How Florida State football's Brock Glenn has prepared for this big moment as starting QB
Florida State football fans who chanted "We want Brock, during the Seminoles' Labor Day game against Boston College last month will get their wish Saturday.
That's when double-digit underdog FSU (1-4) looks to upset the 15th-ranked Clemson Tigers (3-1). It will be Glenn's third career start but his first at Doak Campbell Stadium. Kickoff is 7 p.m. on ESPN.
“I'm just going to go out, be me, do what I can do and just have fun doing it,” Glenn said.
“I mean, that's what you played the game for when you were a little kid. You go out, and you truly enjoy playing the game. That's how I'm going to go out there Saturday.”
With the Brocktober Fest underway, how much does everyone know about the redshirt freshman?
Many may not be aware that Brock is not his initial first name.
His full name is actually Auburn Brock Glenn. Yes, like Auburn University in Alabama.
Where did the name come from?
Auburn was inspired by his grandfather, who graduated from the University's Veterinarian School in 1963.
More: Is Florida State the best college for sports fans? Vote now
Glenn is very close to his grandpa, and during his recruiting trail, he strongly considered Auburn when the Tigers offered him.
Clearly, Glenn had other plans. That said, here's how Glenn found his way to Florida State.
From an undersized Wing-T middle school quarterback to Division I prospect
Glenn is originally from Covington, Tennessee, which is about 40 minutes outside of Memphis.
He comes from a tight family. The youngest of five siblings, he was raised in a well-mannered environment by his mother and grandfather.
Glenn has always been a dual-threat quarterback. In middle school, he played in a Wing-T offense. He had a different mindset and high expectations when enrolling at Lausanne Collegiate School, an RPO system.
"I think there were a lot of high expectations for him when he got into high school, and Brock just responded well, like positive reinforcement," Kevin Locastro, Lausanne's head football coach and athletic director, told The Tallahassee Democrat.
"But he doesn't have pressure situations or situations where he has to work to be successful, so I think it's his background, with his family, really helped shape and hold him even where he is right now."
As a freshman, he weighed only 155 pounds. As an undersized quarterback, his first step was to look the part. He committed to the weight room and even worked out with the offensive line.
He gained 20 pounds by his sophomore year when he became the Lynx's starting quarterback. He continued to grow each year, developed a strong arm, and was close to 200 pounds by the time he graduated.
" He's a pretty cool guy under pressure, not scared to stay in the pocket and make plays," Locastro said.
"Like, he's gotten better with the speedies. He's gotten a little bit older. Obviously, for us, he grew into a really big, strong arm, and he had a really good understanding of what we were asking him to do."
By the end of his junior year, Glenn had become a four-star prospect and a blue-chip quarterback after he received an offer from Ohio State and was ranked No. 13 in the country.
When Glenn established himself as a leader, he took pride in preparation. Before practice, while high school teammates are socializing, he's prepping for practice, warming himself up with workout bands.
Locastro viewed him as an extensive member of his coaching because he keeps his teammates in the locker room and the classroom.
"Brock is the kind of person who does not find it hard to make tough decisions when everybody else is doing something wrong, and he steps away from it and makes the right decision," Locastro said.
"Or even if somebody's about to do something wrong, he's a strong enough kid to step in and say, 'Hey, look, this is not what we're supposed to be doing.'"
FSU entered the picture late in Glenn's recruiting process. There was already interest because of Mike Norvell.
Locastro met Norvell when he coached the Memphis Tigers. Every summer, Locastro would bring his players to one of Norvell's camps.
Locastro believed Glenn would fit Norvell's offense because he runs an RPO-style offense. Norvell and FSU's QB coach Tony Tokarz stayed on him until he finally committed to the Seminoles.
The high academic institution and family atmosphere in Norvell's program played a factor in his decision.
"I just think they did a great job of developing a relationship with him because Brock is really a relationship guy," Locastro said.
"He wants to play for coaches who obviously know the game of football but also were interested in developing relationships and rapport with their players. And I think coach Norvell, Tony and those guys down there did a really good job of just selling him on family."
