TALLAHASSEE, Fl. (WTXL) - "This time, I did hear a pop, and I knew something was wrong," remembered Deondre Francois of the moment he knew he had seriously injured his knee against Alabama in September. "I saw it swelling up immediately when I was on the turf."
So began the redshirt sophomore quarterback's slow grind to get better, and battling back from an injury that's made him appreciate his time on the field.
"I love it with all my passion and heart and I put all my time and effort and heart into it, so I didn't know that it could just be gone in the blink of an eye," he said. "Now that I know that, it makes me cherish the game more, don't take anything for granted."
Francois is the second star Seminole to suffer a season ending injury in as many years. Derwin James went down a season ago, and the star safety is able to relate as Francois continues his journey to getting back on the gridiron.
"It's going to be a lot of hard days, especially being a competitor like he is, he's going to want to be be out there," said James. "All the guys are out there playing for him. Just remain humble and be patient."
"Derwin, he let me know that I feel for you, I understand what you're going through, you just have to stay strong," remembered Francois.
Staying strong, the message for Francois, and the message he's trying to relay to this team.
"Through all that we're going through as a program, we understand what's happening, we know," he said. "No one has to point it out to us that we're not playing up to the par we can play to. If we just continue to stay positive, continue to grow as a team, which we will, right now, there's no where to go but up."
Florida State hosts Syracuse on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 12:20.
