The Jordan Travis Story: From FSU to the New York Jets

By Jason Bolton July 30, 2024 09:47

Photo by Morgan Tencza-USA TODAY Sports

Quarterback Jordan Travis made his mark at Florida State University as one of the most versatile and successful quarterbacks in Seminoles' history, paving a path for him to the NFL.

After transferring from Louisville following the 2018 season, Travis quickly transitioned into Tallahassee and became a staple of Norvell's FSU offense. Among other attributes, Travis improved as a passer while still showing off his abilities with both feet and wings in the last year.

Collegiate Career

Travis compiled remarkable statistics during his four years at FSU from 2019 to 2023. He threw for 8,693 passing yards and achieved a touchdown-to-interception ratio with 66 touchdowns to just two interceptions. He rushed for 1,934 yards on the ground and crossed into the end zone more than thirty times. Travis also led Florida State to significant victories, including beating Miami three years in a row and securing a historic win at Clemson Death Valley.

It was meant to be one of college football's greatest fairytales, Travis leading the Seminoles a run for an unprecedented 16-0 season in his last year at Florida State and putting up Heisman Trophy-winning numbers. In his first full season as a starter, he threw for 2,756 yards with 20 touchdown passes and only two interceptions with seven rushing touchdowns.

Travis' college career was filled with accolades, and they ended as the Seminole's all-time leader in total touchdowns despite a late injury. His fearlessness, athleticism, and ability to make plays, not all down linebackers, fueled the desire from both Seminole supporters and numerous others that he was an intriguing NFL prospect.

Travis' Journey to the NFL and New York

Jordan Travis was an interesting developmental quarterback prospect entering the 2024 NFL Draft after a breakout senior season at FSU. That late-season injury gave some teams pause, but Travis' body of work and the potential he possessed anyway caught plenty of eyes.

One team in particular, the New York Jets, saw Travis as an asset worth investing draft capital to obtain, and on day 3 of the Draft, they moved up. They sent a pair of sixth-rounders to move up five spots to fourth from the 171st overall pick, Nos. 185 and 190 to Philadelphia for Travis, whom QB whisperer Kevin Stefanski envisions lining up in multiple ways on offense.

"It's a freaking dream come true," said Travis of being drafted by the Jets. "It still hasn't hit me yet. I am a little all over the place on how I feel, Only to see a smile on my family's face; it has been an amazing journey, and we are now blessed like this."

Travis will groom behind four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, whom the team acquired in a blockbuster trade earlier this offseason. It would be shocking if the veteran were kept in anything other than a starting role, giving Tyrod Taylor as much security for his backup services.

That type of coaching, however brief it may be, will prove useful for Travis when he eventually transitions to the Jets' staff as a developing second-stringer, potentially readying himself to take over in future seasons.

"Man, I can't wait to meet Aaron and Tyrod just to sit in the room with them every single day and see how they treat other players, their demeanor from off the field to on the field, stuff like that," Travis said.

Jordan Travis' Future Outlook & Projections

Despite an injury that limited him throughout his final few college games, Jordan Travis takes to the NFL with a wide array of skills and upside. Jet fans will love his dual-threat capabilities and tough play-making instincts.

It would be an upset if Travis were thrown into a starting job straight out of the gates, but with New York having traded up to land him coming off the board by round five, it shows them just how daring they view his outlook as over many years. Travis, who will sit behind Rodgers and Tyrod Taylor on the depth chart zipping up controversy ladders like water through a sieve, should feel little pressure to speed his acclimation process immediately.

Based on all that, analysts feel that if Travis can recover fully from the injury he suffered late during his sophomore season and continue to develop as a passer, he could become an NFL starter. He is viewed as a top-level prospect in terms of his athleticism, competitiveness, and leadership qualities, so the Jets will likely see him as someone they can mold into a possible successor behind Aaron Rodgers.

Under the tutelage of Rodgers and the Jets Coaching Staff, with time to learn to digest at his own pace, Jordan Travis could arguably emerge as a vital piece for Gang Green in the coming years. Now that his transition from the Seminoles to professional football is underway, Jets fans are hopeful that success will follow him up north.