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Spring Question No. 1: What is FSU's backup plan at quarterback?

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FSU coach Jimbo Fisher has a potential star QB in Deondre Francois, but the Seminoles' backup plans might be limited in 2017.
FSU coach Jimbo Fisher has a potential star QB in Deondre Francois, but the Seminoles' backup plans might be limited in 2017. (USAToday Sports Images)

With the start of spring football practice a couple weeks away, the Warchant staff is looking at Five Big Questions facing the Florida State Seminoles this spring. As we count down those questions in reverse order (from No. 5 to No. 1), each installment will feature comments from Warchant publisher Gene Williams, managing editor Ira Schoffel and lead beat writer Ryan S. Clark.

Each installment also will feature a podcast discussion by our staff. The podcast will cover some of the points from the article as well as further comments from each panelist. Please be sure to read the article and also listen to the podcast.

Question No. 1: Beyond starter Deondre Francois, Florida State's quarterback depth chart is fairly thin and inexperienced heading into 2017. Given the physical abuse Francois took last season, what are the Seminoles' backup plans?

GENE WILLIAMS: The fact that this is arguably the No. 1 question going into the fall shows just how stacked the rest of the team is. Even so, not having a viable backup behind Deondre Francois could be disastrous should he go down with an injury. Any team without an established backup quarterback is living on the edge. That lack of depth is especially true for Florida State, since Jimbo Fisher’s offense is so centered around the signal-caller.

With Sean Maguire’s graduation and the fact that Malik Henry is no longer with the program, the options are limited. On paper, the leading candidate is J.J. Cosentino. Starting this fall, the rising junior will have three full years of experience in the system. However, his on-the-field performances during his five appearances has left much to be desired (7-of-19 passing for 46 yards).

After Cosentino, the only remaining scholarship quarterbacks are incoming freshmen Bailey Hockman and James Blackman. It’s asking a lot to expect a true freshman quarterback to pick up Fisher’s system in year one and lead the Seminole offense. As good as Jameis Winston was, even he wasn’t ready to steer the ship in his first year on campus. At least Hockman, who is a coach’s son, is already enrolled and will have a spring practice under his belt when preseason practices start up in August. Another outside possibility is redshirt freshman walk-on Jake Rizzo.

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