‘Growth’ is Buzzword as Seminoles Prepare for Fall Camp

Florida State head coach Mike Norvell held his pre-camp press conference on Monday ahead of the July 29 start date for fall camp, issuing the beginning of the 2026 season.

Norvell fielded many questions from the gathered media, inquiring football minds who wanted to know what kind of Seminoles team will run out of the tunnel at Doak Campbell Stadium against New Mexico State on August 29.

Throughout the press conference, the buzzword of the day used by Norvell was “growth.” Norvell applied that word to his starting quarterback and to his team as a whole.

Norvell chose Ashton Daniels as his QB1 starter for this season, the third transfer quarterback in as many years to operate the Seminoles offense. Going into his fifth season as a collegiate signal-caller, Daniels brings game experience from stints with Stanford and Auburn. Over his career, Daniels has thrown 27 touchdown passes and 22 interceptions.

Last season on The Plains, Daniels was listed on the Auburn depth chart as a backup to starter Jackson Arnold. Daniels saw action in only four games last season and produced three touchdown passes and two interceptions. Those limited opportunities caused Daniels to take step back in the continued nurturing of his quarterback skills.

That prompted Daniels to enter the transfer portal, ultimately landing in Tallahassee.

“Everybody's journey is unique to themselves,” said Norvell. “Ashton played a lot early, a lot earlier in his career, played a good amount of college football games, you have been a starter, you have seen ups and downs this past year where it's limited your opportunities on field. I've been really pleased with just his mindset and seeing his confidence of what we're asking him to do, seeing his confidence in what he knows he can do and how that's really spread throughout just our football team.”

At the conclusion of spring practice, Norvell selected Daniels as his man for the job of directing the Florida State offense this season.

“He definitely has the right edge and the things that I want to see from him, and really all players on our team, just to go prove and show all of who they are,” Norvell said. “He doesn't need to come and work to be anything different, but I truly believe if he'll just continue to grow, he's going to put himself in a position to have a tremendous year.”

Florida State has won just seven games the last two seasons, and only three conference games. Four of their seven losses last season were by eight points or less. Holding on to leads and keeping opponents out of the end zone at critical points in the game doomed the Seminoles to a losing season. But there is talent throughout this team this season, especially at the offensive skill positions.

So how can this team exorcise the demons of 17 losses over two years and become a force of one this season?

“Continuing to grow through challenge,” Norvell said. “It's continuing to grow through successes that they're gonna have in practice, as they compete with each other. That's been an ongoing process from the first day of January when we started, this team has really done a great job and we've tried to be proactive in helping facilitate those relationships, any opportunities that we can, just with those guys being able to get to know, get to a better sense of each of their stories, their why.” 

Norvell is on the hot seat after getting the chance to continue coaching at Florida State for one more season. The much-needed turnaround of the Florida State football program begins against New Mexico State.

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