FSU football: James Blackman listed breakout candidate for 2019

FSU football will have a QB competition going into fall camp according to Willie Taggart. However, James Blackman is a prime candidate to breakout in 2019.

FSU football will begin fall camp next week and look to start rebuilding their perception to getting back to elite status after their worst season in four decades.

A huge part of that success will depend on QB play which was shaky at best last season. James Blackman looks to have the lead on the starting gig after redshirting last season and starting 12 games as a true freshman in 2017.

Blackman had one start last season and played well, while finishing out the 2017 season with a lot of promise.

That success has a lot of FSU football fans optimistic going into 2019. Apparently, one website has him as one of the top 25 breakout candidates going into the season.

He checks in as the No. 6 breakout candidate:

"Florida State’s offense averaged only 21.9 points a game in coach Willie Taggart’s first year, but there’s optimism for improvement this fall. New play-caller Kendal Briles has a track record of success from stops at Baylor, FAU and Houston, and his up-tempo spread attack should be a good fit for Blackman’s talent. As a true freshman in 2017, Blackman was pressed into a starting role after Deondre Francois suffered a season-ending injury in the opener against Alabama. He ended his freshman campaign with 2,230 yards and 19 touchdowns and completed 58.2 percent of his throws."

Thoughts

I’ve long said Blackman performed well as a true freshman that didn’t early enroll in 2017. A couple less turnovers and the Noles win nine games that year.

I still think Blackman should have gotten more playing time after the Syracuse game last year. Nevertheless, I think the redshirt season should be helpful along with getting snaps in a spread offense all last year.

That’s the biggest thing that gives him a leg up on Alex Hornibrook and the others. He has a talented group of wide receivers and running backs.

The key to his success if going to be the offensive line and how quickly he can process information while getting the ball out of his hands to his playmakers.

He seemed to do that last season in his lone start against NC State. A lot of folk will say NC State’s secondary wasn’t good, but I’d counter and say that’s what a good QB will do to a mediocre secondary.

If he’s successful doing the things above, there’s no question James Blackman will be a breakout candidate in 2019.