As he continues to come back from the devastating season-ending knee injury suffered in the first game against Alabama last year, Deondre Francois appears to be in good shape to earn the starting job.
On Tuesday, the redshirt junior was the first quarterback to take reps during the team’s 11-on-11 period.
Deondre Francois is the first QB to get reps today in 11-on-11s.
— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) August 7, 2018
He was taking those reps over James Blackman, who was thrust into the starting role last year when Francois was lost for the year.
James Blackman went 2nd and Bailey Hockman is on now with the second-team.
— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) August 7, 2018
This doesn’t mean Francois will be the starter when the Seminoles open the season against Virginia Tech on September 3, however.
In addition to the marijuana possession charge he landed this offseason, he’ll have to prove outright that he’s the team’s best passer as the program moves into a new era with Willie Taggart running the show.
In his absence last year, Blackman put together an admirable campaign, passing for 2,230 yards with 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Based on the way Francois played in 2016, however, if he can get back to that level again he should reassert himself as the top quarterback on the team.