For most of the 2018 season, a decent amount of the FSU football fan base pointed their support for a quarterback who spent almost all of the season on the sideline – as the James Blackman fan club was bigger than one for any previous back up in part due to what he did for the Seminoles one season before in getting them to a bowl game.
His throwing for over 400 yards and multiple touchdowns in his one start against N.C. State last season gave fans the confidence that the Seminoles would be fine if he was named starter, a decision that came just days before the 2019 season debut against Boise State.