From walk-on to top backup QB: Nolan McDonald enters spotlight

There are a number of questions surrounding Florida State's quarterback position in 2019.

How quickly will James Blackman adapt to playing for his third position coach and third offensive coordinator in three years?

Will head coach Willie Taggart be able to bring in a graduate transfer quarterback to provide either competition for Blackman or at least immediate depth?

Will Louisville transfer Jordan Travis be granted a waiver from the NCAA and become eligible this fall?

The biggest mystery of all, however, might be what to make of redshirt freshman walk-on Nolan McDonald -- the older brother of scholarship tight end Camren McDonald.

After originally committing to the Air Force Academy in 2017 but later deciding not to play there, the former Long Beach (Calif.) Poly standout ended up coming to Florida State with his brother last summer. And while he didn't get to see the field in 2018, the older McDonald did make quite an impression.

He quickly separated himself from the other walk-ons and moved up to No. 3 on the depth chart when Bailey Hockman left the team during preseason. Then when Deondre Francois was injured midway through the fall, McDonald actually was the Seminoles' second-string quarterback for the N.C. State game.

By the end of the year, he would win the Seminoles' "Scout Team Award" on offense.

Entering this spring, which begins March 4, McDonald will be No. 2 on the depth chart behind Blackman. He could be there again this fall, depending on what happens with Travis' waiver request and the transfer market.

"I thought he did a great job for us this past season, giving our defense a look on the [scout] team," Taggart said. "And we have freshman scrimmages every week. And every week, he was making plays for us out there. So I think he's going to be an individual that's hungry and excited about an opportunity, and we'll get a chance to see them out there this spring and see what he can bring to the table as well."

It was after one of those scrimmages that FSU fans got their first taste of McDonald's abilities, when a video clip of one particular play was posted on social media.

The highlight starts with a pass-rusher coming free up the middle and McDonald spinning to his left to avoid the pressure. McDonald then spins in the opposite direction to elude another defender before making another would-be tackler crumble to the turf with a hard juke to the right. McDonald then makes one more defender whiff before breaking free into the open field. From there, he throws in one more nifty move before out-running the defense and capping the play off with a flip into the end zone.

As soon as he landed the flip, he was mobbed by teammates and coaches.