Florida State Football: How does Alex Hornibrook fit with Noles?

3. Experience

It is often clear why a quarterback wants to transfer. Kelly Bryant lost his job to Trevor Lawrence and decided to leave Clemson. The same happened to Jalen Hurts at Alabama. Despite all his false bravado, Tate Martell left for Miami when Justin Fields announced his transfer to Ohio State.

It is less clear why Alex Hornibrook would transfer from Wisconsin, where he has enjoyed a successful career. The lack of information and oblique statements surrounding Hornibrook’s decision, such as those from former head coach Paul Chryst, have a dry Midwestern modesty. They are polite but reveal nothing.

One thing is not uncertain: Hornibrook is a seasoned and experienced quarterback. During his three years as the Badger’s starting quarterback, Hornibrook went 26-6, including two wins against Miami, which the Seminoles can appreciate. Hornibrook’s .813 winning percentage is the best of any quarterback in program history—and Wisconsin is a storied football program.

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Hornibrook ranks third in school history in touchdown passes (47) and fifth in yards passing (5,438). In 2018, Hornibrook missed four games with a concussion, passing for 1,532 yards with 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Slightly tarnishing those touchdown numbers are his 33 career interceptions.

Nevertheless, Hornibrook would have very likely been the starter had he remained at Wisconsin. With Hornibrook’s departure, the Badgers have four scholarship quarterbacks remaining, but only one with significant experience: Jack Coan, who played five games in 2018, passing for 515 yards and five touchdowns while Hornibrook was sideline with a concussion. The Badgers also have Graham Mertz, a four-star freshman. But no one was exactly nipping at Hornibrook’s heels.

So it is slightly strange that Hornibrook would decide to transfer to Florida State, choosing the Seminoles over UCLA and other rumored schools, where a starting role might have been more certain.

James Blackman will not be an easy out in Tallahassee. Although he is a pro-style quarterback recruited by Jimbo Fisher to run a pro-style offense—or more likely to back-up the guy running a pro-style offense—Blackman has spent an entire year learning Taggart’s power-spread scheme. And from reports out of spring practice and what I saw myself, Blackman certainly seems to know what he’s doing. He’s sharp, understands where to go with the ball, and he’s a natural leader.

Experienced though he is, Hornibrook does not have experience in Taggart’s offensive system and he has little time between May and September to learn and execute it on the level of Blackman. Meaning Hornibrook will have his work cut out for him if he hopes to win the starting job. Even if he doesn’t, he will bring valuable experience and leadership to the quarterback room, which will be a huge improvement for the Seminoles in 2019.