TAMPA, Fla. – Luke Kromenhoek was destined to play at Florida State and had the quarterback-of-the-future-type buildup. That is why at least some eyebrows were raised when he entered the transfer portal after only one season in Tallahassee.
Kromenhoek – pronounced Chrome-in-HAWK – committed to the Seminoles during his sophomore year at Benedictine Military School in Savannah, Ga. What was interesting about the timing is that Kromenhoek had yet to play quarterback. He lined up as a running back, receiver and safety as a sophomore in 2021.
It was at a camp that summer when the ‘Noles, impressed with the young man’s size, arm strength, mechanics and athleticism, offered. Kromenhoek took over the Cadets’ offense as a junior, and by senior year his stock was soaring – a top five QB recruit in multiple rankings — all the way to Tallahassee.
With former Clemson and Oregon State quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei at the controls in 2024, it appeared as though Kromenhoek would bide his time before getting his chance in 2025. However, Uiagalelei was injured in the Seminoles’ fifth game at SMU.
Sophomore Brock Glenn took over the offense and started the next five games, completing less than half his passes in three of them. Glenn’s fifth and final start was a 52-3 disgrace at Notre Dame that cost offensive coordinator Alex Atkins his job.
The keys were handed to Kromenhoek, who played bits and pieces of seven games to that point, to run the offense for the final two contests of a 2-10 season. Less than two weeks after being sacked eight times in a season-ending 31-11 loss to the visiting Gators, Kromenhoek was in the portal. By that time, Gus Malzahn left UCF to become Mike Norvell’s new offensive coordinator. It did not take long for chatter to fire up regarding Boston College quarterback Tommy Castellanos, who had already announced his intention to leave BC, potentially reuniting with Malzahn, who recruited the versatile QB while at UCF. Sure enough, Castellanos ended up in Tallahassee.
Kromenhoek, devoted to the scarlet and gold more than two years before arriving on campus, heard all manner of speculation as to why he was leaving. That included an NIL-related disagreement, which his father shot down.
“At the end of the day, in me and my family’s eyes and my support staff, we felt it wasn’t really the best place for me anymore,” he said during Monday afternoon’s media availability at USF. “We felt like we needed to go elsewhere in order to reach the end goal for myself, which is everyone’s end goal, to go play in the NFL.”
Kromenhoek left FSU having thrown for 502 yards with three touchdowns and a pair of picks in nine games during a season he likely would have preserved a redshirt if not for Uiagalelei’s injury.
“We felt like it was the best option for me to explore other places, but I will say it was a great opportunity being there,” he said of FSU. “I learned so much. I’m so thankful for that staff. I really enjoyed my time there and it was a great opportunity I am thankful for.”
Mississippi State
A week after entering the portal, Kromenhoek announced his intention to resume his career in Starkville, where it was no secret Blake Shapen would return from injury to be the No. 1 quarterback. Michael Van Buren was Shapen’s backup in 2024 and transferred to LSU for the 2025 season. That created a vacancy on the Bulldogs’ depth chart that Kromenhoek filled.
(The small world the portal has created: Van Buren and Kromenhoek are presently competing for the top at USF.)
Also on board at Mississippi State last year was then-true freshman Kamario Taylor, a four-star recruit of coach Jeff Lebby’s. Taylor ultimately emerged as Shapen’s primary backup. As a result, Kromenhoek went from participating in nine games with the Seminoles to attempting nine passes with the Bulldogs. Because he played in only three games, he maintained a redshirt and has three years of eligibility remaining.
“It didn’t really shake out the way that I would have hoped,” he said of his season at Mississippi State. “At the end of the day, it was a great opportunity for me to grow in my knowledge of the game. I learned a ton at Mississippi State. Blake Shapen was there, he’s a vet and I was getting to learn from him. Kamario’s an unbelievable athlete, and obviously coach Lebby is a great offensive mind. So, just being able to pick their brains and also improve upon my game of ball knowledge, and really just everything, was a great opportunity.”
USF
The 6-foot-4 Kromenhoek is listed at 220 pounds, up 12 pounds from his listed weight at Florida State two years ago. He and Van Buren are competing for the top job while Texas Southern graduate transfer KJ Cooper has earned praise from Hartline for his work since arriving at USF in January.
“When I walked in, I wasn’t the biggest guy,” Kromenhoek said of his arrival at USF. “I put on a couple of pounds and all of my metrics have gone up. It was really a big summer for me, and it’s hats off to (strength coach Antonio Turner).”
There might be a tip of the cap to Locklan Hewlett as well. Kromenhoek said he did not know much about USF before consulting with Hewlett, a backup to Byrum Brown as a true freshman last season. Hewlett, now at Auburn, put in a good word.
“I got to pick his brain a little bit about it, and he said this place was amazing,” Kromenhoek said, adding that he has trained with Hewlett’s father, Will, a quarterback performance coach. “I really didn’t know much about (USF), but it’s really been unbelievable since I’ve been here.”
Kromenhoek complimented Van Buren for the relationship the two have built since arriving on campus, and also the latter’s style of play.
“He’s very knowledgeable, he’s got great accuracy, and he’s really just a great playmaker,” he said. “Just being able to pick his brain on some things like, ‘Why did you go here on this play?’ It has been great to learn from him and pick up on some things he does that will help improve my game.”
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