Taggart ready to see his players’ will to win

TALLAHASSEE Willie Taggart has worked to endear himself to members of the Florida State administration, faculty, Seminoles boosters, legendary coach Bobby Bowden, standout players of the past and the FSU fanbase.

Now, it’s time to focus on some football.

Taggart, FSU’s new head football coach, and the Seminoles will begin spring practice today ahead of the annual Garnet and Gold spring game at Doak Campbell Stadium on April 14.

The Seminoles will practice Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays leading up to their spring exhibition, hoping to set a strong foundation and regroup from last season’s disappointing 7-6 campaign.

“Now it’s time to go out and execute on the football field,” Taggart said Tuesday before FSU’s pro day event.

“It’ll be fun to seem them take from what they’re doing in the meeting rooms and take it out on the football field, see how they execute, see how our guys compete, who wants jobs and who is OK with someone taking their jobs. It’s going to be pretty cool.”

Check out some highlights from Taggart’s prespring news conference:

1. It’s time to take the gloves off

Taggart, his coaching staff and the Seminoles have made significant process with their working relationships during FSU’s pre-spring conditioning programs.

Now, Taggart wants to see what his players are made of competitively this spring.

“Our guys are buying into everything we’re asking them to do, and they’re having fun,” Taggart said. “We see them around the office a lot more. They’re coming in just to talk, not just football or when they do something wrong. But they’re just coming around and spending time with us. That says a lot.

“… This is where it gets interesting, how they respond when things don’t go their way and when the competition gets close. We want those guys that are going to find a way to win.”

2. Taggart wants competition at quarterback

Quarterback Deondre Francois will be limited to 7-on-7 workouts this spring as he continues recovering from a torn patellar tendon in his left knee, an injury he suffered during last season’s opening game against Alabama. But that does not mean Taggart has conceded the quarterback position to James Blackman, who emerged as FSU’s starter after Francois’ injury and has gained 12 points of muscle since the end of last season.

Taggart wants Blackman and redshirt freshman Bailey Hockman to face off in a quarterback competition this spring, with Francois eager to enter the mix when he is fully recovered.

“I’m sure Bailey is not going to make it easy on [Blackman.] … And when Deondre is back out there, he’s not going to make it easy on them, too,” Taggart said of his quarterbacks. “I want them to compete, have fun and just get better.”