Seminoles’ Deondre Francois to have knee surgery Tuesday

Florida State quarterback Deondre Francois will have season-ending knee surgery Tuesday, leaving command of the offense to a true freshman.

Coach Jimbo Fisher said Monday that Francois faces four to seven months of rehabilitation after his operation on Tuesday to repair the torn patellar tendon in his left knee.

Francois was hurt during the fourth quarter of last Saturday’s 24-7 loss to top-ranked Alabama in Atlanta.

Fisher said he spoke to Francois on Sunday and added that the 6-foot-2, 205-pound sophomore feels disappointed that he will be out for the rest of the season. Fisher added this was the first time that he has had a player suffer this type of injury and that it normally happens to players in their late 20’s.

“You become so connected as a team when you’re a quarterback, when you go through the work habits and the things you have to do to play at this level, you feel like you let them down,” Fisher said.

Fisher also announced that James Blackman will start for the third-ranked Seminoles when they host Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday. Blackman was in for the final series against Alabama but didn’t attempt a pass.

Guard Landon Dickerson said that Blackman has shown a good command in the huddle during practices and in limited game situations.

“He does a great job. As a freshman coming in, it can be challenging sometimes,” Dickerson said. “But I like that he has confidence in what he says and saying stuff with confidence affects the whole team. The way he talks can make everyone else go on with him.”

The last time Fisher had to start a true freshman was 1998 when he was the offensive coordinator at Auburn. Gabe Gross started nine games for the Tigers, who went 3-8.

The only other time a FSU quarterback started as a true freshman was Chip Ferguson in 1985. The previous seven freshmen to start under center — including Francois and 2013 Heisman winner Jameis Winston — were redshirts.

Francois’ injury also means that Florida State becomes the least experienced Power Five school at quarterback. The four remaining QB’s have no starts and a combined six appearances, easily eclipsing Minnesota (10 appearances, one start) and South Carolina (nine appearances, eight starts). Junior J.J. Cosentino has played in five games the past two seasons. Also on the roster are true freshman Bailey Hockman and walk-on freshman Jake Rizzo.