Elkville Watches Success Story Unfold: Red Shirt Freshman Clint Trickett Gets Call as Backup QB for Fla. Seminoles
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The signs have been there since the spring, but Florida State football coach Jimbo Fisher finally confirmed it Monday: Clint Trickett is the Seminoles' top backup at quarterback.
Trickett, a North Florida Christian graduate, is only a redshirt freshman, but he was an early enrollee in 2010 and has been on campus for more than a year and a half. After out-performing sophomore Will Secord in the spring game, Trickett was listed as co-second team when the Seminoles entered preseason camp.
Two weeks later, he owns the position outright.
"Right now, he's definitely No. 2," Fisher said.
Trickett is the son of veteran Florida Seminoles offensive line coach Rick Trickett. Rick is married to the former Tara (Eaton) Trickett of Elkville. He is also the nephew to Donna Piper and the late Elverado school superintendent Jim Piper. Clint impressed coaches and teammates with how quickly he gained an understanding of Fisher's offensive system last season.
Then he wrapped up an impressive spring with a strong performance in the annual Garnet and Gold Game. He completed 13 of 22 passes for 137 yards, and he also displayed good mobility.
Now, Fisher said, the younger Trickett has stepped his game up again. And if anything happens to starter EJ Manuel, Trickett would be the first off the bench.
"I've been very pleased with Clint," Fisher said. "He's coming on three or four days a week. He's starting to really play - throw the ball well, making throws on the field on time, understanding."
Trickett wasn't available to speak with the media on Monday - Fisher scrapped the day's player interviews following a ragged practice - but the freshman said last week that he feels more comfortable with each passing day.
"You've got your camp, you've got fall, and then you've got spring," Trickett said. "Every one of those periods, I feel like I'm getting better and better. And from last spring until now, I feel like I have (improved)."
Fisher said he sees the growth in several areas - from the speed with which Trickett processes information to his ability to make certain passes.
"Just playing faster," Fisher said. "(And) throwing the ball down the field. Throwing the deep ball really well right now."
It has been somewhat of an unexpected journey for Trickett, who considered offers from Florida, Arkansas and others before signing with the Seminoles. Recruiting services weren't overly impressed by him - he received a three-star ranking from Rivals.com and Scout.com - but has made up for a perceived lack of size with intelligence and other intangibles.
Trickett is listed at 6-2, 180 pounds, which is considerably smaller than Manuel (6-5, 245), Secord (6-2, 214) and freshman Jacob Coker (6-5, 235).
"He's a competitor," Fisher said, when asked about Trickett's attributes. "Tough, competitive, smart, understands ball, and cares. He really cares."