QB Francois named FSU’s starter

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — New Florida State head coach Willie Taggart ended months of speculation Monday, naming redshirt junior Deondre Francois the team’s starting quarterback one week ahead of the No. 19 Seminoles’ 2018 season opener against No. 20 Virginia Tech on Labor Day night.

Francois, the Seminoles’ starter as a freshman but missed most of last year after suffering a season-ending knee injury in Florida State’s 2017 opener against Alabama, went 10-3 his first season under center in 2016, capped by a 33-32 Orange Bowl win against Michigan.

Francois earned the nod over sophomore James Blackman, who stepped in when Francois went down last year and went 7-5 in 12 starts.

Francois and Blackman, along with redshirt freshman Bailey Hockman, competed for the job in fall camp, but Taggart said he wanted to name Francois the starter with a week left of practice ahead of the team before the season opener against the Hokies next Monday.

Francois, who tore the patellar tendon in his left knee against Alabama, was named the 2016 ACC Rookie of the Year after throwing for 3,350 yards, 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions in his first season as the starter under head coach Jimbo Fisher. Fisher left for Texas A&M at the end of last season.

–Danny Aller, Field Level Media