State of Shine: Jordan Travis, QB, Florida State University

First Round Mock’s William Yanish puts a big grade on Florida State University (FSU) quarterback (QB) Jordan Travis.

The 2024 NFL Draft is absolutely loaded with QBs. I already have five of them with first-round value grades. These are just the signal callers I have evaluated so far. By the time the chips fall, next April, there will be NFL teams with some very shiny new hope.

There are a few different states in this country that are notorious for producing NFL gunslingers. California, Texas, and Florida are three of the most well-known. The latter is the playground and homeland of this next young man.

Background

I would like to introduce you to QB Jordan Travis of the Florida State Seminoles.

At 6-foot-1, 213 pounds, the West Palm Beach native only spent three games outside of Florida, as he was originally committed to the University of Louisville. The first thing he did after the season was hop on a plane back home to join the Seminoles.

In 35 career games with FSU, he has thrown for 5,888 yards and 45 TDs. He’s added 1,734 yards with 24 TDs on the ground and he has even caught a TD.

Sports runs through the blood of this young man. Jordan is the younger brother of Devon Travis (former Toronto Blue Jays second baseman and coach of the Gulf Coast League Braves, a minor-league affiliate of the Atlanta Braves).

What’s the film saying?

Consistency.

Travis pops right off the screen while watching the film. He is a quarterback first, and a pretty darn good one.

There’s not a lot that he can’t do. With great command of the offense and wheels when he needs them, I’m sure many defensive coordinators have lost sleep plotting how to beat Travis.

How did he respond to adversity?

Travis took the fight out of a No. 4 ranked ultra-tough Clemson team. After going down 34-14 right after halftime, Travis never stopped chiseling.

More consistency.

It just doesn’t stop with this guy. Downfield, downfield, downfield. 15-yard crosser. 12-yard right counter. 8-yard QB draw. So on and so on.

Travis keeps the pace uptempo.

When the smoke cleared, he had charged down and threw a 25-yard TD pass coming up just short with a final score against Clemson of 34-28. He is quoted as saying he’s not interested in winning the Heisman Trophy. He instead wants a National Championship.

In the perpetual hopes of the greatest game on this planet, there’s always next year.

The Yanish Report

One of the best, most accurate arms of 2024. Football glides off fingertips. Dynamite dropping dimes. Absolutely beautiful touch. One helluva back shoulder toss. NFL arm. Keeps passes away from defenders. Will not sell out receivers with ball placement. Accuracy isn’t matched by many. The ball needs to get out quicker to cut down on hurries and sacks. Keeps eyes downfield at all times. Sees field like a pro. Quick progressions. Rarely throws off-platform. Stands tall in the pocket. Run-pass option (RPO), play action, and designed runs are off-the-charts. Bootlegs. Keeps bringing it. Fast. Plays at his own pace, forces tempo. Genius-level football IQ. Improvisation with receivers and tight-ends stands out. Good tight-end work. Old school foot rhythm throughout the pocket.

For the win

Leadership.

This is the attribute that will decide so much when it comes to Travis. He is an NFL QB with just about every tool to succeed. What happens in the 2023 season is completely on him. This will make or break Travis. It is what it is and it is in him.

As much as he wants a National Championship, that would require third-year FSU Head Coach Mike Norvell to take another step with this program. The arsenal is certainly being assembled in Tallahassee.

The aforementioned consistency that keeps him cruising along is his golden ticket. That is what will put food on his table for years to come. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see his talent.

My BIG three questions

1. What will another season of the Florida State offense look like with Travis and RB Trey Benson together?

2. Just how good will his new wide receiver room be with Michigan State transfer Keon Coleman?

3. Can he put his name into first-round consideration with the arsenal that’s been procured for him?

How Travis stacks up and game film reviewed

My 2024 NFL Draft Value: First-Round

Game Film Evidence

Notre Dame ‘21

Boston College ‘21

Louisville ’22

Georgia Tech ‘22

Clemson ‘22

William Yanish III is a lifelong football fan. He’s from the little town of Crawford, Colorado. Along the way, he’s lived in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, and Brookings, Oregon. Quarterback Joe Montana was his idol growing up. A little bit of CTE from life’s adventures killed his dreams as a football player. Now, he is an aspiring writer and Draft Analyst at FirstRoundMock.com. He’s a fanatic with a dream, which is coming true.