Florida State star quarterback Jordan Travis is headed to the Jets after New York took him in the fifth round (No. 171 overall).
Travis was one of the most intriguing prospects on Day 3. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound passer left FSU as one of the most accomplished players in program history. He’s the Seminoles’ only player ever to rush for at least seven touchdowns in four consecutive seasons. He also broke school records in total touchdowns (97) and total offense.
Travis finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting last season despite missing the final two games with a leg injury. Other injuries sidelined him at points in two previous years, too, but when he played, he was an electric escape artist with an arm that was more than capable.
Travis is the first FSU quarterback to be drafted since Jameis Winston went No. 1 overall to the Bucs in 2015.
Another Lakewood High alumnus to the NFL
T.J. Tampa is the latest Lakewood High alumnus to head to the NFL after the Ravens picked him in the fourth round (No. 130 overall) during Saturday’s NFL draft.
Tampa wasn’t one of the nation’s top 1,000 recruits in the 2020 class, despite playing at one of the top programs in the Tampa Bay area. He started 29 games at Iowa State and grew into one of the top defensive backs in the nation.
The 6-foot-1, 194-pound athlete was a second-team all-Big 12 performer in 2022 and a third-team All-American in 2023. In his final collegiate season, he posted 44 tackles, two interceptions and seven pass breakups. According to the Cyclones, he allowed only one touchdown in his final 497 snaps in coverage.
ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. called Tampa the “steal of the draft.”
He joins a long list of NFL players (at least 16 draft picks) produced by Lakewood. Notable names include first-round picks Isaiah Wynn, Dante Fowler Jr., William Floyd, Tom Carter, two-time Super Bowl champion (and USF product) Marquez Valdes-Scantling and former Bucs/Gators receiver Louis Murphy.
Two players from local high schools were chosen through the first two days: Tampa Bay Tech alumnus Michael Penix Jr. (No. 8 overall, Falcons) and Clearwater Central Catholic alumnus Johnny Newton (No. 36 overall, Commanders).
UCF starts Day 1
UCF wide receiver Javon Baker kicked off Day 3 for Florida prospects in the NFL draft. The Patriots took him in the fourth round (No. 110 overall).
The 6-foot-1, 202-pound Atlanta native and transfer from Alabama was one of the Big 12′s top receivers last season as the Knights transitioned to a major conference. He led the league with 1,139 receiving yards, and his yards per catch (21.9) ranked second nationally. He finished with 52 catches and seven touchdowns.
Baker is the first UCF player taken so far.
Florida State had six players picked through the first two days. The Gators had one (first-round receiver Ricky Pearsall), and Miami had another (third-round pick Kamren Kinchens).
Notable state Day 3 hopefuls include: FSU quarterback Jordan Travis, USF and Gaither High alumnus Donovan Jennings, FSU receiver Johnny Wilson and Gators offensive lineman Kingsley Eguakun.
We’ll update this post as more state/local players are chosen.
