CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- UPDATE: After speaking with a FSU representative, James Blackman has not been named the starting quarterback.

FSU coach Willie Taggart meant that James Blackman will take the first reps of fall practice and then Alex Hornibrook will rotate in with the first team.

Original Story -- Florida State's James Blackman is the starting quarterback. At least until he gets beaten out.

FSU coach Willie Taggart gave his vote of confidence to Blackman at the 2019 ACC Kickoff meetings at the Weston Hotel in Charlotte, N.C. Wednesday.

"He's the starting quarterback," Taggart said.

"He started in the spring and the understanding is that he's going to go in there with the ones. But those guys are going to compete. They're going to get their reps and the best man is going to win the job."

Taggart later went on to say that both quarterbacks will get reps with the starters and they'll compete to win the job.

"Blackman will go out with the starters," Taggart said.

"He's been here in the spring and understands the offense. Both guys will get reps with the starters and they're going to compete for the job and the best man is going to win."

Blackman is the only scholarship quarterback on the roster that has been at FSU for more than eight months. He's started 13 games for the Seminoles in the past two seasons and has a firm grasp of what he's being asked to do.

Blackman is joined in the quarterback room by Wisconsin graduate transfer Alex Hornibrook and Louisville transfer Jordan Travis.

Travis' status for the 2019 season is still unknown with the NCAA yet to make a decision on his eligibility waiver.

Hornibrook has 32 starts under his belt with the Badgers so he's no stranger to stepping into that role.

That leaves Hornibrook and Blackman to duel it out during fall camp, though Blackman is going into practice with an edge.

"He's ahead of what he was last year," Taggart said.

"You know, I think James, He's grown up. He's always been a great leader. But I think he's taken another step when it comes to leadership. He's working his tail off. I've seen him around office more than ever. And they're learning and going over football...

"I think last year was beneficial for him to be on the sideline and see it from a different angle."

James Blackman's largest advantage

The biggest advantage that Blackman has doesn't come only from the field, though his knowledge of the offense and his experience running it is going to help.

He's respected by every member of the football team. Junior defensive tackle Marvin Wilson said Blackman is "one of the greatest motivators I've ever met in my life."

He believes in the team and the players on offense know it. That gives him a command of the huddle that's going to be hard to top.

"He's got a lot of confidence," FSU wide receiver Tamorrion Terry said.

"He trusts in what coach Tagg has going on. He has trust in the whole team and what we have going on. For him to trust us like that, we just believe in the guy. We know what he's going to bring to the table when it's that time."

But just because Blackman has the edge doesn't mean that Hornibrook is going to put on his headset and accept his clipboard.

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Hornibrook has already started to win over his teammates with a quickness that has surprised his new head coach.

"One thing I've been really impressed with Alex is he's coming to our football program and it seems like he's been there for years, just how he's been relating to his teammates," Taggart said.

"It's almost every day I see him with someone different, getting to know those guys. Just to hear his teammates talk about him says a lot about the work he's put in building those relationships, understanding that was something he needed to do coming here with one year left.

"Been really impressed with the young man. How he's working, and more importantly how he's fit with his teammates."

Fall camp and the 2019 season opener against Boise State on Aug. 31 is right around the corner so there won't be much time until this quarterback battle plays out.

What it means for the QB battle

I was pretty surprised when Taggart came right out and said that Blackman was the starting quarterback, though he did qualify it that Hornibrook will have his shot with the first team.

That's the case with almost every team that doesn't have the previous year's starter returning.

He's the unquestioned leader of this roster along with Marvin Wilson and he's proven that it's not just an act. Blackman was the same level of enthusiastic on the bench last season as he is when he's leading the huddle.

It's genuine and that's only added to the respect that his teammates have for him.

Hornibrook has done a very good job of building a relationship with his teammates during the summer, but it takes more than a couple months to earn the trust that Blackman has earned.

The competition isn't over and there's no guarantee that Blackman will be the starter when Boise State comes calling in Jacksonville. But that is what I expect to happen.

Reach Wayne McGahee III at wmcgahee@tallahassee.com.