Pete Thamel dishes latest on Tate Rodemaker's availability for Florida State
Tate Rodemaker will be a true game time decision for Florida State as the Seminoles prep for Louisville in the ACC Championship.
A playoff spot is on the line and Rodemaker is the key to that trip to the CFP. As ESPN’s Pete Thamel put it, no one will know Rodemaker’s status until a couple of hours before an 8 p.m. ET kickoff.
The quarterback suffered a head injury against Florida last week following Jordan Travis’ season ending injury the week before.
“Speaking to sources at Florida State in the last 24 hours, I’m told we’re not going to get clarity on Rodemaker’s status until the hours before tonight’s 8 p.m. kick,” Thamel said on College GameDay. “Florida State has not publicly used the term concussion protocol.
“But that’s clearly the process that Rodemaker’s in. He’s facing the final steps of that protocol which is the return to play portion and the decision will ultimately come down to Florida State’s medical staff.”
Tate Rodemaker to return for ACC Championship?
As far as how Florida State fans could tell if Rodemaker is back in the lineup, pay attention to pregame warmups.
“That surest sign whether or not we’ll see him tonight will be pregame warmups, if he’s out there in full pads, he’s on the path to return to play,” Thamel said. “If he’s not out there, we’re gonna see true freshmen Brock Glenn, 18 years old (and he’ll) make his first career start. He’s thrown four passes in his college career.”
In his nine games this year, including a start, Rodemaker is 32-of-56 passing (57.1%) for 510 yards, five touchdowns and zero interceptions.
As a member of the Class of 2020, Rodemaker was a three-star recruit out of Valdosta (Ga.) High, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 72 overall prospect in the state, the No. 48 quarterback in the class and the No. 684 overall prospect in the class.
There was no question there was an experience drop off from Travis to Rodemaker, but it’ll be on full display if the latter can’t go. As Thamel alluded to, Brock Glenn is a true freshman and threw just four passes this season.
If Glenn has to go, Florida State will surely be a bigger underdog against the Cardinals. Now if Rodemaker does go, it’s not like getting Travis back under center, but it’ll certainly help.