Florida State secured a quarterback from the transfer portal on Tuesday. Former Auburn signal-caller Ashton Daniels committed to the Seminoles after his Monday visit, giving Mike Norvell a veteran presence heading into 2026. Unfortunately for Florida State fans, the bigger story is who didn’t commit.
DJ Lagway, the former five-star recruit and top-rated quarterback from the 2024 class, left Tallahassee for a visit to Virginia after spending time with the Seminoles staff. He’ll continue taking visits, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Anthony Colandrea, the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year from UNLV, remains uncommitted as well.
The Seminoles came away with the third option on their board and that tells you everything about where this program stands right now.
Ashton Daniels Brings Experience, Questions to Tallahassee
Ashton Daniels is one of the most frustrating prospects at the QB position this decade. You know there is immense talent, but he hasn’t put together consecutive quarters (let alone games) as an accurate passer. If Gus Malzahn and Co. can figure out a way to improve his consistency, this move makes sense.
Unfortunately, the writing is on the wall with this move.
Daniels flashed brilliance at Stanford in 2023, throwing for 2,247 yards while adding 292 rushing yards. He returned in 2024 and put up 1,700 passing yards and 669 on the ground. The dual-threat ability has always been there. The decision-making and accuracy have not.
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At Auburn this past season, Daniels started three of the final four games after replacing Jackson Arnold. The results were mixed at best.
Daniels has one year of eligibility remaining. He bonded with Malzahn during his visit, the same Malzahn who built his reputation on developing dual-threat quarterbacks at Auburn. There’s a fit here on paper. However, Daniels’ struggles with accuracy and reads throughout his career are concerning for a program that cannot afford another losing season.
What DJ Lagway’s Exit Says About Florida State’s Standing
So, it begs the question: why couldn’t Florida State close on the bigger names?
Lagway’s comments after his visit were positive. He praised the facilities, the coaching staff, and called the environment “genuine.” He told reporters the Seminoles didn’t blow smoke. And then he got on a plane to Charlottesville.
Lagway has two years of eligibility remaining and carries a reported $2 million NIL valuation. He’s a true dual-threat with elite arm strength who was the No. 1 quarterback in the 2024 class. He also threw 23 interceptions in 24 games, a number that needs to decrease at his next stop.
Still, Lagway represents upside. Elite ceiling potential. The kind of prospect that programs with championship aspirations fight to land.
Florida State couldn’t get him to commit on the spot. Neither could they close on Colandrea, who threw for 3,459 yards and 23 touchdowns at UNLV while rushing for 649 yards and 10 more scores under Dan Mullen.
Now, there are legitimate financial considerations. Top portal quarterbacks are commanding deals in the $3-4 million range, with elite prospects reportedly reaching $5 million. Florida State’s NIL situation may not match up with programs like Virginia, which is coming off an 11-win season and ACC Championship Game appearance.
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But that’s not the whole reasoning behind this.
The Seminoles are coming off back-to-back losing seasons. Mike Norvell’s record since that 13-0 regular season in 2023 sits at 7-18. The program that beat Alabama 31-17 to open 2025 went 4-7 the rest of the way to finish 5-7 overall. Norvell’s job security hangs by a thread, and a $53 million buyout. His 38-34 overall record at FSU includes just two winning seasons in six years.
The pressure to turn things around in 2026 is immense. Lagway and Colandrea can see that. They’re looking for situations where they can win and develop, not programs fighting to avoid another coaching change.
Fortunately for Florida State, Daniels does bring something to the table. His rushing ability gives Malzahn options in the run game. His experience (37 career games across two Power Four programs) means he’s seen pressure before. He told reporters he’s coming in with “the mindset to be the leader and starting quarterback for this team.”
Unfortunately for Florida State, that might be exactly the problem. When the former five-star from the in-state rival and the Mountain West Offensive  Player of the Year both walk away without committing, it signals where this program truly sits in the current hierarchy.
The Seminoles needed a home run in the transfer portal. They got a single.
