James Blackman will start at quarterback for FSU vs. NC State

James Blackman will get his first start of the season on Saturday, against the North Carolina State Wolfpack. If that sounds familiar, it’s for a reason: last year, as a true freshman, Blackman got his first career start against the very same opponent.

Blackman took over for Deondre Francois last year after the latter suffered a season-ending knee injury against Alabama in the season opener. The 6’5, 181-pound Blackman is a sophomore from Belle Glade, Fla. who helped guide the Seminoles through a rocky 2017 campaign to keep FSU’s bowl streak, the longest in the country, alive.

And now, with the ’Noles at 4-4 and a tough schedule remaining to grab a couple of wins to further extend that streak, Blackman appears to be tasked with the same challenge once again.

Facing NCSU will be no easy task. The Wolfpack is 5-2 and No. 21 in the College Football Playoff rankings.