Has a backup emerged for Jordan Travis? Tony Tokarz talks QB room | The NoleBook
Who is going to back up Jordan Travis?
That remains a question for Florida State football held its sixth preseason practice Wednesday.
Redshirt junior Tate Rodemaker has the most experience and led the Seminoles to a road victory over Louisville last season when Travis was injured in the first half.
Redshirt freshman AJ Duffy saw limited action last year while the upside freshman Brock Glenn has shown as an early enrollee is undeniable.
FSU quarterbacks coach Tony Tokarz addressed his group's play Wednesday.
"It's fun watching those guys come along," Tokarz said. "Having the summer is huge for us. Just being able to spend time with rhythm, timing execution, checks all that stuff right now.
"When you put the pads on, it's always a little bit different. But I mean, right now we're getting up to speed everything's coming together and just have to keep getting better every day."
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While Travis had moments of looking crisp and like a potential Heisman Trophy candidate this preseason, the backups have mostly been uneven.
Rodemaker still looks like the early favorite as the backup. He has the most experience and led a comeback over Louisville last season after the Travis injury, but he still has competition.
Glenn has looked like a true freshman at times, staring down routes or missing open throws. And Duffy had his best day of practice Tuesday, according to Tokarz, but has been uneven for the most part.
Tokarz said the fall camp will help backup quarterbacks in their preparation.
"It's just it comes to the day-to-day preparation. And that's also on me as a coach," Tokarz said. "That's me to push the urgency in the room because it's not just Tate, everybody else has to get better.
"AJ has got to continue to come along. Brock has to continue to grow. I mean, even (walk-ons) Dylan (McNamara) and Michael (Grant), those guys, they serve a purpose if they serve a role on this team and it's my job to tell you to get the most out of them."
Tokarz on Jordan Travis
Know the person, believe in the player.
Tokarz got to know Travis as a senior analyst during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Last season, he took over as the quarterbacks coach and the relationship bloomed as Travis had a breakout season.
"That 2021 season, you saw more of Jordan Travis the person and not the player yet," Tokarz said. "So you saw the competitive drive that he had, the toughness that he has, those elite qualities or those elite characteristics that don't show up on a stat sheet or in a box score.
"And then the progressions that he made physically the following year. I mean, just he's the total package when it comes down to it super proud of Jordan, just because of the journey and the way that he's worked."
Travis passed for 3,214 yards with 24 touchdowns and only five interceptions while adding 417 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground as well as one receiving touchdown. He is expected to be in the running for the Heisman Trophy this season and is on a number of award watch lists.
Norvell talks about why he like the Jacksonville trip
The Seminoles will head to Jacksonville for two practices Thursday and Friday, continuing its tradition of practicing off campus.
This will mark the third year of the trip under head coach Mike Norvell. The team did not make a trip in his first season in 2020 due to COVID.
"It's a great opportunity to get away, it's a little bit different living situation for the guys," Norvell said. "Everybody will have a roommate and everybody will have different accommodations."
Norvell said with a shorter practice Wednesday he brought more intensity to his players to make them feel as uncomfortable as possible.
He said he's even hoping for unfavorable conditions in Jacksonville, when it comes to the weather, to force his players into paying through tougher situations.
"It's going to be hot, I'm praying for great heat, great humidity, very little clouds," Norvell said with a smile. "But it's an opportunity for our guys. I look forward to that toughness and that identity of who we're going to be."
Here are observations by the Democrat writers in attendance at the practice.
Observations from Day 6 of FSU football practice
Scouts from the New England Patriots, Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles were in attendance.
The team started early with two-minute drill stuff and the defense came out and dominated the offense
Cornerback Jarrian Jones with good coverage on a throw from Jordan Travis to Keon Coleman. Jones forced Coleman to the sideline and did not give him space to make a play on the ball.
Miscommunication between Travis and Jaheim Bell, as Bell is not looking for the ball as Travis throws it hot. It falls incomplete.
Fentrell Cypress II recorded a good PBU on Johnny Wilson on a throw from Jordan Travis on 4th down to force a turnover on downs.
Edwin Joseph had a good sequence of back-to-back plays. On the first play, he took away any throwing lane for AJ Duffy to hit CJ Campbell on a dump-off and defended the ball when thrown his way. On the next play, when Duffy made a well-placed throw off his back foot, he jumped in and made a play on the ball so Deuce Spann could not finish the catch.
In 11-vs-11 drills, Travis hits Coleman for a long gain and a first down.
Duffy comes in and throws a good pass to Joshua Burrell. Burrell continues a strong camp after missing most of last season with injuries.
Travis later hit Markeston Douglas on a crossing pattern. Douglas has carried over his hot end to the season and a strong showing in the spring. He caught a pass from Brock Glenn a few plays later.
Glenn hit Caziah Holmes on a nice dump-off with pressure creeping up on him.
Rodney Hill added a nice run down the middle for a big gain, showing his elusiveness.
Duffy to Bell for a long gain down the right sideline with DeMarco Ward in coverage.
Again in the two-minute drills, the offense got off to a slow start but ended the session well.
Azareye'h Thomas Thomas had great coverage on Johnny Wilson on the throw to the sideline to force an incompletion.
Travis bounces back and hits Wilson on the next play on a short route to pick up a first. Wilson ran a good route to get open and came back to the ball.
Travis to Coleman on a slant. He beats Thomas in coverage to get way downfield.
Johnny Wilson lays out for a deep pass from 40ish out to score a TD. Great concentration to catch the ball despite going to the ground. Got a step on the defender, with great placement to throw open from Trvais. Almost an over-the-shoulder catch
Tyler Keltner hits the PAT
Glenn came in next for the final session. Justin Cryer had two plays with good coverage and nearly picked a ball off on fourth down to end the practice. He also showed good coverage by guarding Holmes on a dump-off. Holmes also dropped a pass on the drive.
Xavier Perkins blew up a potential roll-out and scramble for Glenn by getting to the backfield and forcing a throwaway.
Reach Ehsan Kassim at ekassim@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim. You can also follow our coverage on Facebook (NoleSports) and Instagram (tlhnolesports).
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football: Updating back up QB situation behind Jordan Travis
