Mike Norvell provides update on Tate Rodemaker’s development
Tate Rodemaker will not be Florida State‘s first choice at quarterback this fall. Early Heisman Trophy Jordan Travis earns that honor, but Rodemaker is staking his claim as No. 2 on the depth chart early and often this spring.
Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell explained what has made Rodemaker’s spring so special and why he feels Rodemaker is prepared to step up if at any moment his number is called.
“All three quarterbacks [that participated in the scrimmage] on Saturday had really good moments, but as you see the growth, they’re putting it together,” Norvell said. “I thought today, Tate had a really good day … he’s confident in what we’re asking him to do. He’s very talented in trusting his eyes, trusting his feet, and going out there and making plays when the opportunities are there.
“Sometimes the best play is a throw-away, killing the ball, immediate pressure — just some of those next-level thinking and reactions. I think that is where he’s really growing.”
Heading into the spring, Rodemaker is competing with redshirt freshman A.J. Duffy and true freshman Brock Glenn for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart. Rodemaker is the odds-on favorite out of the group. Entering his fourth year in Norvell’s offense, he has the most experience out of all the backup quarterbacks.
Last season, the highlight of his season came during a 35-31 victory over Louisville, which saw Rodemaker pass for 109 yards and two second-half touchdowns. He finished 2022 with 254 total passing yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
A four-star recruit out of the 2020 class, Rodemaker was the No. 682 recruit and No. 48 QB, per the On3 Industry Rankings, which is a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services. He’s come a long way in the years since but has remained loyal to FSU and Norvell over the past three years.
Norvell said all three backup QBs will be given first-team reps throughout the spring.
“What are you going to do with it?” Norvell asked his players. “Then obviously we still have a lot of time until we kick off in August and fall camp, and then obviously our first game in September. But each of these reps is going to help position that to what it’s going to look like as we get closer to the fall.”
Rodemaker has seemingly taken the biggest leap and is poised to be Jordan Travis’ right-hand man as the senior begins his final campaign with the Seminoles.
You can see Rodemaker in action on April 15 at 4 p.m. at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee when the ‘Noles host their annual spring game.