Mike Norvell explains lack of Jordan Travis rushing through five games

After rushing for 1,357 yards and 17 touchdowns in college prior to the 2022 season, Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis has been much more limited to start his senior campaign. Through the first five games he’s tallied just 21 carries for 50 yards and a touchdown.

That is perfectly fine by coach Mike Norvell, who sees the impact of defenses accounting for Travis’ legs in other areas of the offense.

“It’s not a secret that Jordan can run. People are aware of that,” Norvell said. “You get a lot of challenges if you allow Jordan to get out on the perimeter, if you allow him to run. That’s a challenge for defenses. So I think people have a good understanding of that. There are some times that we will look to create and maybe even force that a little bit.”

Travis has been terrific as a passer this season, perhaps the best he’s been throughout his college career.

He has thrown for 1,226 yards, has a career-best 65.9% completion percentage so far this season and has thrown eight touchdown passes to just one interception. He’s averaging a career-high 9.7 yards per completion.

If a lack of running is what’s opening up those things, the Seminoles aren’t likely to try to force the issue on the ground.

“It’s one of those things that you just continue to work, work through each gameplan and finding, ‘Hey, where are the times? How can we create some of those explosives?'” Norvell said. “And then Jordan has done a good job of extending plays and sometimes there’s different options that are involved in each play and just taking what the defense gives us.”

Jordan Travis’ rushing threat keeps defenses honest

The real key for the Seminoles is making sure they don’t lean too far in either direction.

While you certainly don’t want to force Jordan Travis rushing simply to do it, you don’t want to overemphasize only making plays from the pocket, either. There’s a fine line where the offense is at its most lethal.

Travis keeping defenses honest when he needs to is part of that.

“What I don’t want Jordan to do, I don’t want Jordan to start trying to create sometthing that’s not there, either,” Norvell said. “Ultimately you look, our backs have done a good job in what we’re asking them to do. There’s been some good run seams for us. I think we’ve been able to establish that. Ultimately we’ve got to take what the defense gives us.

“If they don’t want to account for Jordan, it’ll be really good for seeing him on the edge and we’ve seen that at times in the past. But ultimately we’ll see what shows up and just continue to work through it.”

Travis will get quite the test over the next couple weeks. A road trip to No. 10 NC State tonight kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on the ACC Network, while a home date with No. 5 Clemson follows the week after.