Florida State QB provides Kalen DeBoer and Alabama with bulletin board material

Alabama should have plenty of motivation heading to Tallahassee for the season opener against Florida State. The Crimson Tide is coming off a disappointing 9-4 season in Kalen DeBoer's debut, but has the talent to be a legitimate national title contender in 2025. A non-conference season opener on the road isn't a "must-win" for College Football Playoff hopes, but DeBoer can't afford a season-opening loss to begin year two, or the Alabama fanbase might be in full revolt before the calendar even flips to September.

If Alabama needed any extra motivation for the season opener, they got it on Monday with a quote from Florida State QB Thomas Castellanos, who transferred to the Seminoles this offseason from Boston College.

Castellanos ranked 112th in the country last season in Total QBR at Boston College, but he is undeniably an upgrade at QB for Mike Norvell's team from what they trotted out in 2024. Still, Florida State is coming off of an embarrassing 2-10 season, and I would imagine that most FSU fans - and specifically the head coach - would have preferred if Castellanos didn't say this and piss off the most talented team on the 'Noles schedule.

Castellanos is a dangerous dual-threat QB who could certainly cause some problems for Kane Wommack's defense. His fit with Bill O'Brien in Chestnut Hill wasn't great, as O'Brien looked to turn him into more of a pocket passer. He eclipsed 1000 yards on the ground in 2023 with the Eagles, but managed just 194 yards on 2.1 yards per carry last season.

DeBoer, Alabama opened themselves up to disrespectful comments after last year's disappointment

It was a rare occurrence during the Nick Saban years for an opposing player to be so brazen. Of course, there were a bold few, most of whom immediately regretted it once they stepped on the field with the Crimson Tide.

And that's what DeBoer and Alabama will have to do in Tallahassee. To remind Castellanos, and the nation at large, that last season was a blip on the radar and Alabama is still the big, bad bully on the block.

You can bet that Castellanos' comments will be placed in the weight room all summer, serving as extra motivation for a team that is looking to get back to the Alabama standard set by so many great players and teams that came before them in Tuscaloosa.

This Alabama team is talented enough to win the national title in 2025. Last season's team had the talent, too, but mental lapses and showing up to road games in Nashville, Knoxville, and Norman completely unprepared, derailed what should have been a better season.

The buy-in from this year's roster seems to have increased. It's easy for players to say that during the summer; however, it's another thing to prove it once toe meets leather.

For better or worse, we'll learn a lot about the 2025 Crimson Tide in Tallahassee.