Florida State HC Mike Norvell may need to roll with QB DJ Uiagalelei

It’s been a rough start for Florida State in 2024 after a fantastic 2023, where they went unbeaten in the regular season and won the ACC Championship. The Seminoles now sit at 0-3, with losses to Georgia Tech, Boston College and Memphis, a Group of 5 team. 

Head coach Mike Norvell is under scrutiny from fans, yes, for the performances, but mainly due to bringing in quarterback DJ Uiagalelei from the transfer portal. Fans are unhappy, with plenty calling for Norvell to drop Uiagalelei. Looking at the other quarterbacks in the room, is there a better option?

Is DJ Uiagalelei the only choice for Norvell at quarterback?

The offense clearly is an issue for Florida State, failing to pass 300 offensive yards in any of their three games. Uiagalelei is not a dual-threat quarterback, meaning the run game becomes even more significant to get the passing game going. There is just one team averaging fewer yards than the Seminoles a game this season (52.0), and that’s Miami (OH) with 32.0, playing one less game. That has not helped Uiagalelei, but he hasn’t been great himself, averaging 222.0 passing yards per game, throwing more touchdowns (one) than interceptions (two).