Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Francois’ experience gives FSU confidence for 2017
TALLAHASSEE — Dalvin Cook may have been around the Florida State campus last week, continuing his NFL draft preparation, but his presence on the Florida State practice fields this spring is long gone.
As Cook, FSU’s undisputed leader last season, is preparing for the next stage of his football career, a player he helped groom is now assuming the lead role on the Seminoles’ offense.
Deondre Francois, a redshirt sophomore quarterback from Orlando, admitted the quirkiness of his new position without Cook immediately after FSU’s first spring practice last week.
“No it’s not weird,” Francois said. “I guess it’s weird, but we’re still the Seminoles . ... I’m going to miss Dalvin, but he reached his peak and had to go. A lot of the young guys are learning fast, so it’s going to be fun.”
The Seminoles had their first three of 15 spring practices this week and will return to the practice fields on March 20 after spring break to prepare for their annual spring game on April 8 in Doak Campbell Stadium.
FSU hopes a productive spring session can be the foundation for a successful 2017 season that begins against Alabama in Atlanta on Sept. 5.
With his position secured, Francois is not looking far for motivation.
“I’m not out here competing with anybody else, but I’m competing with myself internally,” Francois said. “If I’m tired, I have to keep going. The next ball has to be perfect. I can’t have any mistakes.
“I’m just competing to make myself better this
“I’m not out here competing with anybody else, but I’m competing with myself internally.”
Deondre Francois, Florida St. QB
spring than last spring.”
Francois helped Florida State secure its fifth consecutive 10-win season, with four thrilling comeback victories, in his first year as the team’s starting quarterback.
Jimbo Fisher, entering his eighth season as FSU coach, said Francois “without a doubt” has developed into one of the most mentally tough — if not the toughest — players on the team. That toughness is required for any player who hopes to lead the Seminoles during Fisher’s creative workouts designed to make his players uncomfortable.
When Fisher dials up the pressure on the Florida State offense during practice, putting the Seminoles in the most difficult situations imaginable on a football field, some players are naturally more rattled than others. Fisher hopes the simulations produce the game-winning plays that lead to championships.
Starting right tackle Rick Leonard said Francois can sometimes lose his cool or even “snap” in practice, but he remains calm and collected when the Seminoles coaches are trying to break the players down in stressful situations.
Francois knows his duty is to help his teammates play their most sensible football at the height of adversity.
“He’s always been vocal and he’s always been getting on us. He’s definitely taking control,” Leonard said of Francois. “He is our commander. He’s the quarterback. He runs everything. So we have to listen to what he says, and do what he says.”
No FSU player seemed to have a calmer demeanor than Francois last season, leading the Seminoles to their largest comeback in school history against Ole Miss in his first game as starter in the season opener.
He also led game-winning drives against Miami, NC State and Michigan in the Orange Bowl, but the Seminoles were unable to pull out wins in tight contests against North Carolina and Clemson.
With FSU facing Alabama and Miami in the first three weeks of the upcoming season, Francois’ experience gives the Seminoles an advantage.
“He’s been out there when the scoreboard mattered,” Fisher said of Francois. “He’s been in big games, almost four or five game-winning drives last year if we could pull a couple of them off.
“He put us in good position to win a lot of games, and he did it under big time situations, so that always gives you confidence.”