FSU Football Fall Camp Preview: Quarterbacks
College football last graced our television screens and Twitter feeds almost 5 months ago to the day. In that time, we’ve witnessed FSU Softball’s historic run in the WCWS, we’ve seen the crowning of a new NBA Champion, we lost an icon in beloved bowl mascot Prince Cheddward, college football recruiting came and went, we’re still trying to find our friends on Meta’s new Threads app, and the list goes on.
You can only binge-watch so many seasons of Black Mirror and The Bear before you’re inevitably drawn back into the infectious news cycle that revolves around college football. For fans of Florida State, however, the cycle never really ended.
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Since raising the Cheez-It Bowl trophy and making snow angels in piles of Cheez-It crackers (not “Cheez-Its”) in December, Mike Norvell and company have worked diligently to maintain their focus and continue their climb. The hype train is moving faster than ever and the bandwagon is running out of room as the ‘Noles gear up for what many hope to be a promising 2023 campaign. The Seminoles have been included in nearly every national headline, every front page news story, and every YouTube thumbnail, and all of that pent-up potential is coming to a head as we near the start of Fall Camp.
The conclusion of Spring Camp painted a clearer picture of what kind of team the Seminoles are going to have at the start of the 2023 season, but there are corners and details in the picture that have since been altered or remain unpainted. Given that the roster has seen its fair share of alterations and there have been developments with regard to talent levels and expected roster changes, let’s take this moment to revisit and reassess each position group.
Today, we’ll kick things off with the group that’s received some of the most attention this offseason: the quarterbacks.
At the Surface
— Jordan Travis, Redshirt Senior
Luckily for the Seminoles, the quarterback room is fairly unchanged. Consistency at quarterback had been elusive for the program in recent years, but Norvell and Tokarz have worked diligently to establish a room that contains a healthy mix of veteran experience and young talent.
Florida State returns their star signal-caller in Jordan Travis alongside a supporting cast that features redshirt junior Tate Rodemaker and redshirt freshman A.J. Duffy. The three returners combined to produce 3,492 passing yards (99.4%), 28 touchdown passes (96.4%), and seven interceptions (100%) last season.
Travis has the chance to leave Tallahassee as one of the top quarterbacks to ever come through the program, holding career numbers of 5,959 passing yards and 46 passing touchdowns along with his rushing process.
— Tate Rodemaker, Redshirt Junior
Rodemaker broke his glass ceiling last season after leading Florida State to a comeback victory at Louisville. He entered the game in relief of Travis and ended up coming to life in the second, completing 6/10 passes for 109 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
At this point, his knowledge of the system and familiarity with the coaching staff makes him a valuable backup to Travis. It will take a major move from one of the younger quarterbacks to unseat him.
— AJ Duffy, Redshirt Freshman
Duffy spent the majority of his first year on campus learning behind Travis and Rodemaker. He came to FSU as a heralded prep prospect but is still acclimating to the college level.
This season will be imperative in his growth as Duffy competes with Rodemaker and Glenn to potentially replace Travis in 2024.
— Brock Glenn, True Freshman
The ‘Noles bolstered their depth at the quarterback position on the recruiting trail with the addition of four-star recruit Brock Glenn. Glenn came to Florida State by way of Lausanne Collegiate High School, where he forged a name for himself that turned the heads of many P5 programs.
FSU’s fanbase got their first look at the young quarterback during the 2023 Spring Showcase, and the performance left many with the understanding that Glenn will need some time to develop.
Projected Depth Chart
1. Jordan Travis
Under Mike Norvell, Florida State fans have been blessed with the certainty that comes with knowing Jordan Travis will be lining up under center week in and week out. Now in his fifth season with the program (and his fourth under Norvell), the redshirt senior quarterback took a giant leap during his 2022 campaign. He completed 226 passes on 353 attempts (64% completion rate) for 3,2114 yards, 24 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Travis’ abilities shine through when attacking on the ground and extending plays with his ability to scramble, which netted him 417 rushing yards and 7 rushing touchdowns. By season’s end, the veteran climbed to the top of every quarterback list and his statistics ranked among the best in the nation.
Travis’ stock has only gone up during the off-season. He's featured within the top 10 for Heisman betting odds; his skills have garnered praise from high-profile transfers; he has the potential to break multiple school records; and his potential offensive impact in 2023 is perhaps the largest contributing factor behind FSU’s favorable preseason rankings. For better or worse, Jordan Travis carries the weight of the program on his shoulders, but his maturation and development this offseason alone sparks more confidence and excitement than anything else. While the cloud of uncertainty hovering over Travis’ potential performance in 2023 won’t go away until the games are actually played, one thing is certain beyond a shadow of a doubt: Jordan Travis is the starting quarterback.
2. Tate Rodemaker
Tate Rodemaker was the clear-cut backup for the ‘Noles in 2022, as was evidenced by his appearance in the Louisville game following Jordan Travis’ departure due to injury. Despite starting off with an interception, Rodemaker settled down and led the Seminoles to a 35-31 victory, completing 6 passes on 10 attempts for 109 yards and 2 touchdowns (forcing the author to lose a bet in the process which led to the purchase of a Rodemaker jersey). His performance against the Cardinals sparked some confidence among the fanbase in Rodemaker’s ability to step in when needed.
Rodemaker’s position as the number two went fairly unquestioned during the 2022 season. The masses expected that ideology to change in the new year with the hope that A.J. Duffy showcased his development and challenged Rodemaker for the backup role in the Spring. However, Duffy did not come on that strong during spring camp, and Rodemaker delivered a performance during the Spring Showcase that gave credence to the praise he was receiving from the coaching staff behind closed doors.
