FSU football: Former Noles WR co-signs James Blackman

FSU football has had mediocre quarterback play since Jameis Winston was under center. One former player believes James Blackman is the answer.

FSU football will need improved quarterback play to show progress compared to the last three years. The 2017 season saw James Blackman play as a true freshman with mixed results.

However, he showed progress as the season continued and was playing well enough to think he could be a factor in his sophomore season.

That wasn’t the case as Willie Taggart chose to redshirt him although Deondre Francois was playing significantly worse than what he showed in 2016. Blackman entered the 2019 season as the odds on favorite for the starting job and won the job, but the coaching staff decided to go to a two-quarterback system after the first three games although Blackman was playing well enough for the team to be 3-0 instead of 1-2.

In short, Blackman has been dealt a bad hand since enrolling at FSU. He’s on his fourth offensive coordinator in four years while playing behind a subpar offensive line. He’s shown glimpses of being a good college quarterback, but there have been some lows that are hard for the Nole fan base to forget. Blackman bleeds garnet and gold and is a hard worker that wants to win.

We always hear nothing but good things regarding his work ethic and drive to become better. That hasn’t changed as he’s been putting in work all spring and summer while recently working with former FSU wide receiver Kenny Shaw:

Thoughts

If anyone knows good quarterback play, it’s Kenny Shaw who played with some good quarterbacks during his time at FSU. I’ve written time and time again, the biggest issue for James Blackman is confidence.

I don’t believe he got a fair shake under Willie Taggart. The staff decided to go to a two-quarterback system when he wasn’t the problem was a big part of his play going downhill last season.

I’m not saying Blackman is going to set the world on fire under Mike Norvell or that he’ll be the starting quarterback.

However, if he is named the starter, I believe he’ll play better than what we saw last season because of staff showing they believe in him.

If Kenny Shaw is working with me and believes in him, should FSU fans?