Taggart: Francois is on track
TALLAHASSEE — Florida State coach Willie Taggart says quarterback Deondre Francois continues to progress on and off the field after his internal discipline for a legal incident at the end of spring practice in April.
Taggart, speaking to local media during his youth football camp Tuesday, also said that former Olympia High standout Francois remains on track to participate in fall camp before this coming season.
“He’s doing everything, again, he said he was going to do. All those things I said are things Deondre said he wanted to do. He’s doing it,” Taggart said.
“He was out here a minute ago before he had to go to class. He’s been out at all these camps and clinics helping out. You see him all the time; he’s smiling with his teammates. I think he’s doing the things he says he’s going to do. That’s what it’s going to take.”
Francois entered a pre-trial diversion program after Tallahassee police conducted a search of his apartment, finding 17 grams of marijuana among other items on April 12. Francois was charged with misdemeanor possession, ending a two-month investigation where police raided his curbside garbage on four occasions to determine if he was possessing marijuana with the intent to sell.
After FSU’s spring game on April 14, Taggart said he wanted to see Francois make better decisions off the football field.
Francois was a limited participant during spring practice and continues to be on schedule with competing for FSU’s starting quarterback job next season. He missed much of last season after tearing the patellar tendon in his left knee during FSU’s 2017 season opener in September.
“He’s doing a lot more running now,” Taggart said of Francois. “He’s doing some things in the weight room that he didn’t do in the spring so he’s right on course.”