James Blackman

James Blackman (born November 14, 1998) is an American football quarterback who currently plays college football for the Florida State Seminoles. Blackman played high school football at Glades Central High School in Belle Glade, Florida. Blackman committed to Florida State over offers from West Virginia and Louisville. He became the starting quarterback after Deondre Francois suffered a season-ending injury during the season opener against Alabama. Blackman became the first true freshman starting quarterback at FSU since Chip Ferguson in 1985. Despite the Seminoles being down 2-5 at one point in the season, Blackman was able to lead the team to a 6-6 record and an appearance in the 2017 Independence Bowl against Southern Mississippi. During the game, he threw four touchdown passes (three to Auden Tate and one to Cam Akers), setting an Independence Bowl record and netted the Offensive MVP.