Florida State has
Seminoles’ trio of QBs eager to settle battle for starting job
a trio of quarterbacks eager to settle the battle for the starting job.
TALLAHASSEE — Florida State quarterback James Blackman stood tall with his head held high, flashing a bright smile and newfound confidence he will no longer keep bottled inside.
As the Seminoles began the first preseason practice of the Willie Taggart era Monday, Blackman seemed like he has matured significantly since being a timid true freshman thrust into the starting job early last season.
“I feel like this is a great situation to be in, and this is a perfect situation for me to be in so a lot of people can get to know me,” Blackman said in the most free-spirited manner he has displayed to the media since joining the Seminoles. “But it feels better now.” Blackman is primed to reclaim his job, but he will face a stiff challenge this fall from redshirt junior Deondre Francois and redshirt freshman Bailey Hockman.
Blackman was the first quarterback taking snaps with the firstteam offense during practice Monday ahead of Francois. Hock- man worked with the secondteam players.
The trio will work to impress Taggart, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Walt Bell and their teammates as they push to win the position and lead the Seminoles during the first game of the season against Virginia Tech at Doak Campbell Stadium on Sept.
3. Continued from Page C1
“We’re all great leaders and cheer for our teammates, and are able to pick up one another,” Blackman said. “I feel like everyone that’s in this position is going to do a great job, but I feel like I bring a little bit more leadership.”
Blackman became FSU’s starter last season when Francois suffered a torn patellar tendon in his left leg during the 2017 opener against Alabama. He completed 58.2 percent of his passes for 2,230 yards, 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, helping FSU finish 7-6.
During the offseason, Blackman has worked to improve his lanky 6-foot-5 frame, gaining muscle and weighing in at 178 pounds on Monday, nine more pounds than he weighed as an 18-year-old freshman.
“I try to eat every chance I can,” he said.
Francois was excited and eager to return to action, his first real practice since being injured last season.
After an offseason of offfield distractions, including a misdemeanor charge for marijuana possession, he wants to be a strong teammate while regaining the starting job he held in 2016.
“That’s just the way it is. That’s how football is,” said Francois, the 2016 ACC Rookie of the Year who completed 58.8 percent of his passes for 3,350 yards, 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
“I’ve been competing all my life, so being hurt last year was devastating for us as a program. So me being back is good for me and I just feel good now. I’m in a better place.”
Both Blackman and Francois had similar answers when asked directly why they should win the starting quarterback job, saying the decision is up to the coaches to put the players in the best position to lead the team this season.
Hockman is the most inexperienced quarterback vying for the top job. He completed 11 of 22 passes for 203 yards and a touchdown despite suffering a stress fracture in his foot during the spring game in April. But Hockman may have had the best answer when asked why he should win the job.
“Because I want it,” Hockman said. “I want to win. I want to win the national championship. I don’t have any goal other than that.”
Taggart wants see how his quarterbacks separate themselves from the competition, while Bell wants to see how they can make their other 10 offensive teammates better.
“They are all doing a good job,” Taggart said. “Now, it’s being able to win the team over by doing those things, and winning them over by making plays on the football field.”
Added Bell: “To me, who can do that at a higher rate, that’s going to be the guy that you entrust to be the quarterback.”