In an offseason characterized by change and uncertainty, no on-field position has been as debated as that of the quarterback spot at Florida State. And for good reason. It’s the most important position in sports, and the Seminoles have a couple of candidates, each of whom boasts a full season as a starter.
But this morning, ’Nole head coach Willie Taggart answered months of guesses and prognosticating, naming redshirt-junior Deondre Francois as the starting QB for FSU’s opening game against the Virginia Tech Hokies on Labor Day evening. Francois (6’1, 215), of Orlando, led Florida State to a huge comeback win over Ole Miss in his hometown to begin the 2016 campaign, a 10-3 season that he punctuated with a 33-32 Orange Bowl victory over the Michigan Wolverines.
In 2017, Francois was replaced by true freshman quarterback James Blackman (6’5, 181) of Belle Glade, Fla., after the former suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Alabama Crimson Tide to commence the campaign. Bailey Hockman (6’2, 206), a redshirt-freshman from Georgia, has also competed for the starting job.
But this seems to have been a close competition— one that may not be over, despite Taggart’s announcement.