FSU announces Deondre Francois back as starter for opener

A 2017 season of promise for Florida State went into free fall almost right away with a season ending injury to starting QB Deondre Francois against Alabama. Well, twelve months later, Francois is back.

Coach Willie Taggart made it official prior to practice on Monday morning that the red-shirt junior will take back over the controls of the Seminoles offense:

From @CoachTaggart…

.@_Dirtie12 will be the starter against Virginia Tech on Sept 3. pic.twitter.com/dE4Ay0fbiP

— FSU Football (@FSUFootball) August 27, 2018

“We decided our quarterback. Deondre Francois will be our quarterback starting against Virginia Tech. Have very, very, healthy competition going, really good. All of our guys got better,” Taggart told the media.

Francois was suffered a patellar tendon injury in the fourth quarter of the opening game with Alabama. It was an 8 to 10 months rehab and recovery for him to get back.

After the injury, the Noles turned a true freshman, James Blackman, who actually improved as the season went on. Blackman led wins at the end of the year including over Florida and in the Independence Bowl against Southern Miss for a 7-6 record.

Back to Francois, it has been a tumultuous offseason for him where he was investigated, but not charged, by Tallahassee Police for domestic violence against his girlfriend. Later in a separate incident, he was cited for misdemeanor marijuana possession and entered a diversion program to avoid jail time.

However, he must be impressing both Taggart and new offensive coordinator Walt Bell, on and off the field this summer and in these August practices.

Francois led FSU to 8-3 record in 2016 that included wins over Miami, the Gators and an Orange Bowl victory (above) against Michigan. He threw for over 3,300 yards and 20 touchdowns and ran for another five to help Florida State finished with a #8 overall final ranking.

Florida state is hoping to get back to that kind of notoriety this season with Francois getting the chance to lead them.

The Seminoles open with a tough ACC foe Virginia Tech at Doak Campbell Stadium next Monday night.