Mike Norvell: Jordan Travis was lights out against Duke

Sometimes, in football, all you need is the quarterback. While it took more than just that position to get No. 4 Florida State their win over No. 16 Duke, Mike Norvell gave Jordan Travis plenty of credit for how he played against the Blue Devils.

Norvell spoke about Travis’ latest performance during his press conference on Monday following the Seminole’s 38-20 victory over Duke this weekend. He knew that his quarterback was going to have a quality outing based on how they planned to use him in order to nullify some of the problems that the Blue Devil defense can cause.

“We knew going into it that they do just a good job of fitting the run. They’re going to have edges, they’re going to make sure that their numbers are right. So, sometimes, the way to get back is to have to incorporate the quarterback some or to force another read to where, maybe, he can be protected in the run game,” explained Norvell. “It played out well.”

“We knew that Jordan would have opportunities, however many that was throughout the course of the game,” Norvell continued. “I know, once we got in the second half, it was something we really kind of pushed towards a little bit more. We were able to do that.”

In total, Travis put up 330 yards of offense against Duke with 268 through the air and 62 on the ground. That’s his second-most yardage of the season behind what he did in the opener against LSU.

Travis paired that with a 75% completion rate, tied for his best of the year, along with three touchdowns, two passing and one rushing.

Travis did throw a crucial pick-six, his second interception this fall, early that he made up for with his play in the contest overall. However, all in all, Norvell saw it as nothing more than another sensational outing from his QB1.

“He was lights out,” Norvell said. “I thought he was lights out in how he played.”

Norvell praises Travis for taking over in second half vs. Duke

Duke and Florida State played a close game for a half before Jordan Travis kicked things into high gear and closed it out with a sensational second half.

Travis got the offense clicking and helped Florida State outscore Duke 21-0 after the break.

“He had fun out there tonight,” said Mike Norvell following the victory. “It was really enjoyable seeing him lead this football team. When it got tight, when it got tough? He played his best. To see him really take over in that game was special.”

“He was unbelievable. I told him at the end of it, man, that’s a champion’s heart,” Norvell said. “That’s how he works. That’s how he prepares. I’ve no doubt about the way that he’s going to show up. We see it throughout every day in practice, just the mentality which he brings.”

“I loved seeing him celebrate with his teammates and just the encourager that he is,” Norvell added. “That was a really cool moment there in the second half.”