The Florida State Seminoles have seen plenty of quarterbacks come through Tallahassee, but there’s something undeniably different about Thomas Castellanos. Even for Mike Norvell, it isn’t just about his dual-threat ability or the way he has jolted this offense to life after a dismal 2024 campaign. What sets him apart is leadership, the intangible kind that doesn’t always show up on stat sheets. And a bit of beefing up even before playing Bama; mystic Tommy called it out already that he “just don’t see them stopping me.” That quiet authority comes with an added edge—Tommy’s chirpiness might be trash talk for rivals, but it’s music to his team when they win.

That label was again confirmed by redshirt junior safety Earl Little Jr., who has quickly become one of the program’s most important leaders himself. He said, “Definitely Tommy and Deuce. Those guys talk a lot,” when asked who chirps the most in games. No surprise there; the BC transfer aired out before Week 1 that with Nick Saban not at Alabama anymore, he wouldn’t be able to be stopped. “I dreamed of moments like this. I dreamed of playing against Alabama,” Castellanos told On3. “They don’t have Nick Saban to save them. I just don’t see them stopping me.” That’s what happened in Week 1 as FSU steamrolled Bama by 31-17 in an upset win.

“He set the foundation as soon as he came in, and that’s what I liked about him. He put his foot down and said this is how we’re going to go about things here,” Little Jr. said about his QB. Earl shared how, as a transfer, he immediately planted a flag in the Seminoles’ locker room, then backed it up by “taking teammates out to eat” and investing in the culture; that’s the sort of thing that explains Florida State’s rapid turnaround.

That’s why this version of Florida State looks nothing like the one that stumbled through 2024. Noles are flying to the football, playing with an aggression that feels like it’s been missing for years. And while Thomas Castellanos gives the offense its personality, the defense has found a new heartbeat in Little Jr. Once a reserve, he now looks like the face of a revamped secondary, pairing his on-field production with leadership that steadies the group. Against Alabama, his career-best showing announced that he was more than ready for this role. Against East Texas A&M, his interception capped another dominant outing in a 77–3 demolition.

Through two weeks, Little Jr. has totaled 11 tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception, and one pass deflection. Those numbers are strong, but they’re only part of the story. The way he’s elevated the defensive standard is even more telling. In truth, no coaching change in Tallahassee seems to have benefitted a player more than Little Jr., who has embraced both responsibility and opportunity. That growth hasn’t gone unnoticed beyond the field either, as he recently announced an NIL partnership with Popeyes, further highlighting his rising profile.

Meanwhile, Tommy’s effect on the offense has been just as jarring. Pair him with new OC Gus Malzahn, and the Seminoles suddenly have a sparkplug capable of dictating tempo. His ability to ignite plays and energize teammates has turned Florida State into a team that no longer looks tentative but hungry. After last year’s frustration, there’s a newfound sharpness to the way the Seminoles approach every snap.

With a bye week ahead, Florida State has the rare luxury of regrouping while riding momentum. Kent State awaits in Week 4, but the bigger story is the looming ACC slate that will determine how real this turnaround is.

Norvell on Castellanos: Confidence You Can See, Not Hear

Mike Norvell couldn’t have explained it better when describing why Tommy Castellanos has won Florida State’s locker room. “Tommy doesn’t have to stand in front of people and say he’s confident,” Norvell said. “Because, once again, anybody can do that. It’s the impact is when you see somebody come out to work, like, what does it look like? What does it feel like? What is he doing whenever it’s not, you know, it’s not even structured. Like, what is he doing on his own? And I think that’s where he’s earned a lot of respect and probably encouraged, inspired, you know, others to continue to ascend to their best level.”

That respect wasn’t automatic—it was earned through a winding path. Castellanos began his career at UCF, then spent two seasons at Boston College before arriving in Tallahassee. Along the way, he played under three different head coaches in three years, each stop sharpening his resilience.

That’s why his leadership now feels so authentic.