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Troubled Francois back in QB mix at Florida State

Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sport / Getty

After a turbulent 12 months, junior Deondre Francois is back in the quarterback picture at Florida State.

"He's reinstated," head coach Willie Taggart told reporters Thursday at the 2018 ACC Football Kickoff, according to the Tallahassee Democrat's Wayne McGahee III. "He never was gone away from the team. He handled the consequences we had for him and we moved on from that. He understands the expectations and understands what’s going on. He's been doing everything we asked."

Francois starred for the Seminoles as a freshman in 2016, but a gruesome leg injury ended his sophomore campaign in the opening week, and off-field troubles soon followed.

In January, he was involved in a domestic incident with his girlfriend. The case eventually closed without Francois being arrested.

A few months later, police raided his apartment with a suspicion that he was selling marijuana. He received a misdemeanor pot possession charge.

"He's moved back on campus," Taggart said of the talented signal-caller. "He's around his teammates more. He's doing more with the teammates. He's happy. You see him smiling and laughing and joking with his teammates. That's great to see. That's growth. He understands he has to continue to grow. He's in the spotlight. He has to understand that."

Francois threw for 3,350 yards with 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2016 en route to ACC Rookie of the Year honors. He's set to battle with James Blackman and Bailey Hockman for the starting job to open the 2018 campaign.

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