FSU football: Why depth at quarterback will be important in 2021

FSU football will go into the 2021 season with two experienced quarterbacks, which is something that hasn’t happened in Tallahassee in quite some time.

Jordan Travis and McKenzie Milton have been getting the majority of the snaps at practice, but Mike Norvell mentioned they have been working the younger players in more the last couple of days.

Chubba Purdy and Tate Rodemaker saw action last season as freshmen, and both looked like freshmen that didn’t have college experience. Purdy didn’t enroll until the summer and missed most of fall camp with a broken collarbone.

Rodemaker was an early enrollee, but COVID robbed him of the benefit of spring repetitions, so this off-season is their first opportunity to learn without actual bullets flying.

I wrote about the importance of the quarterback competition a couple of days ago. However, the depth of the quarterback position will be important as well.

McKenzie Milton is coming off of a catastrophic injury and hasn’t been tackled since 2018. Jordan Travis did most of the damage with his legs last year and paid the price with injuries that limited him at the position.

Mike Norvell hasn’t named a starter yet, but it’ll be between Travis and Milton. If Travis is the starter and gets banged up running the ball, at least there’s Milton there with experience to back him up.

If the inverse is true, then Travis could be liable to get hurt running the ball again because he’s not the biggest guy. I know he’s worked to put on some muscle and weight, but the hits will accumulate quickly. That’s why his improvement as a passer has been promising for his durability and the progression of the offense.

It’s not crazy to think the Noles would be a couple of hits away from having Purdy or Rodemaker under center again in 2021. I think that’s why we’re seeing Mike Norvell move to get those guys more reps at practice to see what’s he’s working with if that scenario comes to fruition.