Tommy Castellanos reveals how Florida State teammates reacted to Alabama comments

Tommy Castellanos made headlines earlier this offseason when he made candid comments toward Alabama, Florida State’s opponent in next month’s season opener. He has since doubled down, and even tripled down on his comments.

FSU head coach Mike Norvell expressed his support for Castellanos during ACC Media Days on Wednesday. The new Seminoles quarterback also spoke to media, and shared how his teammates felt after making several bold statements.

“I mean, the next day I walked in — ‘Hey, we’re right behind you.’ Like ‘Yo, we love it. We like it.’ So just being able to hear that from them and spark that type of confidence and that type of camaraderie, it’s exciting,” Castellanos told reporters. “You want your guys to get behind you and play for you. … Anything that I can do to get my guys prepared to go out there and battle, I’ll do it.”

Many recruits dreamed of playing for the Crimson Tide, a team who has stayed at the forefront of college football for the better part of two decades, but not Castellanos. He told On3’s Pete Nakos that he dreamed of playing against Alabama.

That’s not what Alabama fans took issue with. He followed that up by saying, “they don’t have Nick Saban to save them. I just don’t see them stopping me.”

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer appeared responded to these claims earlier this offseason. He said that the Crimson Tide plans to remind the world that Alabama is still a premier program, and one that will “stuff you in a locker if you start feeling too good about yourself.”

The trash talk, or confidence, whichever way you want to look at it, from both sides has turned the season-opening matchup between Florida State and Alabama into one of Week 1’s most highly-anticipated games. Emotions will be high, just like the expectations for both program this fall.

Alabama finished short of 10 wins (9-4) for the first time since 2007. However, Florida State is coming off a campaign that saw them finish 2-10 after 2023’s ACC Championship run. Both teams will be looking to make an impression early on the national stage.

Kickoff between the Seminoles and Crimson Tide is set for Saturday, Aug. 30 at 3:30 p.m. ET. The game will air live on ABC. Florida State has opened up as a heavy underdog with Alabama being favored by 13.5 points, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.