Rodemaker’s performance in the Spring Showcase essentially cemented his position as Florida State’s backup for the foreseeable future. He’s capable of making big-time plays through the air, and if he continues to find consistency in Fall Camp, the ‘Noles could find themselves with quality depth and alleviate some of the worries behind any contingency plan.
Biggest Question Mark
Obviously, the biggest question mark for the quarterback position pertains to Jordan Travis’ ability to remain healthy and available for the Seminoles throughout 2023. He’s arguably the single most important facet of the offense, and he is an integral factor in the program’s success (and title hopes). Last year, Travis started every game for FSU and only missed time during that Louisville matchup. If his off-season workout regimen is any indicator, a bigger, faster, stronger version of the already durable quarterback (with some media pundits going so far as to report that he’s in the best shape of his career) should be a promising sign for his endurance.
Plus, the infusion of talent in the receiving corps and the emergence of Trey Benson as one of the nation’s top running backs should limit Travis’ time scrambling in the open field and taking hits head-on.
Outside of injury uncertainties, the only question that remains for the quarterback room pertains to the succession plan following the departure of Jordan Travis. But, that’s next offseason’s problem (a little more on that later).
Follow the Leader
If you’re astute at following and analyzing patterns, then the answer to the question “Who emerges as a leader in the quarterback room?” is fairly obvious: It's Jordan Travis.
Travis first joined the Florida State football program in 2019. He’s seen two entirely different head coaches, played for multiple offensive coordinators, ushered in a new culture under Mike Norvell, assisted in the establishment of a new standard, worked diligently to enhance his game, and the list goes on. The sixth-year quarterback is undoubtedly a leader in the locker room for not just his position group but the entire team. Jordan Travis embodies Mike Norvell’s visions for the program, and his presence in the locker room cannot be understated.
With that being said, Jordan Travis will not be around forever, and the starting quarterback position inherently requires some level of leadership from the student-athlete assuming the role. Whilst Travis spends his time as the team’s de facto leader, it would be wise to keep an eye on which member of the quarterback room begins to make their presence known as the season progresses. It’s too early to be naming a successor to Travis, but the development of Rodemaker, Duffy, or Glenn in the leadership realm could give us some picture of the future of the position.
Fall Camp Outlook
So, let’s cut right to the chase and bring this all together for the quarterback room. There are three definitive items to keep an eye on heading into Fall Camp and throughout the remainder of the season: (1) Jordan Travis, (2) Development of the Room, and (3) The Emergence of a Succession Plan.
1. Jordan Travis or Bust?
There’s really no way to sugarcoat this team’s outlook: The high expectations and hopes for a playoff berth are contingent upon the play (and availability) of Jordan Travis.
Most of the off-season coverage of Florida State’s football team has surrounded the Heisman hopes, lofty expectations, and the development of their star quarterback. Travis’ 2022 campaign pushed the veteran quarterback into the upper echelon of college football’s current talent pool. Entering Fall Camp, it’s imperative that we see the off-season hype translate into improved on-field performance. Of course, the games will need to be played to ascertain some definitive answer, but we should have some idea of his progression within the first few weeks of camp.
Things to keep an eye on include general consistency, downfield accuracy through the air, enhanced decision-making, and how he utilizes his physicality. Long story short, any signs of Jordan Travis’ ability to build upon his 2022 success and his ability to continue to get better is a good sign for the Seminoles.
2. Development of the Room
This one’s simple: Just because Jordan Travis is the solidified starter, that doesn’t mean the rest of the room is exempt from making strides in their development.
Rodemaker, Glenn, and Duffy all have the ability to elevate their games without the pressures of churning out Heisman-like performances on a weekly basis. Practice performances over the course of the season will be an indicator of the room’s future potential. Rodemaker needs to take the next step in consistency and playmaking; Duffy needs to show increased knowledge of the playbook and increased comfortability behind center; and Glenn needs to establish base knowledge of the system and come to terms with the general gist of the program.
To reiterate, there’s no immediate pressure for these quarterbacks to shape into a finished product by season’s end (and, of course, I’m just a media pundit who writes about his observations and knows nothing of each player’s individual goals), but it’s safe to say that as Jordan Travis continues to climb the ladder of college football’s elite, each of his colleagues stands to learn from witnessing his successes and failures firsthand.
Of course, this all plays into the idea of finding a replacement for Travis and continuing the program’s successes under Mike Norvell.
3. The Emergence of a Succession Plan
As I stated earlier, it’s far too early to be worried about naming Jordan Travis’ replacement. There’s a whole season yet to be played and plenty of other storylines to concern yourself with.
Is it too early to worry about? Maybe. Should it go completely ignored? I don’t think so. It’s never too early to start thinking about the possibilities of the future. The development of the rest of the quarterback room over the course of this season is something to keep an eye on because it’s a clear indicator of Florida State’s future at the position. Jordan Travis didn’t develop into a Heisman favorite quarterback overnight, and neither will his successor. Should any of Travis’ current compatriots hope to replace him, we should see them making those strides during practices this year.
There’s a lot to be hopeful for from the entirety of the quarterback room. From promising young players to a Heisman-hopeful starter, Florida State’s quarterbacks are in a much better place entering 2023 than they have been in some time. Obviously, Jordan Travis is the headliner, and it should be entertaining to see just how high he can climb in his fifth season in Tallassee. If he can match the expectations laid out before him (or even surpass them), the Seminoles will have a prime opportunity to turn their 2023 goals and dreams into a reality. We’ll soon find out what Travis and this team are capable of when the ‘Noles return to college football in just over 50 days.
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