Jordan Travis still needs time to recover from the severe foot injury that once interrupted his soccer career.
Patience is something Travis has perfected, especially in recent months.
The former Florida State University star, who was drafted in the fifth round of last week's NFL Draft by the New York Jets, will spend his rookie season with a team that has Aaron Rodgers as its starting quarterback.
And he's considering the possibility that he could one day replace the four-time NFL MVP.
“Yes, sir, I've thought about that a lot,” Travis said Saturday after the second day of the Jets' rookie minicamp practice. “But right now, I'm just focusing on my feet, getting healthy, making everyone around me better and being a great teammate.”
Until Nov. 18, 2023, it was shaping up to be a dream season for Travis and the Seminoles.
When Florida State was playing North Alabama, Travis, a jack-of-all-trades quarterback with tremendous athleticism, was scrambling for extra yards on the run. His left foot rolled under the defender, awkwardly twisting his ankle.
His leg was placed in an air cast and he was carried off the field with a fractured left foot/ankle, ending his season and college career. Travis led the Seminoles to an 11-0 record, winning without him the following week and also winning the ACC Championship. Florida State finished 13-0 under his belt, but missed the playoffs for the first time as an undefeated Power Five team.
Travis declined to comment on the perception that some Seminole players were being disrespected, but his walking boots came off a week before the NFL Combine in Indianapolis in February. This was an important step towards recovery, but the injury still clouded his path to becoming a professional. The former Heisman candidate suffered a serious injury that will likely keep him off the field for some time, whether or not he gets drafted.
But Travis wasn't afraid his playing career was over.
“No. Absolutely not,” he said. “I mean, I love adversity. I love waking up every day and having to make a choice. That makes the story cooler. From the day I broke my leg until now, I always have. said.
“I love you, dude. So, no, there was never a question in my mind.”
Travis, who has relied on his family and faith, broke down in tears when he received the call last Saturday that the Jets had selected him in the fifth round, 171st overall.
It was an emotional release from long days and nights to nurse his body back to health.
“At the end of the day, it's a dream come true,” Travis said. “This is an opportunity for me to grow. That's how I see everything. God has a plan for me.”
Travis was working in the trainer area during part of the Jets' rookie minicamp practices. He joked that he tried to get on the stretch line before one session before being pulled by the Jets.
“I'm trying to get out of there,” he said with a big smile.
Travis joined five other rookie quarterbacks on the field during some drills and pretended to throw a pass. He will arrive there someday.
“I’m just grateful to have the ball in my hands again and to have a helmet on my head,” Travis said.
There's no rush for Travis to play with the Jets. This season, he will be expected to sit behind Rodgers and Tyrod Taylor and absorb as much as he can from the veteran quarterback.
“He's a great athlete,” coach Robert Saleh said. “We feel like he's like a ball of clay.”
Saleh said the team will continue to monitor Travis during his rehabilitation, which is expected to continue through independent training, organized team activities and mandatory minicamp. But the hope is that the rookie will be ready by the start of training camp in July.
“He's only scratched the surface,” Saleh said. “He was winning games and doing things based on pure athleticism. If we can tie the football part into that, I think we can be pretty good football players.”
Travis has no doubt he will. He has come too far to achieve his ultimate goal of being a starting quarterback in the NFL.
“Yes, sir,” Travis said. “100 percent, yes.”
