The Gators have their QB of the future. Have the Seminoles found theirs?

Before being stuck in the oven, he was eased into the defroster. Luke Kromenhoek’s first start as a collegian featured only moderate heat, nothing infernal.

Oh yeah, FSU’s true freshman quarterback had made some cameos and a few completions in the Seminoles’ first 10 games, but nothing significant until he was named the starter for last weekend’s home game against Charleston Southern. For a 19-year-old freshman, the Bucs — a Football Championship Subdivision team with a 1-10 record — represented an off-Broadway debut, a smaller stage devoid of bright lights.

Kromenhoek turned in an encouraging – if not encore – performance. Leading eight of his team’s 10 offensive possessions, the consensus four-star recruit completed 13 of 20 passes for 209 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-7 ‘Noles rout. Nine of his last 12 throws were completions, including a 71-yard touchdown pass to senior Ja’Khi Douglas.

“As the game went on, you really saw him settle in and I thought he did a good job of — I say relaxing — but kind of letting the game come to him in some respects,” FSU coach Mike Norvell said .

“To be able to have three touchdown passes, made a lot of good decisions. There were some throws that he missed, some parts of different reads and progressions where I think he’s going to continue to be so much more efficient. … But I thought he did a really nice job during the game.”

After passing the first audition, now comes the recall. Kromenhoek, who pledged to the ‘Noles before his sophomore year of high school, is likely to start Saturday night’s season finale against resurgent Florida. With DJ Lagway anchored as the Gators’ starter, the game will mark what is believed to be the first matchup of true freshman quarterbacks in the franchise’s 66-year history.

If Kromenhoek delivers, he will likely enter 2025 as the front-runner for the starting job next fall. While conventional logic suggests Norvell will still explore the transfer window to bolster depth at the position, Kromenhoek appears to have the inside track with a solid effort on Saturday night.

“He’s a great leader,” said ‘Noles redshirt senior tailback (and Pinellas Park alumnus) Lawrance Toafili.

“I feel he controls the attack very well. He’s a young guy, but he brings a lot of energy and he (gets) along well, so I feel like he’s a good leader for the group.”

Raised in Savannah, Georgia, Kromenhoek accounted for nearly 7,000 yards and 73 touchdowns in three seasons at Benedictine Military School. Although he didn’t become the Cadets’ starting quarterback until his junior season, he impressed Norvell so much at an FSU camp that he was offered a scholarship in June 2021 — months before his sophomore year.

“We’ve been working with him here,” Gators coach Billy Napier added. “I was very impressed with him; we offered him a scholarship. Really sharp. Actually was a dual-threat guy in high school, played safety, very physical, was a good tackler. I mean, he’s one of the more highly regarded quarterbacks in the country.”

Kromenhoek pledged to the ‘Noles nine months after receiving his offer – March 26, 2022 and never wavered from that commitment despite a late charge from Georgia. Four days before the signing (on December 20, 2023) he issued a post on X essentially affirming his loyalty to FSU.

“We were, like, playing tag for the longest time and (Georgia) brought me up there and they sent me home disappointed multiple times, which made me think I was going to get an offer and I just never did,” he told Osceola on signing day.

“So for them to call at the 11th hour, I was kind of taken aback by that. … I was at that point in my recruiting where I was like, ‘I’m not going anywhere else. I’m not even going to listen you guys, I don’t want to hear anything. I know where I am, I know where I want to be.’ I was 100% solid with Florida State.”

As FSU’s season regressed from mediocre to moribund and opening day starter DJ Uiagalelei was lost for the season due to injury, Kromenhoek appeared in four of the ‘Noles’ first 10 games. Before last weekend, his most action came at Miami, where he completed 6 of 14 passes for 61 yards, but drew far more attention with his legs, gaining 71 yards on 11 carries.

His consecutive runs of 42 and 12 yards set up FSU’s first touchdown in the 36–14 loss.

Against Charleston Southern, FSU punted on two of its first three possessions before Kromenhoek settled in, leading four consecutive touchdown drives. As the game progressed, Norvell said Kromenhoek started making checks on the court without having to look over at the coaches. Instead, he saw what the defense was showing and understood the formation his offense should go into.

“You’re a true freshman running out there for the first time as a starter, there’s some nerves that come with that,” Norvell said. “You want it to be a certain way, you want it to look a certain way, and … we missed a few things early just in different parts, but I thought he handled it well and just kept playing and was able to roll and build some of that positive momentum.”

If that momentum carries over into Saturday, the ‘Noles might – just might – have found the quarterback of the future.

Cue the recall.

Contact Joey Knight at [email protected]. Follow @TBTimes_Bulls

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