Mike Norvell says FSU Football QB DJ Uiagalelei has a chance to be a 'special fit'

The Seminoles will look to make another College Football Playoff run with DJ Uiagalelei at the helm of the offense.

Mar 9, 2024; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles head football coach Mike Norvell / Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports

Florida State football head coach Mike Norvell was recently interviewed by 247Sports reporter Brandon Marcello who requested insight on the state of the program over the last three months.

Within that time frame (roughly), FSU was left out of the College Football Playoff (CFP), brought in a tremendous amount of transfer talent (including a new quarterback), sent 11 athletes to the NFL Combine, were reportedly close to losing their head coach to Alabama, and managed all of this while suing the ACC in an attempt to leave the conference for the Big Ten or the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

It has been a wild, wild three months for the fanbase, the football program, and the university as a whole.

READ MORE: FSU Football Legend Returning To Tallahassee As Defensive Analyst

Marcello asked Norvell about being left out of the CFP in December. Norvell said it was just something the team was “not in control of” despite going 13-0.

“It was obviously an extremely challenging time that was sometimes hard on our team, on the players, just everybody that was involved in it, obviously our fanbase; to see the things that our group was able to accomplish last year and to be able to go and respond to the adversity that the season threw at us and to be able to win the conference championship going 13-0, all those things," Norvell said. "But, you know, at the end of the day, we’re not in control of necessarily the opportunity to play in the Playoffs and being able to handle and manage our guys throughout that bowl season – some guys opted to not play in the bowl game as they prepared for the Combine and their NFL futures. It was a challenging time. But I’ve really been proud of our guys."

Furthermore, the FSU head coach discussed his confidence in Oregon State transfer quarterback, DJ Uiagalelei. Norvell stated that he has the chance to be a “special fit” this upcoming season.

“I really like what I’ve seen from DJ and just his growth and development. When he went to Oregon State it was a big change in system and what to do," Norvell said. "You saw him under center, you saw the vertical passing game that emerged, the things that he was able to do and just I think growing as a quarterback through his progressions and just overall understanding of where to go with the ball, the confidence and what came with that … He’s had some really high moments, he’s had some really challenging moments that he’s had to work through and just the maturity of who he is, the person, the character, the desire to be a part of something bigger than himself. I think this has a chance to be just a special fit."

The FSU head coach is entering his fifth year with the program. He is 31-17 since arriving in Tallahassee and has gone 23-4 in his last two seasons.

Stick with NoleGameday for more coverage of Florida State football throughout the spring.

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