Jordan Travis out of boot, grateful for progress in recovery
Jordan Travis won't throw a ball during on-field workouts on Saturday. But his left foot is out of a walking boot and the trademark smile and positive attitude are present at the NFL Combine.
"I got out of my boot about a week ago," Travis said on Friday morning at Indianapolis. "It’s pretty special. I’m so thankful. I wake up every single day and look down at my shoes. I’m so grateful. It’s been a journey for sure. My family is helping me get through it. I should be ready by May. That’s my goal – May, June."
Travis said he has talked with a "bunch" of NFL teams in the last few months. He has been able to speak with some in the time leading up to the NFL Combine and has other interviews lined up at Indianpolis.
Below are thoughts from Travis during his interview with media:
How would he describe his FSU career?
"My career has been kind of like a lot of people’s lives. A lot of ups and downs. It’s been special, makes me who I am today. I’m so grateful for that. The experience I have with my teammates and different coaches throughout my career has been so special. It’s a blessing from the man upstairs."
What has coach Mike Norvell meant to Travis?
"Coach Norvell, he’s changed my life around, changed my career around. He’s given me the confidence that I always needed. A guy to just believe in me."
What does Travis bring to an NFL team?
"As a quarterback, you have to be the best leader on the field. Especially on the offense, you have to lead those guys around you. Help them grow. I feel like that’s where we changed at Florida State. We were a coach-led program at the beginning of my years. And then toward the end, it was all player-led."
At some point it looked like the game slowed down and you showed your improvement.
"It slowed down. Obviously experience. Getting more reps. Obviously coach Norvell, coach (Tony) Tokarz, coach (Kenny) Dillingham. All of those coaches that put me in a position to succeed. That was the most special thing. That obviously slowed it down a lot, teaching me defenses and going with the reads and stuff like that. I’m an improviser. I make plays."
Describe coach Norvell as a man and a coach.
"Coach Norvell is one of the most special people I’ve ever met. He cares so much. You see in college football these days, people that don’t care. I feel like it’s a bunch of coaches that, obviously you want to win. But coach Norvell cares about the man, who you are. It’s the person before the player. And I think that’s the most special thing about him. There’s games where I played horrible and he’ll call me after. It’s not like he’s cursing me out, man, he’s checking on me to see how I’m doing mentally and telling me we’re going to get back next week and get back to work. I’m so grateful to coach Norvell. He’s a great father to his daughter, he’s a great husband to his wife."
What was coach Kenny Dillingham’s impact on your career?
"That was a guy early in my career that helped change it. Going through a lot. It was a rough point in my career. He was like my best friend. He had my back through everything. He supported me through everything. I respect coach Dillingham and I appreciate him more than anything."
What was that moment like when you got the boot off?
"I knew there was going to be a day. I didn’t know when the day was going to be. But all glory to God. Glory to my family because I couldn’t do it without them. My friends, they pushed me every single day. Every day I wake up, it’s a struggle when you have a boot on your foot and you have to sleep with a big boot on. Having my two shoes on right now, I’m so grateful. There’s no complaints over here."
How did you feel that your injury was blamed for Florida State not making the playoff?
"It sucks. It does suck. But at the end of the day you have to control what you can control. I’ve learned that throughout my life, throughout my career. I just try to keep my head down, try not listen to the outside noise. This Florida State team was really special. I think we’re seeing that at the combine here with the athletes, just the people that we have on the field. I look forward to seeing Florida State win a lot of football games next year."
Did you talk to anyone about the committee’s snub?
"I talked to my family. My teammates. We know at the end of the day, I couldn’t control it. If I could have been out there and taped this leg, I would have been out there 100 percent. But God has a plan. You just have to trust it. You can’t doubt God. We know that. We had an opportunity to go play against Georgia in the Orange Bowl, obviously we didn’t have everyone play. But it was special being there and just seeing those young guys get in there and compete."
How did Norvell help you after the injury?
"I think he was one of the first people in the hospital that night, just checking on me every single day. Maria, Mila just coming every single day. Just checking on me. I think that’s the most special thing about him, once again he cares about the person. It wasn’t about football at that point. All he cared about was how I was doing mentally. And just letting me know he has my back through everything. I appreciate him."
Without being able to do anything physically, what do you want teams to know about you or to learn?
"Just the type of person that I am. The leader I am. What I know about football, because coach Norvell told me a lot. Just the basic stuff quarterbacks are supposed to know and supposed to do."
What makes you the best quarterback in the 2024 draft?
"You have to be a leader for the football team. I think that’s one of the biggest things, you have to be a leader for your football team. You have to get the guys around you to play for you and at the end of the day I’m a winner. I’ve proven that."
Who would be his NFL comparison?
"Someone like Kyler Murray or Jalen Hurts, just a guy that goes out there and makes plays, leader for the team."
Having a brother as a pro athlete, who is the best athlete?
"I’m going to say my sister is the best athlete. But definitely me over my brother."
What’s your vision for your NFL career?
"To win a lot of games. To help a team win a lot of games. Help push the guys around me, to help lead guys around me."
What made this group of guys special? What was the driving force?
"I would say the brotherhood. Just playing for the guy next to you. That bond that we had in the locker room was like no other. I think that was the most special thing. During camp you see them every single day for 37 days. And I never got tired of seeing them. It’s like every day that you walk in, you have a smile on your face. That was the most special thing. We knew we were playing for the guy next to us. Early on in my career I feel it wasn’t like that. Just a special, special team with a bunch of special people."
What are your thoughts on Keon Coleman?
"Keon’s one of the best players I’ve been around in my life. Makes my job easy. You just throw the ball up in the air and he makes plays. Quarterback’s best friend."
What do you think about Hykeem Williams?
"That’s my guy. He’s a hard worker. I feel like he was the most improved player last year on Florida State. I’ve said that to a lot of people. Seeing him at the beginning, I used to joke on him because he used to be so tired during conditioning, he used to say his back was hurting or this was hurting. To see his improvement throughout his freshman year, just seeing him grow mentally, physically he’s getting faster. It’s going to be a special year for him for sure."
What are your thoughts about Trey Benson?
"Everything about Trey is special. He’s fast, strong, his balance is crazy. And he’s just learning about himself. That’s the crazy thing. He’s just getting started. The ceiling is so high for him. The person Trey is is what I respect most. He’s so so humble. I look forward to supporting him and watching him."
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