He has established himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the country and a true Heisman Trophy contender, guiding the Florida State Seminoles back to national relevancy as a potential College Football Playoff team.
It’s impossible to picture one without the other right now, but why did Jordan Travis transfer to Florida State?
Why Did Jordan Travis Transfer to Florida State?
At the time Travis entered the transfer portal, there were multiple rumored reasons as to why he wanted to leave Louisville. Those ranged from the direction of the program, potential staff changes, and playing time.
However, one reason appeared to be the motivating factor behind his transfer to Florida State, and that was the closeness to home and familiarity with the ‘Noles.
“He talked about the possibility of getting closer to home and his family,” then-Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino said in a statement announcing Travis’ portal entrance. “We agreed that it might be a better situation for him personally. Jordan is a terrific young man, and I wish him nothing but the best in his collegiate career.”
Upon his commitment to FSU, and following a lengthy eligibility battle, Travis also offered up an explanation of why he chose to transfer to Florida State over a host of in-state options, including USF and FAU.
The Seminoles star QB described FSU as “my favorite school since I was a little boy,” with his transfer making that boyhood dream come true.
Travis is a Florida native, raised in West Palm Beach, and was a standout high school quarterback for The Benjamin School. Transferring to FSU from Louisville halved the distance to home.
Meanwhile, it gave him the opportunity to follow in family footsteps as a sporting star with the Seminoles. His older brother, Devon, was a former FSU baseball sensation.
When Did Jordan Travis Transfer to Florida State?
On December 22, 2018, Travis announced his transfer to Florida State from Louisville. However, his journey to being the star quarterback for the Seminoles is a lot more complicated than that.
The former Louisville freshman had to overcome a legal battle to gain immediate eligibility in Tallahassee.
At the time of his transfer in 2018, there were three separate eligibility regulations standing in the way of a seamless transition from Louisville to Florida State. Suiting up as a redshirt freshman in the 2019 season was far from guaranteed.
Although NCAA transfer regulations have changed over time, when Travis transferred to Florida State, he was bound by a rule that meant undergraduate students had to sit for a year when transferring between FBS schools.
Additionally, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) had two transfer regulations of their own that stipulated a one-year sit out for transfers between ACC programs and the loss of a year for violating a one-year National Letter of Intent commitment.
Thankfully for Travis (and FSU), the ‘Noles were able to battle all three regulations and gain eligibility for the 2019 campaign.
How Long Has Jordan Travis Been at Florida State?
Travis has now been with FSU for five years. A three-star prospect and the 24th dual-threat quarterback in the 2018 recruiting class, Travis spent his first year of college football at Louisville before transferring to Tallahassee ahead of the 2019 college football season.
In his first season with the Seminoles, Travis saw action in four games as the third-string quarterback behind James Blackman and Alex Hornibrook. While completing just 54.5% of his pass attempts, he led all ‘Noles’ quarterbacks with 228 rushing yards and three touchdowns, showcasing his dynamic dual-threat ability.
Among the disruptions of the 2020 season, Travis established himself at the top of the Florida State quarterback depth chart. Making six starts, his passing numbers were relatively meager, but he smashed the program record for single-season rushing yards while leading all ACC passers in yards per carry.
And in 2021, it was a similar story. His ability to create on the ground was more impressive than his passing skill set.
Yet, in 2022, the college football world witnessed his ascent as a genuine high-profile quarterback. Among his many achievements, Travis became the only player in FSU history to throw at least 20 touchdowns while rushing for seven scores.