'I'm just going to compete' is the mindset for Brock Glenn at Florida State
When Glenn enrolled at FSU, things were shaky at first. He was battling a finger injury that forced him to miss most of the 2023 regular season. Then, FSU lost Jordan Travis and Tate Rodemaker.
Glenn got his first two starts in the ACC Championship against Louisville and against Georgia in the Capital One Orange Bowl.
Glenn had a unique experience, but he didn't shy away from the opportunity to make his mark. Glenn appeared in five games and threw for 229 yards and one rushing touchdown.
"That's what you come to Florida State for," Glenn said. "It's a great opportunity that you dream of playing games like these, so just go out and have fun."
This year, Glenn made his first game appearance against SMU after shutting down DJ Uiagalelei in the fourth quarter. But he didn't complete a pass during the Seminoles' 42-16 loss.
Glenn is expected to start against Clemson following Uiagalelei's injury.
Locastro continued to stay in touch with Glenn and has embraced the challenges thrown at him, especially this season when the Seminoles brought in Uiagalelei from Oregon State.
“I talked to him prior to and he had a great attitude,” Locastro said.
“I talked to him prior to Georgia game, then I talked to him when DJ came in and just asked myself, 'How do you feel about that?' He said, 'Coach, you know me, I'm just going to compete. I don't care who they bring in. I'm just going to compete.'”
Glenn also learned from his teammates in the quarterback room. Last season, it was Travis, who he still talks about to this day after being drafted by the New York Jets.
He also developed a new working relationship with Uiagalalei and learned from watching him and how he prepares for a game.
He mentioned Uiagalelei continuing to be involved for the Seminoles despite being ruled out for a few weeks due to a broken finger. Glenn learned a lot from the fifth senior.
“That’s something DJ did a good job with as well,” Glenn said.
“Just getting the receivers together and watching with as a whole group and so I kind of tagged along and then uh just kind of leading it here this week as well so we just get together um go over practice and clean up all the details and make sure we're good on our chemistry and timing.”
Senior wide receiver Ja'Khi Douglas spoke about Glenn and his growth from last season to now. He expressed the confidence he has shown all through preparation every week.
"I see Brock with more confidence and more of him being himself," Douglas said. "All I see is Brock being himself out there, making the calls, and being more vocal. Last year, he was just like that, but now the ball is in his hands."
Glenn's confidence is based on his leaning on his older teammates on offense. He looks forward to leading the offense, hoping the Seminoles will capture their second victory.
"(I’m) just trying to show my confidence in myself and my confidence in my receivers and playmakers, as well as my O-line," Glenn said. "Just trying to build confidence in everybody around me and myself as well."
How can I watch FSU football vs. Clemson
Date: Saturday, Oct. 5
Time: 7 p.m.
Where: Doak Campbell Stadium/ Tallahassee, Florida
TV: ESPN
FSU football schedule 2024: TV channels, dates and start times
Saturday, Aug. 24: vs. Georgia Tech* (Aer Lingus College Football Classic) Lost 24-21
Monday, Sept. 2: vs. Boston College* | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo) Lost 28-13
Saturday, Sept. 7: Bye
Saturday, Sept. 14: vs. Memphis | Noon | ESPN (Fubo) Lost 20-12
Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. Cal* | 7 p.m.| ESPN2 (Fubo) Won 14-9
Saturday, Sept. 28: at SMU* | 8 p.m. EST | ACC Network Lost 42-16
Saturday, Oct. 12: Bye
Saturday, Oct. 26: at No. 8 Miami*
Saturday, Nov. 2: vs. North Carolina*
Saturday, Nov. 9: at No. 14 Notre Dame | 7:30 p.m. | NBC (Fubo, Peacock)
Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. Charleston Southern
Saturday, Nov. 30: vs. Florida
Saturday, Dec. 6: ACC championship game (Charlotte, N.C)
All times Eastern
BOLD = ACC
* = Neutral Site
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: How FSU football's Brock Glenn prepared for his moment in spotlight
