Mike Norvell on connection between Jordan Travis, Johnny Wilson: 'It needs to be a good one'

Coming into the 2023 season, Florida State has one of the best quarterback and wide receiver tandems in the ACC between Jordan Travis and Johnny Wilson. That’s a connection that head coach Mike Norvell knows needs to be a good one for the Seminoles.

Norvell explained that their intensity is part of what is going to make them such a key connection for Florida State this season.

“It needs to be a good one,” Mike Norvell said. “But what I love is you see the intensity. I mean, this is practice 11 and they went out like it was a championship game. That’s what it needs to be because if we can do that if we could consistently show up with that, it’s gonna make it that much better when game time gets here, just in the confidence of what we’re asking them to do.”

In 2022, the connection between Travis and Wilson blossomed in Wilson’s first season at Florida State following his transfer from Arizona State. They connected for 43 completions for 897 yards. That’s 20.9 yards per completion to go along with five touchdowns.

This year expectations are much higher in Tallahassee than they were going into last season. The Seminoles need this connection to stay effective throughout the year to have the kind of success they expect to this season.

Nothing Jordan Travis has done surprises Mike Norvell

Over the years, Jordan Travis transformed himself into an excellent college football quarterback. This metamorphosis has surprised many but not Mike Norvell.

“It truly came down to work. We had a great plan in helping Jordan develop to build confidence in what we were asking him to do. We’re a rhythm-based passing offense and I think that’s something that Jordan thrives in. He’s an extremely smart quarterback. He understands progressions. He understands protections and where the ball needs to go in a very quick process in his mind. As he’s worked through it, he’s had to go through the highs and lows of playing quarterback. He’s experienced it all, but he’s never backed off. He’s continued to push,” Norvell said.

“I’ve had the utmost confidence in where he would develop and what he would grow into. Nothing that he’s done has surprised me. I’ve set the highest expectations for him and I believe the sky’s the limit for what he can accomplish not only in his final year here at Florida State but for in his future because of the work he’s willing to put in.”