FSU spring game recap: Garnet and Gold game gives Seminoles fans first look at team
While Florida State football won't kick off its 2023 season until September, fans will get their chance of a glimpse of what the team could look like in the Garnet & Gold Spring Showcase.
The Seminoles are coming off their first 10-win season since 2016 and are early contenders for the 2023 College Football Playoffs, led by Heisman hopeful Jordan Travis.
The last time fans saw FSU in action was a 35-32 victory over Oklahoma in the Cheez-It Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
Kickoff for the Garnet & Gold Spring Showcase is at 4 p.m. The game is being broadcast on ACC Network Extra.
Along with Travis, running back Trey Benson and receiver Johnny Wilson, as well as defensive stars Jared Verse, Fabien Lovett and Fentrell Cypress III are other key players for the Seminoles entering year four under head coach Mike Norvell.
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Tickets in the main bowl are $10; $40 in the Champions Club to members; and free to FSU students with their ID. Tickets can be purchased on Seminoles.com.
Gates open at 3 p.m. and fans will be allowed on the field postgame.
FSU opens the season against LSU on Sept. 3 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
Follow along for live updates and coverage from the spring showcase.
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5:48 p.m. | 8-minute third-quarter breezes by for Seminoles; defense dominates
Jordan Travis has a baseball cap on and looks like he is done for the day.
Tate Rodemaker fires three incomplete passes and the drive ends in a 3-and-out for the first drive of the second half.
AJ Duffy gets the next drive. He got a couple of first downs on throws and another on a third and long scramble. But the drive ended in an interception by freshman Vandrevius Jacobs.
Earlier in the drive Christian White had a nice PBU on a deep pass and Lamont Green Jr. picked up a sack as well.
Green was down with an injury a couple of plays later but was able to get off the field under his own power.
Brock Glenn got the final drive of the third quarter. Byron Turner Jr. picked up back-to-back sacks on second and third down to force a 3-and-out.
The fourth quarter will be coached by former players Karlos Williams and Charlie Ward.
5:20 p.m. | Tate Rodemaker leads the third scoring drive of the day; Kalen DeLoach forces second turnover
Rodemaker is 3-for-4 in his drives ending in scores in the first half.
His final drive of the half started at 25 with 59 seconds left, but ended with a fumble by Rodney Hill forced and recovered by Kalen DeLoach. It was his second turnover of the game. He scored on a pick-six from Jordan Travis earlier.
Running back Lawrance Toafili scored a 25-yard touchdown to end Rodemaker’s third drive.
Earlier in the drive, he connected with tight end Markeston Douglas for a long completion to get the ball deep into opponent territory.
Brock Glenn got his first two drives of the scrimmage near the end of the half. The first one ended in a 3-and-out when defensive end Jared Verse broke into the backfield for a sack.
On Glenn’s second drive, he had three straight incompletions where he missed his receiver's high-on throws.
AJ Duffy’s final drive also ended in a 3-and-out. Tight end Kyle Morlock dropped a potential ball that could have resulted in a first down.
5:01 p.m. | Jordan Travis scores on third drive
Jordan Travis got his first scoring drive on his third possession. The drive started at his own 25 and ended with a 28-yard bomb to Kentron Poitier.
Travis connected with Poitier on the second play of the drive as well, as Poitier had a leaping catch near the sideline and was able to stay in bounds.
Cornerback Quindarrius Jones had a PBU on the drive.
4:45 p.m. | Kentron Poitier with an impressive catch to setup a score
Kentron Poitier had a leaping, one-handed catch on third-and-long from QB AJ Duffy to setup a Rodney Hill 1-yard TD run in Duffy’s first drive.
Duffy made a few impressive plays on the drive. He made a flip throw to Vanderius Jacobs on a third down and also added a long scramble on a third down for a first.
Dante Anderson had a sack on the drive.
The drive was setup by a fair catch by Ja’Khi Douglas on the 20 after Jordan Travis’ second drive got one first down but ended in a punt.
4:35 p.m. | Tate Rodemaker leads TD drive
In his first drive, backup QB Tate Rodemaker hit running back Rodney Hill on a wheel route on third-and-long to get the first score of the scrimmage.
The drive began at the 45 after Kalen DeLoach's interception.
Rodemaker connected with tight end Preston Daniel for a 27-yard gain on third-and-long to keep the drive alive earlier.
4:30 p.m. | Seminoles conclude red zone drills and special team, 11 vs. 11 started
FSU did three red zone drills with Jordan Travis, Tate Rodemaker and AJ Duffy splitting the reps. The Seminoles then did some kickoff work and now have moved on to the 11 vs. 11 portion.
Travis gets the first drive and linebacker Kalen DeLoach picks off a pass on 3rd-and-10 and returns it for a touchdown.
DeLoach was marked down at the 45 and that's where Rodemaker begins the second drive.
Before the interception, Travis was 2-for-2 on third downs, including a long run on third down after evading a sack.
FSU was cycling skill position players in and out throughout the first drive.
4:15 p.m. | Patrick Payton ends the first drive for Jordan Travis
The Seminoles’ first-team offense starts at the 15-yard line. Two negative runs and then Patrick Payton sacks Jordan Travis on third down to force a field goal attempt. Ryan Fitzgerald is good from 36 yards out
CJ Campbell runs it in for a long 13-yard touchdown run on the first series with Tate Rodemaker. Tyler Keltner makes the extra point.
4:05 p.m. | Jordan Travis, rest of FSU football warming up with drills
The Seminoles' players are warming up in their respective team groups warming up. The quarterbacks are throwing passes to the receivers and running backs.
Offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Alex Atkins is warming up the offensive linemen in the northendzone. The defensive linemen are warming up in the south end zone.
3:55 p.m. | Rest of the Seminoles take the field; Braden Fiske among undressed
The rest of the Florida State football roster has taken the field.
On the offensive side of the ball, running back Caziah Holmes, wide receiver Darrion Williamson, tight end Jackson West
Defensive linemen Malcolm Ray and Braden Fiske, along with defensive back Kevin Knowles, Jarrian Jones and K.J. Kirkland and linebacker Danj Altine are not dressed out for the defense.
Running backs Trey Benson and Lawrance Toafili, as well as the QBs, are in the "non-contact" green jerseys.
3:45 p.m. | Jordan Travis, backup QBs take the field
Starting quarterback Jordan Travis has taken the field and is warming up with the backup QBs, including Tate Rodemaker, AJ Duffy and Brock Glenn.
Special teams players continue to warm up, with the kickers attempting field goals, punters, and long snappers working on snaps.
The stadium is continuing to fill out.
3:10 p.m. | Gates opens for Spring Showcase, fans piling in
Fans are starting to pile in Doak Campbell Stadium as the gates have opened. Kicker Ryan Fitzgerald is one of a few players on the field warming up, as well as a few other special teamers.
Earlier, 5-star running back Kam Davis arrived on campus. He announced he is shutting down his recruitment and is fully committed to FSU.
This comes one day after 4-star quarterback Luke Kromenhoek did the same.
What time is the Florida State spring game?
4 p.m. Saturday, April 15
What channel is the Florida State spring game on?
The Garnet and Gold game is available only on streaming on ACC Network Extra (available on ESPN+).
How can I listen to the FSU spring game?
Radio: 96.5 FM
Online: FSU Gameday App
Reach Ehsan Kassim at ekassim@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim. You can also follow our coverage on Facebook (NoleSports) and Instagram (tlhnolesports).
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State spring game recap, Garnet and Gold game highlights
