At the end of last season, FSU needed to make massive changes to try and right the ship. One of those changes meant bringing in a new offensive coordinator after Mike Norvell fielded one of the worst offenses in FSU history. When Gus Malzahn’s hiring was announced, that came with the notion that he would be taking the reins of the offense and that FSU would be changing its offensive system. Although many of Norvell’s concepts are similar to Malzahn’s coming from his coaching tree, there are some big differences, namely in the type of quarterback used.
This meant a shake-up at the position and how it was recruited was unavoidable. FSU felt the immediate impact of switching to Malzahn’s system when Luke Kromenhoek hit the portal and strangely committed to a Mississippi State program that had also gone 2-10 in 2024. He claimed it was a better system for the pro-style quarterback he aspired to be.
The fallout continued Sunday when 2026 four-star quarterback Brady Smigiel announced his decommitment from the Seminoles. This was a big loss for FSU because he is a talented prospect and a top-10 QB in the 2026 class. FSU’s disastrous season, new system, and Smigiel getting a visit from Ohio State fresh off a national championship snowballed into him reopening his recruitment.
But not all hope is lost as the Noles moved quickly to find a replacement that is better suited for the system they will be running. FSU’s addition of Thomas Castellanos tells you what type of quarterback Malzahn prefers. His most successful seasons as a playcaller involved Cam Newton in 2010 and Nick Marshall in 2013, who both rushed for over 1,000 yards from the quarterback position, something Castellanos did in 2022 at Boston College. FSU also added dual-threat quarterback Kevin Sperry to its 2025 class after Malzahn arrived. With Smigiel out for 2026, FSU’s staff wasted no time making a slew of offers for a suitable replacement. So, where do the Noles go from here?
Almost immediately after Smigiel’s decommitment, 2026 four-star quarterback Bowe Bentley announced via social media that FSU had made an offer. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound dual-threat out of Celina, Texas has seen a meteoric rise in recruiting attention after a breakout junior season, his first at the quarterback position.
Bentley completed 69.8 percent of his passes for 3,211 yards with a whopping 47 passing touchdowns to only 7 interceptions. He also added 923 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on 124 carries. FSU has already visited Bentley, and he is planning a trip to Tallahassee. Given how quickly they moved to offer him after Smigiel’s departure, I imagine he is at or near the top of their wish list. He currently holds 25 offers including 15 Power 4 schools and is ranked as a top 200 recruit and the number 11 QB in the 2026 class, per 247.
6-foot-3, 190-pound, four-star quarterback Landon Duckworth also posted about receiving an offer from FSU shortly after Bentley on Sunday. Duckworth is familiar with Gus Malzahn as he was heavily recruited by him at UCF. The Knights were listed as the favorite to land Duckworth before Malzahn left for Tallahassee, so FSU should be in a good spot to land the dual-threat quarterback.
A three-year starter at Jackson High in Alabama, Duckworth had his best season to date in 2024, throwing for 3,439 yards with 39 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He added another 648 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground last season. Duckworth is a multi-sport athlete who also competes in basketball and track and field. He is listed as a top 100 recruit and the number 5 QB in the 2026 class per 247. FSU will be competing with South Carolina and Ole Miss for his services, but the Noles are expected to make a strong push to land him.
Florida State was not finished sending out offers on the day as a third announcement was made by four-star quarterback Keisean Henderson out of Spring, Texas. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound athlete has also been a fast riser in the recruiting rankings. Henderson is a top 15 recruit and listed as the top-ranked athlete in the 2026 class per 247 (He’s a 5-star ATH in the 247 Composite Rankings). Although he is currently committed to Houston, Henderson holds over 35 offers with plenty of big names in the mix. He earned MVP honors in the 2025 Navy All-American Bowl. Henderson has shown skills as a receiver, but FSU would love to have him as a dual-threat quarterback, which may work to their advantage as they compete against names like UGA, Auburn, and Ole Miss. FSU will try to make some headway with an upcoming visit.
Although the news of Smigiel’s decommitment was expected with the changing of the offensive system in Tallahassee, the new staff has a plan for what they want at the position. With three offers extended almost immediately to three dual-threat quarterbacks, FSU is embracing the Malzahn offense and going after players more suited to run his system. FSU had its most success under Mike Norvell with dual-threat quarterback Jordan Travis at the helm.
Although pro-style passers have been the standard for some time, in recent years, we have seen the rise of dual-threat quarterbacks leading teams to success in both college and the NFL. FSU has a clear picture of what it wants and is moving quickly to get it. Any of these three options would be a great fit and a great addition to run the new offense. Henderson appears to be the hardest pull, while Duckworth is the favorite and Bentley being the wildcard and potentially most desired. We’ll keep an eye on their recruitment and provide updates as they become available. Thanks for reading and Go Noles!
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