Starting QB battle still close heading into game week
TALLAHASSEE — While Florida State coach Willie Taggart and his staff aren’t ready to name a starting quarterback, offensive coordinator Kendal Briles’ evaluation of candidates James Blackman and Alex Hornibrook suggest the race is closer than previously expected.
Both quarterbacks have taken snaps with the first team during preseason practices.
While Blackman, the projected starter after leading the offense during most of the 2017 season, has impressed Briles, the first-year FSU coordinator said there’s still room for improvement.
“James is, the way he plays the game, he plays it a little bit different than everyone else,” Briles said. “He does have that competitive passion and he is a great leader. His arm talent is really good; his accuracy is better. So I like that about him. And he’s a good decision-maker.
“There’s been some times where he’s been a little loose with the ball, and we’ve addressed that. That’s the main thing I tell those guys all the time: The No. 1 ability you can have as a quarterback is predictability. I’ve got to know where that football is going, and he’s got to be on the same pages as us offensively.
“I think he does have great abilities. He’s not the best runner in the world, not the strongest arm in the world. But when you put everything together, he’s a dang good quarterback.”
Briles said Hornibrook, a Wisconsin transfer who had extensive game-day experience with the Badgers, has shown the poise and confidence of an upperclassman.
“Alex is a guy who has been through it. He’s a vet. And you love having those older guys around. He’s seen it. He’s played a lot of games,” Briles said. “He’s gone through the ups and downs of being a starting quarterback. All those things. And then I’ve been really impressed with his knowledge. Coming in here and not having the spring that the other guys did, being able to learn and retain, he’s a really smart kid.
“Whatever he does, he’s going to be successful in life, in general. And he has some play-making ability about him. He runs a little bit better than you’d give him credit.”
Briles said Hornibrook forced him to make a few adjustments.
“It’s a little different for me having a southpaw out there. I’m not used to that. I’ve got to train my brain around him sometimes,” Briles said. “But I like the way he plays the game, and he’s done a good job with the team. The team really respects him, and that’s tough.
“Coming into an environment where you’ve got a guy like James, who everybody loves, and he’s worked himself into everybody really respecting him. And he’s done it by work. He’s put in the time. I’m really pleased with him and where he’s at.”
Taggart said the race is tight, and so far he’s been impressed by Blackman, Hornibrook and Louisville transfer Jordan Travis, who recently was cleared to play this season.
Taggart has said Hornibrook and Travis were brought in to provide competitive depth and have delivered, making it a true quarterback battle.
“It’s been really close. I’ve been impressed with all three guys, just the competition going back and forth, and they all have gotten reps with the ones and the twos,” Taggart said. “And like I said last week, seeing those guys being able to execute the offense, whether they’re in there with the ones or the twos, was really impressive to me.”