Quarterbacks eager to learn new system
Florida State quarterback James Blackman has had a lot thrown at him during his time with the Seminoles.
Blackman juggled going from starter to backup to starter again as his career ebbed and flowed throughout a tumultuous time in the program’s history. FSU has had three different head coaches since Blackman arrived in 2017 and he’s been asked to learn four different offensive systems.
His latest coach, Mike Norvell, arrived after leading a high-scoring Memphis team to an American Athletic Conference title and a spot in a New Year’s Six Access Bowl game.
“Coach Norvell doesn’t make anything easy,” Blackman said during a videoconference with reporters after the start of preseason camp. “It’s being able to be consistent every day. That’s what I like about it. Even though I’ve been through four different offenses, it doesn’t mean anything.”
Blackman is among four quarterbacks vying for the starting job when the Seminoles kick off the season against Georgia Tech on Sept. 12. He joins redshirt sophomore Jordan Travis and a pair of true freshmen in Tate Rodemaker and Chubba Purdy.
New offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham, who spent three seasons as an assistant under Norvell at Memphis, described the process of evaluating the quarterback position in camp.
“Every day is going to be graded, everything is going to be graded: on the field, off the field and in the classroom,” he said. “Everything you do at the quarterback position is graded.”
The players have eagerly embraced the new offense despite limited practice time.
“It’s been a great learning experience and I’m falling in love with it because you feel yourself gaining more knowledge as the days go on,” said Blackman, who’s appeared in 27 games during three seasons at FSU, where he’s thrown for 5,079 yards with 41 touchdowns and 23 interceptions.
Blackman isn’t the only one with an affinity for the offense.
“There’s a lot of things I’ve learned this year that I’ve never learned in my life before in football,” said Travis, who appeared in four games last season after sitting out the 2018 season following his transfer from Louisville. “I’ve learned the ends and outs and the
Houston, tweeted, “Yeah yeah let us play!”
FSU offensive lineman Andrew Boselli, who battled and recovered from COVID-19, also threw his support behind the movement, tweeting, “#WeWantToPlay #WearAMask.”
UCF offensive lineman Parker Boudreaux also tweeted: “#WeWantToPlay.”
While SEC and ACC commissioners reportedly met with leaders of other Power 5 conferences Sunday, they have been pushing to play football in the fall and were among the last leagues to make alterations to their upcoming little things about football. I feel like this offense has helped me out a lot, for sure.”
Travis was thrust into the lineup last season when the Seminoles needed a boost in the ground game, finishing third on the team in rushing with 228 yards, but the West Palm Beach product wants to be known for more than his legs.
“I’m looking forward to showing off my arm. It bugs me a lot, being known as a runner, because I’ve always been known as a passer, so I’m working to get better every single day,” he said.
Norvell has a reputation for developing quarterbacks.
He has mentored quarterbacks Taylor Kelly, Mike Bercovici, Riley Ferguson and Brady White during his time at Arizona State and Memphis. Those players went on to average 3,261 yards, 28 touchdowns and nine interceptions during the eight seasons under Norvell.
The last Florida State quarterback to throw for at least 3,200 yards and 28 touchdowns in a season was Jameis Winston, who passed for 4,057 yards and 40 touchdowns in 2013.
Dillingham spent last season at Auburn, collaborating with true freshman quarterback Bo Nix.
Nix became the first true freshman to start at quarterback for the Tigers, finishing with 2,542 yards and 16 touchdown passes while adding 313 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. His performance earned him SEC Freshman of the Year honors.
Rodemaker and Purdy, who
schedules. When the Big Ten chose to go to with a conferenceonly football schedule on July 9, the SEC and ACC waited until the last week of July to set their schedule plans.
President Donald Trump led a wave of politicians endorsing the player movement Monday.
“The student-athletes have been working too hard for their season to be cancelled. #WeWantToPlay,” Trump wrote in a tweet.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also backed players who are eager to compete.
“They want to play,” said DeSantis. ”I support their efforts to signed as part of FSU’s 2020 recruiting class, are already making an impact despite limited time in the program.
Rodemaker enrolled early and arrived on campus in January, but he returned home in March after the coronavirus pandemic shut down the school and abruptly canceled spring camp. Purdy enrolled mid-year and joined the team in June.
“Those guys are doing a tremendous job. They’re so eager to learn and they’re always asking questions. I see myself in them,” Blackman said.
Rodemaker, who gained 10 pounds during the summer, said he is eager to improve.
“We’re all trying to get better, but we’re also competing,” he said.
Added Purdy, “As of right now, I don’t feel behind at all. I’ve been doing the same plays everyone else is on. We’re taking it step-bystep.”
Norvell said the FSU quarterbacks have a diverse skill set but he stresses the intangibles will help determine the team’s next starter.
“We talk to our guys all the time — knowledge has to be their greatest talent,” Norvell said. “… When you’re able to help give guys tools that allow them to play with confidence and allows them to play fast, you continue to tweak simple things that can help them be more efficient and showcase the skills and talents they have, guys embrace that. They want more of it.” do so. They shouldn’t have their season taken away from them.”
The AAC and UCF athletics director Danny White, meanwhile, have indicated they hope to play this fall, but they concede their fate is tied to the Power 5 leagues. Perhaps most frustrating for UCF and fellow Group of 5 schools, they do not have a seat at the table as Power 5 leaders are expected to decide the fate of the 2020 season during the next few days.