Florida State names Auburn transfer Ashton Daniels as starting QB

Florida State announced Auburn transfer Ashton Daniels as its starting quarterback for the 2026 season on Tuesday.

Daniels, who turns 22 next month, has appeared in 37 games over the last four seasons at Stanford (2022-24) and Auburn (2025).

He beat out redshirt freshman Kevin Sperry, with the news announced by the school Tuesday after head coach Mike Norvell said at the end of spring practice last week that he wasn't ready to choose a QB1.

Daniels took over the starting job late last season at Auburn, completing 57.1% of his passes for 797 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions with 280 rushing yards and two rushing scores in four games.

His most productive season came in 2023 at Stanford, when he threw for 2,247 yards, 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Over four seasons, he's thrown for 4,783 yards, 24 TDs and 22 picks while rushing for 1,401 yards and 11 scores.

It will be the third straight season the Seminoles start a first-year transfer at quarterback. It was not a formula that worked particularly well with D.J. Uiagalelei (2024) or Thomas Castellanos (2025) as the Seminoles have gone a combined 7-17 over the last two seasons.

--Field Level Media