Brock Glenn having fun, Tate Rodemaker continuing to get comfortable | The NoleBook
Brock Glenn is having fun playing football.
The Florida State football freshman quarterback told the local media following Wednesday's practice that he's adjusting to the college level, learning and now thriving.
He is in a battle with Tate Rodemaker to be the backup for Heisman Trophy frontrunner Jordan Travis.
"Spring was kind of heavy on the head learning the playbook," said Glenn who was an early enrollee. "Coming out the practices were about thinking a lot. So now that it's summer and I've been here for a little bit now, I'm able to understand the playbook a lot better. It's becoming a lot more fun out there.
"I'm able to go out there and just play ball. I don't have to think as much."
Glenn has been constantly praised for his poise and maturity as a freshman since coming to FSU.
He said the game started to slow down for him following the summer workouts.
"Our skills and drills helped me a lot," Glenn said. "It gave me enough time outside of being at the facility to go over the playbook, learn it and understand it. So at the start of fall camp, it was a lot easier for me than I expected it to be."
While attending Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis, Glenn accounted for more than 4,500 yards of total offense and 68 touchdowns.
He said while in high school he ran an offense similar to the one run by head coach Mike Norvell with the Seminoles.
"Just the terminology has been a little challenging to pick up," Glenn said. "But overall concept-wise, it's super similar. We actually ran a play (Wednesday) that's identical to a play that was my favorite play in Lausanne. It's very similar just for the terminologies a lot different. So, memorization was a big thing for me."
Tate Rodemaker using game experience to grow
Rodemaker enters the season as the favorite to remain as the backup to Travis, as he's the only player outside of Travis with significant with a start in college.
"I feel more and more comfortable every year," Rodemaker said. "It's Year 4, I should feel a lot more comfortable. Getting in-game experience last year really helped me out a lot."
Rodemaker also came in relief of Travis and led the Seminoles to a victory over Louisville on the road last season.
He finished 6-of-10 for 109 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the come-from-behind victory. The appearance did a lot for his confidence in the offense, he added.
"Just finally moving the ball a little bit, scoring some touchdowns," Rodemaker said. "I think that really helped me settle in, find a rhythm. Before that, I was only getting two drives at a time. I couldn't really settle into a game. That was really good game experience. It helped me out a lot."
Here are observations from the Democrat writers in attendance for the 16th fall camp practice.
Observations from FSU's 16th fall camp practice
Scouts from the San Francisco 49ers, Las Vegas Raiders, Baltimore Ravens and New Orleans Saints were in attendance.
ESPN personalities Holly Rowe and Chris Fowler were at practice, as well as On3’s Andy Staples.
Jordan Travis had one of his better days of practice. In the initial 11vs11 drills indoors, he hit Keon Coleman and Hykeem Williams with good passes for big gains.
His drive however ended when Cypress Fentrell defended a ball intended for Winston Wright and Shyheim Brown collected the ricochet for an interception, on a third down play.
Tate Rodemaker started slowly by missing a wide-open receiver but bounced back with a couple of good throws to set up a good practice day. He hit Goldie Lawrence with Edwin Joseph in coverage for a long gain and then dropped a dime into the hands of Carson Pielock.
On fourth down, Tyler Keltner came on for a field goal, but Mike Norvell called for a timeout to freeze his own kicker. It didn’t matter, as Keltner hit from 35 yards out.
During live kicks, Keltner hit both of his kicks from 30 and 44 yards out, as did Ryan Fitzgerald. They remain embroiled in a close battle.
Cypress doesn't allow Williams to gain separation and makes a great play on the ball on a throw from Travis.
Jaheim Bell beat linebacker Kalen Deloach in coverage with good route running on a throw from Travis.
Winston Wright continues to show off what he can do when healthy, making a catch after a very good route against Greedy Vance. Travis, again, was the QB.
Azareye’h Thomas with good coverage against Deuce Spann to knock a ball loose for an incompletion.
With Blake Nichelson in coverage, Kyle Morlock snags an impressive ball out of the air and holds on.
Joseph makes a great break on the ball to break up a pass from Rodemaker to Lawrence.
Coleman hauls in a pass from Glenn, making a nifty move in his route and a great adjustment to make himself open.
Bell comes back for a ball with K.J. Kirkland in coverage.
The ‘hot’ freshmen connection continues, as Williams pulls in a catch from Glenn. Hykeem good route to catch the ball from Glenn. Williams had one of his best practices.
Destyn Hill uses his speed to beat Akeem Dent and get wide open on a throw from Glenn.
Thomas again makes a play with good coverage to prevent Coleman from getting to slightly overthrown ball from Duffy.
Caziah Holmes with a good cut and run to gain first down. He has really come on as camp has gone on during 11vs11 drills outdoors.
Travis drops a dime to Coleman right over Cypress for a sizeable gain. Great route and catch on the sideline, but an even better throw.
A safety blitz by Shyheim Brown interrupts the play. Brown broke well off the line to get to Travis quickly.
Glenn seems to be late and behind on a throw to Spann. Picked off by Quindarrius Jones. Norvell yelled at Spann after play. He may have run a bad route.
Moving to inside 7v7 drills, it was again Travis making some big-time throws. He hit Williams for a long gainer with Thomas in tight coverage, fitting the ball into a very small window.
He then hit Wilson with Thomas in coverage on a deep route. On the next play, he hits Coleman on a shot pass but due to Coleman’s ability in the open field and great blocking, he goes for a long gain.
Cypress interception on a throw from Travis that was bobbled into the air.
Glenn to Pielock for a good gain. He sat down en route to get open. Great practice for Pielock.
Good coverage downfield forces Travis to tuck and keep during red zone drills.
Travis hits Destyn Hill in the right corner of the endzone for a score. Travis threw Hill open and Hill made a good adjustment to dive for the catch.
Ja’Bril Rawls with great coverage breaks up a pass from Rodemaker to Bell in the back of the endzone
Rodemaker hits Preston Daniel on the next play for the score.
Shyheim Brown almost gets his second pick. Travis throws it right to him. No WR around. Bad communication?
Trey Benson finds a big gap and explodes for a first down run. A couple of plays later he made a big run down the sideline.
Brown makes a great play on the ball thrown to Hill and almost tipped it up for another INT. Dent was there, too.
Holmes catches a screen pass from Rodemaker. Had room for a big gain but lost balance and knee hit the turf. Norvell talks to him after.
Travis hits Williams in the middle with Thomas in coverage. Williams has had one of his better practices. Norvell said he’s had seven straight good practices after the practice.
Rawls with a PBU on an errant pass from Rodemaker almost comes down with INT. Another guy with a strong practice.
Hill with a significant gain on a rushing attempt.
Travis with a good scramble when nothing opens. Hits Morlock on the next play.
Glenn finds Powers over the middle of the field but the throw is a little behind him and Dwayne Wells Jr. makes a great play to ball to jar loose.
GAME INFORMATION
Who: AP No. 8 FSU (0-0) vs. No. 5 LSU (0-0)
When/where: Sunday, Sept. 3, 7:30 p.m.; Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
TV/Radio: ABC/94.9 FM
Live game updates: www.Tallahassee.com; @JackGWilliams on Twitter; @Ehsan_Kassim on Twitter; @JimHenryTALLY on Twitter
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: Brock Glenn, Tate Rodemaker battle to backup Jordan Travis
