QB Jordan Travis details return from injury, talks 4-0 start and reasons for FSU Football's success
At the forefront of Florida State’s impressive 4-0 start to this season is the Seminoles’ starting quarterback, Jordan Travis, who returned from injury last week to lead FSU to a dominant win over Boston College.
Before throwing for a career-high 321 passing yards versus the Eagles, Travis went down with a leg injury in the first half of FSU’s previous game at Louisville and did not return.
When he spoke to the media after practice Wednesday, ahead of FSU’s huge ACC Atlantic Division tilt with Wake Forest, Travis recapped what it took last week to prepare to play against BC and the key factors behind his strong start to the 2022 season.
“I was in the training room a lot. The trainers did a great job this past week, just pushing me. I was in there all day long. Kudos to them,” Travis said. “The coaches pushed me really hard and my teammates pushed me to get in there, so I was there just working hard.”
A red-hot beginning to his Louisville outing, where Travis started 11-for-11 passing with two touchdowns, was quickly shuttered when he collided with a defender mid-throw in the second quarter.
When the injury first happened, Travis’ mind, like many players in that situation, immediately thought the worst.
“Yeah, I did. I did think it was pretty bad,” Travis said. “God has me. I pray a lot, and God has my back. I am blessed for sure.”
Despite wearing a brace on his left knee, Travis picked up right where he left off when FSU returned home in front of a sell-out crowd to smash Boston College, 44-14. Just as he did against a talented LSU defense in New Orleans to start the season, Travis efficiently and consistently moved the offense down the field, executing long drives and completing 16 of 26 passes.
He also flashed once running the ball against BC, scrambling up the middle for a 16-yard gain in which he eluded several defenders both behind the line of scrimmage and further up the field.
“When you’re out on the field, you don’t really think about injuries,” Travis said on his willingness to run with the knee brace. “You can’t play scared. I was just out there playing football.”
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Speaking during Monday’s availability with local media, FSU head coach Mike Norvell said he was very confident in Travis even though the redshirt junior might not have been completely healthy.
“To go in and play the way that he did, it speaks volumes on his preparation he’s putting in,” Norvell said. “You saw, you get the adrenaline going and some of the reactionary things, that one run that he had was remarkable. He’s very confident in what he sees. …
“He has great athletic ability, but what he’s able to do with his arm, trusting the rhythm, trusting his guys that are out on the perimeter, it’s pretty special to see.”
Also, in what has been a common trend for Travis, he continued to take great care of the football. FSU’s offense did not have a turnover in the BC win, and his only interception this year came on a bobbled pass that was seemingly on target at Louisville.
Last season, in his final six starts of 2021, Travis threw just one interception despite facing the likes of rivals Clemson, Florida, and Miami during a stretch of four wins and two losses.
Reminding everyone after Wednesday’s practice that, “there’s still a lot of room for improvement,” Travis explained why he credits his offensive line and pass-protection for his ability to become more of a pocket passer.
“Just trusting my O-Line, that’s the main thing for me,” he said. “Just trusting my O-Line; they have my back and those are my brothers. They tell me before the game, ‘Just trust us, trust us, we have your back.’ That’s all it is at the end of the day.”
FSU, now nationally ranked at No. 23 in the AP poll, stays home to battle top-25 opponent Wake Forest this Saturday.
While echoing the message from Norvell and the FSU coaching staff that the focus remains on the themselves, Travis made sure to acknowledge his respect for quarterback counterpart Sam Hartman, one of the best passers in the country who returned recently from a reported blood clot issue.
Hartman threw for six touchdowns in a double-overtime loss to Clemson last Saturday.
“I sent him a message when I heard it happened. I am happy for him, so happy he’s back out on the field,” Travis said. “He’s a great player, I watch him a lot and I support him.”
*ALSO SEE: Observations from Wednesday’s practice
The ’Noles and Travis will place their unblemished, 4-0 record on the line versus the Demon Deacons on Saturday. And while the turnaround from FSU’s 0-4 start last season is an impressive accomplishment, Travis is pushing the team for more.
“We have a long way to go, but yeah, I am very happy for this football team. I am proud of everybody on this football team, because we have been through a lot together,” Travis said. “That’s the main thing we always say: ‘Together.’
“This is a team that’s been like a rollercoaster (in recent years); there’s been a lot of ups and downs. We keep getting better every single day. You see us getting closer every single day. We’ve just gotta keep growing and keep going.”
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