The Florida State football team faced a significant setback in preparation for their upcoming Orange Bowl matchup against the Georgia Bulldogs. Tate Rodemaker, the starting quarterback replacing the injured Jordan Travis, has decided to forgo participating in the New Year’s Six Bowl Game and will instead enter the transfer portal.
This decision adds his relatively modest experience to an already competitive transfer portal, as he had limited playing time throughout his four-year tenure with the Florida State football program.
SOURCE: FSU QB Tate Rodemaker, who took over after Jordan Travis was injured and lost for the season, has told the Noles staff that he plans to enter the portal and that he will not play in the Orange Bowl vs Georgia. @Mzenitz first reported the news.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 25, 2023
QB Tate Rodemaker: Entering Transfer Portal
Rodemaker, a former three-star prospect from the class of 2020, spent the previous four seasons as part of the Florida State football program. His college debut occurred during his freshman year against the Miami Hurricanes, where the six-foot-four quarterback completed 5 of 9 passes for 47 yards with one interception. Unfortunately, he concluded his freshman season without any touchdowns and threw three interceptions, achieving a completion percentage of 58.6%. During his sophomore year, Rodemaker only attempted two passes. It wasn’t until his junior year in 2022 that he threw his first college football touchdown, connecting with wide receiver Johnny Wilson on a ten-yard pass in the third game of the season.
Starting this season as the backup to the established quarterback Jordan Travis, Rodemaker had limited playing time due to Travis’s standout performance, resembling a Heisman Trophy candidate. However, an untimely severe leg injury to Travis late in the season provided Rodemaker with an opportunity to start the regular season finale against the Florida Gators. In this game, he completed 12 of 25 passes for 134 yards but did not score any touchdowns or throw any interceptions, securing a victory. Unfortunately, he suffered a concussion during the game, forcing him to miss the ACC Championship.
Although initially slated to start the Orange Bowl, Rodemaker made the decision to opt out on Christmas Day.
Florida State Football: Players Leaving for Transfer Portal Amid CFP Snub
In spite of maintaining an unbeaten record and securing their conference championship, the Florida State Seminoles were notably excluded from the National Championship’s four-team lineup by the College Football Playoff committee. This decision has prompted several key players, including linebacker DJ Lundy, running back Rodney Hill, cornerback Dwayne Wells, and defensive linemen Malcolm Ray and Marvin Jones Jr., to enter the transfer portal. Among these departures, Jones stands out as a notable loss, having contributed 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack during the season.
