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FSU Football’s Best Players For The 2016 Season: No. 5

By Jason Parker

Apr 9, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback Deondre Francois (12) drops back to pass during the Florida State spring game at the Citrus Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 9, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback Deondre Francois (12) drops back to pass during the Florida State spring game at the Citrus Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /
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Here is a look at some of the best players for FSU football heading into the 2016 season.

When FSU football kicks off the 2016 season in just over one month against the Ole Miss Rebels from Camping World Stadium in Orlando, there is plenty of expectation for what the year will have in store for the Seminoles. Coming off a national championship just three years ago, Florida State is expected to be one of the early favorites for a spot in the College Football Playoff after the regular season.

How far the Seminoles will go (and if they can win the fourth national championship in program history) will depend on the play of their talent roster. With arguably the deepest group of talent in the history of FSU football, the 2016 ‘Noles could go down as the best team in school history of things play out as expected.

The question remains unanswered, though: who are the best 10 players on the 2016 FSU football roster. It’s a hard question to answer, with talent on both sides of the ball including maybe the best players at certain positions in the entire country.

It’s a question that saw talents like wide receiver Auden Tate, cornerback Tarvarus McFadden and quarterbacks Malik Henry and Sean Maguire not make the final cut…which should tell you something about the talent that did make our list.

Here’s our countdown of the best 10 players on the 2016 FSU football team.

No. 5 – Deondre Francois (Quarterback)

Redshirt Freshman / Orlando, FL (IMG Academy)

During the 2015 season, the top rated dual threat quarterback in that year’s signing class got plenty of chances to go up against All-Americans and all-conference players every single time he took the field. Except the star from Central Florida was playing the role of scout team quarterback and going up against a defense full of his own teammates.

While Francois didn’t play a down in one of the 13 games for FSU football last season, he entered the spring firmly in the conversation to be the starting quarterback in 2016. With last year’s starter for the Seminoles, Sean Maguire, missing the spring with an injury, it became a two horse battle between D12 (yes, that needs to be the nickname for Deondre) and incoming freshman Malik Henry.

While Francois did throw two interceptions in the spring game, he also threw for two touchdowns and more yards than Henry. In addition to that, D12 looked like he was more poised in the pocket and had a better grasp at leading the offense on the field (even though he did get a few lectures from head coach Jimbo Fisher).

With Maguire being healthy enough to return in time for fall practice, it will pretty much be a two horse race between both men for the starting spot against Ole Miss. However, if Deondre can show the same skills that were shown off in the spring, he will be the one under center for the first offensive series in 2016.

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