue to pursue Duckworth, and Malzahn didn't waste any time after Smigiel left the program. 'Me and coach Gus, we were real close at UCF but he had left and went to Florida State. They had a really great commit in Brady Smigiel. He decommitted and then [Malzahn] just called me and offered me like 20 minutes ago,' Duckworth told Noles247. Duckworth, just like Bentley, fits what Malzahn wants in a quarterback, seeing as he's a dual-threat type of prospect. He threw for 3,439 yards and 39 touchdowns with only 10 interceptions as a junior. On top of that, he amassed 648 rushing yards and 12 more scores. The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder is the No. 137 recruit nationally and the No. 9 quarterback according to 247Sports composite rankings. They also have him as the No. 10 prospect in Alabama. Although the Seminoles just offered, Duckworth mentioned that Malzahn made it clear that they're serious about adding him to the roster. 'It means a lot for any school that offers me and gives me the opportunity to play at their program but he was just like it was nice talking to you, I just wanted to offer you and we're going to full-court press you,' Duckworth said of the phone call with Malzahn. The proactive approach is always the best course of action when it comes to acquiring talent. It'll be interesting to see how fast Florida State sets up a visit with Duckworth, which will be his first with the program since June of 2023. Contact/Follow us @FSUWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Matthew on Twitter @StarConscience
