FSU Football: Spring Position Preview | Quarterback

We take a look at the QB room, coached by young star Tony Tokarz, and led by Heisman contender Jordan Travis. There is no ceiling for the group but where is the floor? Lets take a look....

Feb 16, 2023

Twitter | @13d_riera

2023 FSU QB Room

When it comes to the quarterback room at Florida State the Seminoles are in their best shape since 2014. Mike Norvell, Alex Atkins, and Tony Tokarz will work to get the absolute most out of their Heismam contender Jordan Travis and a veteran back up in Tate Rodemaker. Let’s take a look at all four scholarship qb’s headed into spring.

Jordan Travis | 6th Year Senior

It has been one heck of a journey for JT13 to reach his preseason status; that of a Heisman contender and leader of a CFP contender. A member if the high school class of 2018 he spent his first hear there recruited by Petrino to be the next Lamar Jackson, onky for him to be canned. In comes a new coach and he transfers to Florida State in 2019.

Willie’s second year was a disaster and he insisted Jordan simply couldnt throw well enough to run “his” offense. Reports also suggest Briles wanted to use Travis at QB in a run heavy system with some deep shots to keep them hinest as they developed him. Nope he was rebuffed.

No matter though just as soon as Travis got any oppurtunities he absolutely stunned us all with his absolutely thrilling athleticism and speed, taking his first Touch at QB for a long TD run and silencing . Raucus Boston College crowd if I remember correctly. Followijg Taggart’s dismissal Jordan began being worked into the offense.

It was definitely not an overnight success when Dillingham and Norvell arrived later that year but Kenny let him know immediately he absolutely had all the skills necessary to be an elite quarterback. By the second half of 2021 the team was Jordan’s to lose amd he hasn’t looked back, being the heart and soul of the FSU offense and hiding all of their defeciencies to an almost impossible clip.

Brendan Sonnone @BSonnone

Jordan Travis leads the entire country in passer rating in the last month (138.3 NFL Passer Rating). No one is more efficient than J-Trav. And he's 3rd in Expected Points Added per Dropback. Wow.

Twitter | @BSonnone

The key to Jordan’s early success and ability to greatly improve this offense is his mobility hands down. For a good stretch of years we simply didn’t have the ability to drop back and pass traditionally whatsoever. The threat of Jordan’s legs changed eveeything. He CAN make time to throw back there due to the leverage his legs create; they hold safeties, linebackers for an extra second and leave defensive ends afraid of getting too deep.

The big question for the 2023 season is gonna be how much will Jordan’s insane skillset affect defenses now that he has an OL that can protect him, open up running lanes and bigtime all conference playmakers at all the skill positions ( Trey Benson, Johnny Wilson, Jaheim Bell and several more?

Can JT13 Win The Heisman?

Youtube | @xsandNoles | @Noles247

Tate Rodemaker | 4th year Sophomore

Tate Rodemaker hold’s the distinction of being Coach Norvell’s first ever commit way back in the beginning of 2020. He has always believed in Tate while I must admit my own faith was shaken after a bit of a tough start. That all changed in last year’s Louisville game.

We finally saw the switch go off in his mind and he started performing to his true capabilities and like practice reports had been suggesting all along. I look for Tate to get a ton of burn in the second half of games as the Noles have half a dozen games that figure to be over by halftime or the 4th quarter for sure.

It’s a long, long way from the 2024 season but I honestly believe he will he capable of being that transition QB to a Kromenhoek, Glenn, or Duffy. He has a true passion for the game and a gunslinger mentality. With the team improving in every individual unit and as a whole he will be able to thrive as a pocket passer. Florida State simply couldn’t block it up good enough early in his career, but those days are gone.

Youtube | @ACCDirectNetwork

AJ Duffy | RS Freshman

AJ saw very little action his freshman year as the third string quarterback and redshirted. While he is still third string and highly unlikely to pass Rodemaker on the depth chart I look forward to seeing him perform on the practice field under Coach Tokarz’ instruction and possibly compete for the job / backup job in 2024.

With the redshirt now taken advantage of there is no reason to keep Duffy off of the field this year when the oppurtunities present themselves. I’m thinking he will have around 50-100 snaps in garbage time this year.

Youtube | @ACCDirectNetwork

Brock Glenn | True Freshman

Brock Glenn is the highest recruited quarterback out of high school originally thought to be an Ohio State slam dunk. Mike Norvell and staff locked down their QB for the year in this young country boy.

Evaluating his high-School and camp career, while I’m excited for the young signal callers future, I dont see much more than a scout team qb and a redshirt for 2023 as he gets accustomed to the CLIMB. Spring camp starts March the sixth and I can’t wait to see how he looks. Is there a possibility he comes in on fire and influences a possible transfer from AJ Duffy? There is always a chance though I don’t think it will happen after one camp.