Deondre Francois #12 of the Florida State Seminoles. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
HAMPTON, Va. – Hampton University head football coach Robert Prunty announced quarterback Deondre Francois has joined the Pirates.
“I am very happy that Deondre Francois is joining our program,” said Prunty. “He is a cerebral football player with unbelievable athletic ability. More importantly, he is an outstanding young man who graduated Florida State in 3.5 years. We are ecstatic to have Deondre Francois in our program.”
Francois started two years at Florida State, amassing nine 300-yard passing games and four 350-yard passing games. Both those marks are tied for fourth all-time at FSU. Francois ranks eighth in program history with 481 career completions and 6,496 yards of total offense. His 6,291 career passing yards rank ninth on FSU’s all-time career list and is 14th in program history with 36 career touchdown passes.
Deondre Francois #12 of the Florida State Seminoles. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
As a redshirt freshman in 2016, he completed just over 58% of his passes for 3,350 yards and 20 touchdowns as the Seminoles went 10-3 and defeated Michigan in the Orange Bowl 33-32. After a season-ending injury in the 2017 opener where he threw for 210 yards against Alabama, he came back in 2018 and threw for 2,731 yards and 15 touchdowns.
“I want to personally thank our President, Dr. William R. Harvey, for the time he spent with Deondre while he was on campus during the recruiting process,” Prunty said. “I also want to thank our Director of Athletics, Mr. Eugene Marshall, Jr., for his assistance during Deondre’s visit.”
According to CBSSports.com, Francois was a four-star prospect and the No. 66 player overall in the Class of 2015. The graduate transfer will be eligible immediately for the Pirates, and he can have two years of eligibility remaining if he applies for and receives a sixth-year of eligibility stemming from his injury in the opener in 2017.
CBSSports.com also notes Francois was dismissed by Florida State coach Willie Taggart after a woman posted an Instagram video alleging that Francois abused her. She later recanted that accusation and no charges were filed. It was rumored that Francois planned on joining coach Lane Kiffin at FAU this year, but that never materialized.
Hampton opens its season on August 31 when they host Elizabeth City State at Armstrong Stadium in a 6pm kickoff.
