WATCH: Mike Norvell’s post-workout on Wednesday
Here is FSU football coach Mike Norvell after practice on Wednesday.
Mike Norvell, in his fourth season as head coach of Florida State football, has struggled with challenges in developing quarterbacks.
This season, he is focusing on transfer quarterback DJ Uiagalelei.
Heading into Saturday’s home game against No. 25 Memphis, Uiagalelei has completed 40 of 69 passes (58%) for 465 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He has averaged 6.7 yards per pass, including 30 yards, in FSU’s 0-2 start.
Will Norvell be forced to make a change at quarterback?
Or can Uiagalelei return to the form that made him a coveted addition last January to replace record-holder Jordan Travis, who is now with the New York Jets?
Given Norvell’s background as a former quarterback coach and offensive coordinator, as well as the fact that he identified and acquired immediate performers at FSU through the transfer portal, it is likely that he will stick with the Oregon State transfer.
“I really liked his mindset and his approach,” Norvell said earlier this week.
“He has a lot of experience and knows how to play the game. He knows how to respond to good moves and obviously some of the challenges that have arisen.”
“I think he brought the right attitude and approach to what we need and what we need to continue to do as this offense grows together.”
How many Florida State quarterbacks have played for Mike Norvell? What is Jordan Travis’ career record?
During Norvell’s tenure at FSU, seven quarterbacks started at least once.
Without Travis, however, Norvell is 3-9.
Brock Glenn started last year’s ACC Championship game against Louisville and completed just 8 of 21 passes for 55 yards with no touchdowns. But he ran the game in place of the injured Travis, who was out for the season with a lower leg injury, and the Seminoles beat the Cardinals 16-6 to finish the regular season 13-0.
In Norvell’s first season in 2020, Tate Rodemaker started in the Seminoles’ home win over Jacksonville State, but was replaced by Jordan early in the game. He ended his Seminoles career with an exclamation point in last year’s win over Florida in place of Jordan.
Other quarterbacks who played under Norvell were James Blackman (0-2), McKenzie Milton (0-4) and Chuba Purdy (0-1).
Blackman spent the 2017–20 season at FSU before transferring to Arkansas State. He played just one season under Norvell, but made his 24th and 25th career starts for the Seminoles in season-opening losses to Georgia Tech and Miami before being replaced by Rodemaker.
Rodemaker, a junior at Southern Mississippi, played four years (2020-23) at FSU, throwing for 901 yards and seven touchdowns. He became the third Seminole in program history to make his first or second career start at Florida — and the first to win — when he led FSU to a 24-15 victory over the Gators last year.
Purdy also began his college career at FSU (2020-21) before transferring to Nebraska. In 2020, he became only the fifth true freshman in FSU history to start at quarterback. In that start and the loss to NC State, he threw for 181 yards and two scores.
Milton, who returned to the field after a serious knee injury in 2018, transferred from Central Florida to FSU for the 2021 season. During his one year at FSU, he started four games and played in six, rushing for 775 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions.
It’s pretty obvious that Travis, who considered moving to the receiver position after initially struggling with the Seminoles following his transfer from Louisville, is the best quarterback Norvell has produced at FSU.
In his four-year career as a starter, the electrifying Travis was 28-9, including an undefeated season last year, and threw for 8,644 passing yards and 65 touchdowns, the second-most in FSU history.
Travis also holds career records for touchdown responsibility, total offense, quarterback rushing yards and quarterback rushing touchdowns. He is the only player in program history with over 50 passing touchdowns and at least 12 rushing touchdowns.
What can DJ Uiagalelei do to improve his game?
Although Uiagalelei is known for his size and arm strength, he has struggled with consistency. His technique and accuracy were also problematic against Georgia Tech and Boston College. In fact, home fans were so disappointed with Uiagalelei’s performance against Boston College that they began chanting Glenn’s name when FSU had the ball.
To be fair, FSU’s experienced offensive line hasn’t lived up to its potential, lacking physicality in run blocking and pass protection. Uiagalelei also needs to find a reliable receiver. Ja’Khi Douglas (8 receptions, 121 yards) and Malik Benson (7-72) lead the team in receptions and have been targeted 24 times.
Despite his weaknesses, it may be too early to give up on Uiagalelei, even if he only plays one more season after this one. Uiagalelei still needs time to adjust to Norvell’s offense and his timing routes and pocket precision.
At least for now, Norvell should stick with Uiagalelei as his starter.
Will we see Brock Glenn play this season?
There are no signs that Norvell is planning a quarterback change.
Glenn, who started five games as a freshman last year, flashed potential. Known more for his agility than his arm strength, he threw for 229 yards and scored a rushing touchdown.
Glenn is still developing as a passer and hasn’t proven he’s a better option than Uiagalelei. Putting him in a tough spot while the offense struggles to run the football and he doesn’t have reliable passing targets could hurt his development.
However, it wouldn’t hurt Norvell to implement a two-quarterback system, as he did early in his coaching career. It helped him discover Travis, who eventually became FSU’s full-time starter.
Because of his mobility, it may make sense to use Glenn in certain game packages.
FSU Football Schedule 2024: TV Channels, Dates and Start Times
- Saturday, August 24th: vs. Georgia Tech* (Aer Lingus College Football Classic) lost 24-21
- Monday, September 2nd: vs. Boston College* | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo) lost 28-13
- Saturday, September 7: Bye
- Saturday, September 14th: vs. Memphis | 12:00 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
- Saturday, September 21st: against Cal*
- Saturday, September 28th: at SMU*
- Saturday, October 5: against No. 14 Clemson*
- Saturday, October 12th: Bye
- Friday, October 18: at Duke* | 7pm | ESPN2 (Fubo)
- Saturday, October 26: at No. 19 Miami*
- Saturday, November 2nd: against North Carolina*
- Saturday, November 9th: at No. 7 Notre Dame | 7:30 p.m. | NBC (Fubo, Peacock)
- Saturday, November 23rd: against Charleston Southern
- Saturday, November 30th: against Florida
- Saturday, December 6: ACC Championship Game (Charlotte, NC)
All times Eastern
CLEARLY = ACC
* = Neutral location
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Reach him via email at [email protected] or at X @_Da_pistol.
