Florida State starting quarterback Ashton Daniels must exorcise the demons of his football past and be a more consistent and confident signal-caller if he and the Seminoles are to be successful this season.
Last January, Florida State coach Mike Norvell needed a quarterback to replace Tommy Castellanos, who had declared for the 2026 NFL Draft.
He scoured the transfer portal and plucked former Auburn and Stanford signal-caller Ashton Daniels from the talent pool.
Daniels’ collegiate career, thus far, has been less than exciting. Going into his fifth season, Daniels has thrown 27 touchdown passes and 22 interceptions. He has never quarterbacked an offense for a winning program, and he comes to a Florida State team that has lost 17 of its last 24 games. The desire for change is palpable among the Seminole faithful.
Norvell had no intention of being caught up in a prolonged quarterback battle in the off season. So, after just 15 practices in the spring, Norvell named Daniels as his starting quarterback for this season. That decision was met with emotion from Daniels, who does not take the responsibility lightly.
However, Daniels must exorcise the demons of his football past if he and the Seminoles are to be successful this season.
By all reports, Daniels is a better quarterback version of himself, with renewed fighting spirit and reforged confidence in his ability to play the most important position on the field. Now, that better version must trot out to the huddle at the start of every offensive series and lead the Seminoles offense down the field like a juggernaut, extending drives to score points.
In addition, Daniels must cut out the mistakes. Throwing almost as many interceptions as touchdown passes so far at the collegiate level is not going to cut it. Good decision-making on what to do with the football and ball security will be crucial for Daniels and whether he keeps the moniker of QB1.
In short, the Seminoles need the Ashton Daniels who played inspired football at Auburn against No. 15 Vanderbilt and No. 9 Alabama last season. As a backup for most of the season, Daniels accounted for a combined 809 total yards and five touchdowns in those two games, both close losses.
Daniels is the third consecutive transfer quarterback to start the season for Florida State. While Norvell has failed to develop consistent quarterback play, something not seen since Jordan Travis, Daniels must take it upon himself to show that consistency every Saturday. He has significant weapons around him, with 6-foot-6 receiver Duce Robinson and speedy vertical threat Michai Danzy on the perimeter.
There is opportunity for success this season for the Seminoles. Daniels must go out and deliver winning football. Norvell, as the play caller, must put Daniels and his Seminoles in a position to be successful. Execution and success are relative. On Saturday against New Mexico State, Daniels will show the fans and his team if his off-season transformation and growth as a quarterback can pay off.
