Backup Battle Continues: Tony Tokarz breaks down Florida State QB play during camp

Everyone in the country who follows college football knows who the Florida State starting quarterback is heading into the 2023 season.

Jordan Travis has turned himself into a Heisman Trophy candidate and a household name throughout the nation after last season’s 10-3 campaign.

But the senior star isn’t the only person in Florida State’s QB room. And while quarterbacks coach Tony Tokarz knows what he has in his starter, he also has three other scholarship players he’s trying to develop as well … and determine which to call upon if needed in a game.

Tokarz was asked about each of them and their growth earlier this week.

First, we’ll start with Travis.

“He’s got that savvy veteran football mind to him now,” Tokarz said. “He doesn’t always fall for the [defense’s] bait, you know what I mean? And he understands what we’re trying to accomplish with the offense. I think one of Jordan’s greatest qualities within our offense is he knows what we’re trying to do schematically, ourselves, what the answers are built in, and what the looks are to get us into, what the checks are to get us into.

“So, I think that comfort that he has gives him confidence to go out there against different looks.”

Travis, who likely had his best day of preseason camp on Thursday in Jacksonville, understands the offense so well that it’s almost like having a coach on the field.

Tokarz said he even uses his veteran signal-caller in that capacity sometimes.

“I will just give Jordan the floor to say, ‘Hey explain to the room how you saw this and what your thought process was,’” Tokarz said. “Some guys might not quite be there yet, but I think it gives them the chance to hear from a guy who’s done it and done it at a high level.”

Tate Rodemaker is starting his fourth season in the system and is the presumed top backup.

The Valdosta (Ga.) High product has had an up-and-down start to camp. He has thrown some careless passes at times, but also had stretches — like one on Saturday — where he couldn’t miss, completing nine straight passes at one point in 7-on-7 drills.

Rodemaker likely will be Florida State’s second-string quarterback heading into the season. He’s the oldest of the group behind Travis by far, and he’s had real success at this level. Yes, it was mainly just one half against Louisville, but it was a game-saving performance a season ago in the win over the Cardinals.

Now, Tokarz would like to see Rodemaker take the next step when it comes to consistency.

“It comes to the day-to-day preparation, and that’s also on me as a coach,” Tokarz said. “That’s on me to push the urgency in the room, because it’s not just Tate — everyone else has to get better.”

That, of course, includes the two freshmen.

A.J. Duffy redshirted a season ago and Brock Glenn arrived in January as an early enrollee.

Both are fighting for the third spot this season — maybe also the second spot, who knows for sure? — and could absolutely be in the mix for the starting position in 2024.

They’ve had some positive moments in camp for sure. Glenn has had a certain poise since he stepped foot on campus, never seeming overwhelmed by anything while taking his reps. But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t made mistakes.

Glenn threw two interceptions on Thursday — one because tight end Markeston Douglas fell down — and is still trying to get comfortable with the offense.

“First of all, starting with the summer for him, he kind of got to repeat install and gained more comfort in that,” Tokarz said. “You can see that he’s a lot more comfortable out there going out and just operating the offense. It’s the same for A.J., for Tate, even for Jordan, a guy that’s done it over and over again. Just those constant repetitions in the classroom, and out on the field. Just continuing to polish the game and I think we are starting to see more of that.”

Tokarz said he thought Duffy had his best two practices of camp earlier this week. He threw an ugly interception on Thursday, but the California product also made some impressive throws as well. He hit Deuce Spann for a 42-yard gain during 11-on-11 near the end of practice.

“He’s a guy that as he continues to get the reps under his belt, just like a lot of the other guys, he’s going to continue to come along,” Tokarz said. “So, pleased with that progression.”

Talk about this story with other die-hard FSU football fans on the Tribal Council.

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