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Chop Chat FSU Football 2017 Awards: Freshman MVP

By Jason Parker

GAINESVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 25: James Blackman #1 of the Florida State Seminoles looks to pass during the game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 25: James Blackman #1 of the Florida State Seminoles looks to pass during the game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images) /
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FSU football has completed another regular season of action – and we at Chop Chat are here to hand out awards from the 2017 campaign.

If there is one thing positive you could say about the tenure of Jimbo Fisher when he was the head coach of FSU football (and yes, I know there is more than one thing) it would be that Fisher never hesitated to play freshman and get youngsters that experience at an early age – knowing full well it would help them later on when they became upperclassmen.

During the 2017 season, there were plenty of chances for young players to get that valuable experience on the field, with some of it based on talent and some of it based on necessity based on injures over the course of the year.

Namely, there were two players on the offensive side of the ball who got bunches of playing time over the course of the teams – but only one of them was planned. As it turned out, the one who got thrown into the fire of major college football was the one who showed that he could get the job done when needed and didn’t fold under the pressure…and that’s why he is the Chop Chat FSU Football 2017 Freshman MVP.

QB James Blackman (Freshman – Belle Glade, FL)

Season stats – 155 of 271 (57 percent completions) for 1997 yards with 15 touchdowns and 11 interceptions

This was not the way things were supposed to go down this season for FSU football. With under six minutes to play in the opener against Alabama, a sack on Deondre Francois ended his season – and thrusted a skinny, 18 year old freshman from Palm Beach County into the spotlight for a team that was projected to be a playoff team before the injury.

On September 23rd – one year after leading his high school to a victory – Blackman completed his first college passes by throwing for his season high 278 yards in a loss to N.C. State. While he never reached that number again, he showed growth in almost every single game that gave fans hope.

He threw for multiple touchdowns in four games – Miami, Louisville, Delaware State and Florida – while throwing for over 200 yards four times (and coming within three yards and two other occasions). Did he make some freshman mistakes, including interceptions and looking down his receivers? Yes. Did he grow from his early mistakes and not make many of the same ones? Yes.

After the Independence Bowl, in which he will become the first freshman to lead the Seminoles in a bowl game since Chip Ferguson in 1985, FSU football will likely be ready to hand the keys back over the Deondre Francois next season.

Next: Can Willie Taggart win ACC in first year at FSU?

However, seeing that Blackman can get the job done, don’t be surprised if he at least gives D12 a run for the job next year and will likely take it over for good if Francois leaves after 2018.

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