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Published Aug 6, 2020
Let the QB competition begin! FSU coaches eager to see what all four can do
Corey Clark  •  TheOsceola
Lead Writer

The most common topic Florida State football coach Mike Norvell was asked to address during his preseason preview press conference Thursday was COVID-19.

The second most questions he faced were about the Seminoles' Quarterback Battle of 2020. And that will be a recurring them throughout FSU's preseason practices, which are set to begin Friday morning.

Florida State has four scholarship quarterbacks in camp -- redshirt junior James Blackman, redshirt sophomore Jordan Travis, true freshman Tate Rodemaker and true freshman Chubba Purdy -- and all four will be given a chance to compete for the top job, according to Norvell and offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham.

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"I think it's as critical as anything else as a coaching staff we evaluate what their strengths are," Norvell said. "I had an opportunity to watch James and Jordan and Tate -- those guys were here in the spring. And I got to see them throw the football three times. That's where we're at. That's the reality.

"With Chubba coming in the summer, still, we're waiting to go tomorrow on the field to see that take place. So, it's going to be a little bit of a work in progress to evaluate where they are. And we have to formulate our plan around those strengths."

Blackman is the only one of the four with starting college football experience. Rodemaker and Purdy have never suited up in college, obviously, and Travis is a transfer who wasn't used until the final four games of the 2019 season -- and almost always as a runner.

But while Blackman has the most experience, by a wide margin, it doesn't mean he has an unbreakable grip on the starting spot. With a new offense and new coaches, it likely will matter very little how much or how well he's performed in the past.

It will be who is the best quarterback over the next five weeks.

"I'm excited to see them throw," Dillingham said. "I've seen them throw three days. And I haven't even seen them all throw. So, I'm just excited to get back out there and play football.

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