FSU Football: James Blackman confident to be starting QB in 2019

FSU football knows that the man in the No. 1 jersey is likely going to be starting the 2019 season opener, and the man in the jersey is just fine with that.

When the FSU football team takes the field on offense for the first time in their season opener on August 31st against Boise State, they will be led by a new starting quarterback to open 2019 – but, baring a major change in what everything thinks is going to take place, it’s going to be a name quite familiar to fans of the Seminoles.

After redshirting last season despite actually starting a game (and throwing for over 400 yards and four touchdowns in the process), redshirt sophomore James Blackman is waiting to officially be handed the keys to the first string offense that he has taken for a test drive since the spring.

While head coach Willie Taggart has not officially named Blackman as the starter – for obvious reasons as graduate transfer Alex Hornibrook hasn’t had a chance to practice with the team after coming in from Wisconsin – FSU football fans and those who cover the team pretty much know that the Belle Glade native is going to get a chance to repeat the 2017 season.

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That year, after coming in following the devastating knee injury to Deondre Francois in the opener against Alabama, Blackman threw for over 2,200 yards on the season and helped lead the Seminoles to a 7-5 record and a bowl game in what looked like a lost season.

Now, two calendar years later, Blackman has the confidence in himself to be back in the starting spot. During a May 31st booster event in South Florida, Blackman told Chop Chat he’s about doing the right thing for the Seminoles this coming season.

"“I really just had to be myself and the more I got comfortable with myself the better it got. I’m just about doing the right thing, trying to handle everything the right way and be the best teammate I can be. I just feel like me being myself will be the key to me.”"

Taggart, who also spoke with Chop Chat at the event, heaped nothing but praise on Blackman and talked about his leadership both on the field as a leader in the locker room – while still not ready to pull the trigger on naming him the starter for FSU football to start the 2019 season against the Broncos.

While Hornibrook and fellow transfer Jordan Travis – if the NCAA ever decides what’s going to take place with that decision – are decent arms and can help the Seminoles if needed, the 2019 season on offense is clearly going to be led by the man in the No. 1 jersey as it should.

Blackman looks like he has gained muscle and strength and had better control with the offense during the FSU football spring game. If that can continue into the fall, expect big things from both him and the team as a whole in the 2019 season.