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Florida State Quarterback Jordan Travis Has Something to Prove in 2023

"I feel like before, I had guys who doubted what I could do."

Robert Malcom

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The Seminoles are on a nine-game winning streak since they lost to Clemson in the 2022 season. Today, the 'Noles hope to make it 10-0 as they face the Tigers in Death Valley in front of a sold-out crowd. While the fourth-ranked Noles are the betting favorites, all fans believe that this game is a test, and if Florida State wins, they reclaim the ACC from a team that has won seven of the last eight conference championships, as well as an 8-0 record over the 'Noles since 2015.

READ MORE: How to Watch Florida State and Clemson Kickoff Time, TV Channel, and Odds

Quarterback Jordan Travis, who has been with FSU since 2020 after playing his true freshman season at Louisville, transferred into Florida State’s rebuild. While today he is arguably the best quarterback to play at FSU since 2013 Heisman winner Jameis Winston, Travis doubted himself early in his career, considering leaving the game for good.

“He was just down on himself; he wasn’t playing,” FSU's starting center Maurice Smith said. “He was just talking about like “Reese, should I do it, should I keep going?”

Travis noted that the negative talk from fans and opponents drove him to think like this.

“Hearing noise from the outside, that was my biggest thing. I was always on Twitter seeing what people were saying about me.” Travis said. “I just got caught up in that whole social media world.”

The man who persuaded Travis to continue to play is the same man who helped push him towards his opportunity at Florida State. At the time, first-year head coach Mike Norvell saw something in Travis most people didn’t, and he knew he had to make sure Travis knew that.

“I said I want you to leave this office, and I want you to walk into our lobby, and when you walk into the lobby there’s three Heisman trophies,” Norvell said. “And I absolutely believe that you can win one of those.”

Saying no to a coach who thinks you can win a Heisman is difficult, and Travis couldn’t resist. He continued his journey to today, where he has taken the nation by storm and grown a fanbase from coast to coast.

“I feel like before, I had guys who doubted what I could do, coach Norvell didn’t care about what anyone else said; it was all about what he thought. They said they were gonna believe in me and push me as hard as they can, and they have done that, and I can’t be thankful enough for them,” Travis said.

Going into week four of his 2023 Heisman campaign, Travis has 53 completions of 84 attempts (63.1%), eight passing touchdowns, one interception, 739 passing yards, 17 rushes for 96 yards, and one rushing touchdown with a QB rating of 166 on the season, which is his highest to date.

READ MORE: Florida State to be Without Two Starters Against Clemson

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Robert Malcom
ROBERT MALCOM

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