FSU Football: 5 reasons James Blackman is Willie Taggart’s QB in 2018
By Kelvin Hunt
Similar Numbers Without A Year of Preparation
Deondre Francois Stats(13 games)
- 235 of 400 pass attempts (58.8 completion percentage)
- 3,350 yards passing
- 20 TD
- 7 INT
- 8.4 yards per attempt
- 108 rushing attempts 196 yards rushing and 5 TD’s
- Rating of 142.10
- Sacked 34 times
James Blackman Stats(12 games)
- 173 of 297 pass attempts (58.2 completion percentage)
- 2,230 yards passing
- 19 TD
- 11 INT
- 7.5 yards per attempt
- 64 rushes for -39 yards
- Rating of 135.02
- Sacked 29 times
For whatever reason some fans look at James Blackman’s numbers and scoff compared to the numbers Deondre Francois put up as a redshirt freshman.
Blackman wasn’t asked to throw as much as Francois nor was he asked to run as much. I don’t think it was because Blackman can’t run, it’s because there was zero quarterback depth behind Blackman if he were to go down with an injury.
The crazy thing is they are ridiculously similar and that’s with Deondre Francois having a year to sit and learn Jimbo Fisher’s offense. Not to mention he had some guy named Dalvin Cook to help take pressure off him.
That’s pretty damn strong for a true freshman if you ask me. Also, at least three three of Blackman’s interceptions were a result of FSU receivers getting the ball taken away from them by defenders.