Florida State’s secession from the ACC has dominated the conversation as the countdown to college football closes in, but before the 2023 season begins, an ex-Seminole quarterback reminded fans of another exciting storyline.
At Miami Dolphins training camp in Miami Gardens on Thursday, the Post asked undrafted free agent James Blackman if he had any thoughts on FSU leaving for the Big 10.
“I have no opinions on FSU but Jordan Travis for Heisman,” Blackman said.
An excited Travis responded to a follow-up question on the comment from the Tallahassee Democrat later that afternoon at the Seminoles’ first fall camp practice.
“That’s my guy,” he said of Blackman. “I’ve always defended him.”
“Since day one, that’s always been the person that mentored me when I first got here and things were going bad,” Travis said.
Prior to FSU, Travis was a true freshman at Louisville, expected to ultimately inherit the offense of 2016 Heisman winner Lamar Jackson, another Palm Beach County native and alum of Boynton Beach High.
Yet, his lone season with the Cardinals was wanting. In 2018, Travis saw action in three games and went 4-for-14, throwing for 71 yards with a touchdown and rushed for 40 yards on eight carries. That December, Travis transferred to FSU.
Before sharing the QB room in Tallahassee, Blackman and Travis’ friendship began in their stomping grounds of Palm Beach County.
Travis − now a redshirt senior − managed the offense at the Benjamin School, then a three-star prospect originally committed to Louisville, the No. 24 dual-threat among Class of 2018 recruits. Blackman was the face of historic Muck City powerhouse Glades Central, carrying a touted 4-star rating and the No. 7 pro-style recruit in the 2017 recruiting class.
“Getting on the sidelines, I just remember some quarterback from the opposite team standing over me. I had no idea who he was,” Travis recalled.
From their high school days to his predecessor’s 2021 transfer to Arkansas State, Travis is “always supporting” Blackman and the two talk frequently
James Blackman
The battle to be Tua Tagovailoa’s backup quarterback is set between Mike White and Skylar Thompson. Still, a 6-foot-5, 190-pound Jackson is shooting his shot at securing a spot on the roster.
Playing all 12 games in the 2017 and 2019 seasons, Blackman made 30 appearances for FSU before deciding to opt out in 2020 after three final games with the Seminoles. Blackman’s passing yardages in 2017 and 2019 seasons exceeded 2,200 yards. A 42-13 win in the 2017 Independence Bowl was forged by four touchdowns from Blackman, who totaled 17 that season. He left Tallahassee with a record of 12-15.
A record of 12-15 followed Blackman to Arkansas State, where he played in 19 games from 2021 to 2022, passing for 3,815 yards and 22 touchdowns. In his final season of college football, he posted a career-high 2,471 passing yards against three interceptions with a completion percentage of 64.3.
Blackman went undrafted following the 2023 NFL Draft ahead of signing with the Dolphins in May.
Jordan Travis
A breakout year in 2022 resulted in a Heisman campaign for Travis, now in the same conversation as FSU legends including 1993 winner Charlie Ward, Chris Weinke (2000) and FSU’s most recent victor Jameis Winston, who won in 2013.
Last fall, the 6-foot-1, 212 pound dual-threat’s overall Pro Football Focus offensive grade of 91.8 led all QBs in the FBS.
A 64 percent completion rate, passing yard total of 3,214, and 24 touchdowns saw Travis hit personal bests in all three stat categories. On the ground, he added 417 yards and seven TDs.
Ahead of FSU’s season opener against LSU, the Seminoles are No. 7 in the NCAA’s preseason poll.
Source: The Plam Beach Post
