Florida State secured the No. 6 transfer portal class in the country with 23 new commitments, according to 247Sports rankings.
The Seminoles’ biggest addition is Tommy Castellanos, the former Boston College quarterback who’s expected to lead FSU’s offense this season.
Castellanos will earn over $800,000 in NIL compensation, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. That figure represents a significant pullback from FSU’s previous spending habits.
FSU’s NIL team budget was reportedly $12 million last year, per The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman.
The Seminoles appear to be spending more conservatively after their disastrous 2-10 finish last season. Castellanos’ deal pales in comparison to other top transfer quarterbacks this offseason.
Carson Beck is making $4.3 million at Miami with the chance to earn up to $6 million. Washington State transfer John Mateer is expected to make close to $3 million. Even Miller Moss, who transferred from USC to Louisville, is projected to make more than $1.5 million.
Those NIL deals reflect the quarterbacks’ rankings in the transfer portal.
Castellanos was ranked No. 23 among transfer quarterbacks by On3. Moss was No. 11, while Beck and Mateer ranked even higher.
FSU head coach Mike Norvell clearly has high expectations for his new quarterback. Last year’s portal addition, D.J. Uiagalelei, failed to deliver for the Seminoles.
Castellanos isn’t lacking confidence heading into the season. He made bold predictions about FSU’s Week 1 matchup against Alabama and the entire ACC.
“I’m excited, man. People, I don’t know if they know, but you go back and watch every first game that I played in, we always start fast. I dreamed of moments like this. I dreamed of playing against Alabama. They don’t have Nick Saban to save them. I just don’t see them stopping me.”
The quarterback also took aim at the conference he dominated while at Boston College.
“And then the ACC. I feel like I tore the ACC up by my damn self for the last two years, and now I’m with a squad. I hope people don’t think that Florida State is going to be the same team it was last year because we have weapons. People can’t just sit back in zone coverage and watch me.”
Whether Castellanos can back up his bold statements remains to be seen.
The opener against Alabama will provide the first test of whether FSU’s more budget-conscious approach to the transfer portal will pay off.
