5 things to watch in FSU football’s spring game Saturday

Florida State will hold its annual spring game Saturday night with guest coaches and former Seminoles standouts Peter Boulware, Danny Kanell, EJ Manuel and Bryant McFadden.

Here are five things we’ll be watching at Doak Campbell Stadium.

1. Has quarterback Jordan Travis taken another step forward?

Coach Mike Norvell thinks so. After a recent scrimmage, Norvell said that Travis is “in a much better place” than he was at any point last season and the redshirt junior is the starter. When healthy, Travis is a very good college quarterback. The Seminoles averaged 53 more yards and almost 16 more points per game in his eight starts last year compared with their four other contests.

Travis has room to grow with his accuracy — his 62.9 completion percentage ranked 51st nationally — and consistency.

Also, Saturday is the debut of blue-chip early enrollee quarterback AJ Duffy.

2. Who is this year’s Jermaine Johnson?

Johnson was a role player at Georgia (four starts over two seasons) before transferring to FSU. His breakout spring game last year (two sacks and a quarterback hurry) foreshadowed his explosion into the ACC’s defensive player of the year and a potential top-10 pick in next month’s NFL draft.

It’s unfair to expect anyone to replicate Johnson’s success, but FSU needs strong pass rushers to emerge, starting this weekend. Albany transfer Jared Verse had 10½ sacks and 13 quarterback hurries last year and will have a chance to star. Keep an eye, too, on Derrick McLendon (near right), who recorded 24 tackles through three seasons and has impressed coaches this spring.

3. Does FSU have playmakers at receiver?

When Norvell was hired, he promised his offense would be built for playmakers. The Seminoles did not have enough of them at receiver; they were tied for 97th nationally last season with only 14 catches of at least 30 yards.

FSU tried to fix that through the transfer portal, adding Mycah Pittman (Oregon), Johnny Wilson (Arizona State) and Lakewood High alumnus Deuce Spann (Illinois). Saturday is the first full look at their potential, along with opportunities to check out the development of Malik McClain (11, left) and Ja’Khi Douglas, who have shown flashes of being true playmakers.

Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene

Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter

We’ll send you news and analysis on the Bucs, Lightning, Rays and Florida’s college football teams every day.

Loading...

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

4. How does the secondary look?

FSU did not look like a program known for its defensive backs last year. It gave up 25 passing touchdowns (tied for 95th nationally) and was beaten deep too many times, including on the final play in the 20-17 rock-bottom loss to Jacksonville State.

The good news for FSU fans is that the secondary is different. Jarvis Brownlee is in the transfer portal. The Seminoles’ top two recruits, Sam McCall and Azareye’h Thomas, are defensive backs, and Louisville transfer Greedy Vance has ACC experience (nine career starts). Their additions, along with the return of all-ACC safety Jammie Robinson and the improvement of Akeem Dent, are reasons for optimism about a turnaround.

5. Who is earning more touches at running back?

Though FSU lost last year’s leading rusher, Jashaun Corbin, to the draft, the Seminoles haven’t seemed worried. That’s because they are deep at the position with former Tampa Bay Tech product Treshaun Ward (left), Pinellas Park alumnus Lawrance Toafili and Oregon transfer Trey Benson, among others.

The Seminoles will rotate players through the season and again find creative ways to put multiple backs on the field at once. But who and how? Saturday will provide the first clues, including assessing Benson’s health after a knee injury and the developments of Toafili and Ward.

Contact Matt Baker at mbaker@tampabay.com. Follow @MBakerTBTimes.

• • •

Never miss out on the latest with the Bucs, Rays, Lightning, Florida college sports and more. Follow our Tampa Bay Times sports team on Twitter and Facebook.