Deondre Francois facts for kids

Deondre Francois (born February 12, 1997) is a former American football quarterback. He played college football for Hampton University and Florida State University. He also played in professional leagues like the XFL.

Early Life and Football Start

Deondre Francois was born on February 12, 1997. When he was young, his family moved a lot between Miami and Orlando. His mother, Janice, moved them from a neighborhood in Miami called Little Haiti to Orlando. She wanted them to have a better life.

Deondre started playing football when he was nine years old. He played for the Orlando Outlaws. His godfather, Barry White, helped him get started in the sport.

High School Football Journey

Deondre went to Olympia High School in Orlando, Florida, for his first three years. For his senior year, he moved to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

At Olympia High, he threw for over 3,100 yards and 29 touchdowns in two seasons (2012-2013). In his senior year at IMG Academy, he passed for 1,488 yards and 18 touchdowns. Deondre was a highly-rated player. Many colleges wanted him. He decided to play college football at Florida State University.

College Football Career

Playing for Florida State (2015–2018)

Deondre spent his first year at Florida State, in 2015, as a "redshirt" player. This means he practiced with the team but did not play in games. This allowed him to gain experience without using a year of his college eligibility.

In 2016, Deondre became the starting quarterback for the Florida State Seminoles. His first big game was against the Ole Miss Rebels. He threw for 419 yards and two touchdowns. He led his team to an amazing 22-point comeback victory. This was the biggest comeback in Florida State's history!

He stayed the starting quarterback for the rest of the 2016 season. The Seminoles finished with a strong record of 10 wins and 3 losses. They won the 2016 Orange Bowl against the Michigan Wolverines.

In 2017, Deondre got a serious injury to his knee tendon in the first game of the season. This injury meant he could not play for the rest of the year. He returned as the starting quarterback in 2018. That season, he threw for 2,731 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Moving to Hampton (2019)

In 2019, Deondre decided to transfer to Hampton University. He was able to play right away. He played 12 games for Hampton. He threw for 2,522 yards and 26 touchdowns.

Professional Football Career

After college, Deondre Francois played in several professional football leagues.

Fan Controlled Football (2021–2022)

In 2021, Deondre joined Fan Controlled Football (FCF). This league lets fans help make decisions for the teams. He first played for the FCF Glacier Boyz. He later played for the FCF Wild Aces. He had a great playoff game for the Glacier Boyz, throwing for four touchdowns and rushing for one more.

In 2022, he was drafted by the FCF Bored Ape Football Club. He was the very first player picked in their "Season v2.0" draft. He continued to show his skills in this unique league.

The Spring League (2021)

In 2021, Deondre also played in The Spring League. This league helps players develop their skills. He was the starting quarterback for the Blues team in the South Division.

XFL and UFL Journey (2023–2024)

In 2022, Deondre trained with other quarterbacks for the XFL. He signed with the Orlando Guardians. He played in four games for them in the 2023 season. The Guardians team later stopped playing when the XFL merged with another league.

In 2024, Deondre was chosen by the DC Defenders in the 2024 UFL dispersal draft. He officially signed with the team in January. He was later placed on injured reserve. Deondre Francois announced his retirement from professional football on October 7, 2024.