FSU Football: Could Alex Hornibrook start at some point in 2019?

FSU Football has a plan for who will be taking snaps with the first team to start fall practice, but could a new player start at some point this season?

When the FSU football team takes the field to start fall practice in a couple of weeks, it’s a known fact that the man who started all but one game in the 2017 season – James Blackman – will be taking the snaps with the first team and, baring something happening, should hold the job for the opening game against Boise State.

It’s a position that many people last season wanted Blackman to take back during the struggles of former Seminoles starter Deondre Francois – and a position that they wanted Blackman to keep even with the addition of several transfers into the program from other schools.

It was one of those transfers that got the attention of the media during ACC Kickoff this past week as the FSU football trio of representatives were asked about former Wisconsin starter and graduate transfer Alex Hornibrook – someone whose decision to join the Seminoles sure had heads being scratched.

Florida State Seminoles Football

After starting in 32 of the 35 games he played for the Badgers over three seasons – including a MVP performance in an Orange Bowl win over the Miami Hurricanes – Hornibrook joined the Seminoles and helped ease some of the questions at the QB spot while also having plenty of people in garnet and gold wondering: why?

During this week’s event, wide receiver Tamorrion Terry praised Hornibrook’s work ethic while FSU football head coach Willie Taggart did not shut the door on a competition taking place for who will start August 31st against the Broncos.

"I think one thing he brings to our football team is experience, not just experience playing football, but experience playing in big bowl games, too, games that he played in and won.One thing I’ve been really impressed with Alex is he’s coming to our football program and it seems like he’s been there for years, just how he’s been relating to his teammates. It’s almost every day I see him with someone different, getting to know those guys.Just to hear his teammates talk about him says a lot about the work he’s put in building those relationships, understanding that was something he needed to do coming here with one year left."

Since Hornibrook did not transfer to FSU until he gradated this spring, he is behind seemingly everyone else in the quarterback room – but with his experience of multiple years leading a Power Five program to winning seasons, he has the makeup of someone who could be a fast learner when it comes to the Seminoles’ playbook.

Will offensive coordinator work out some options for Hornibrook to get a few plays in each game? One would hope so because the only other option would seem to be an injury to Blackman or another losing season for the Noles – two things nobody in Tallahassee wants to see.