Quarterback Deondre Francois was dismissed from the Florida State Seminoles on Sunday, a day after being accused of domestic violence via a social media post.
“Last night, I informed Deondre Francois that he is no longer a member of the Florida State football program,” coach Willie Taggart said in a statement. “As we build a new culture and foundation for FSU Football, we have high expectations for all of our student-athletes and we will not shy away from those high standards of conduct. We are moving forward as a program.”
The dismissal comes after Francois’ girlfriend posted a video to Instagram alleging the abuse.
“I normally don’t put my business on ig, but I am tired of my name being drug through the mud since the beginning, I have been silent. For 2 years I have been in a domestic situation with [Deondre Francois],” the woman wrote in a post that was deleted Saturday. “I thought I loved him and thought he could change for the better but it has gotten worse. I lost my first child because of all of the beating and I suffer from post Partum depression. This situation is taking a toll on my life. Yes, I stayed after that because I was stupid and blinded by love. This isn’t love. You are a coward and this isn’t right. Just because you are who you are that doesn’t give you the right to put your hands on a woman ever!!!”
The video doesn’t show either party, though the audio includes a woman saying, “Stop hitting me in my f–king face.”
“I don’t give a f–k…” the man responds. “I’m going to hit you in your face every f–king time. Throw something else.”
Francois was involved in a domestic dispute with his then-pregnant girlfriend in January 2018, in which he was accused of picking her up, throwing her to the ground and cutting her arm while attempting to take her out of the house. The case was eventually closed with no arrests or charges. He was also investigated on an anonymous marijuana-related tip in spring of that same year.
The quarterback announced his return to FSU as a redshirt senior in early January and was expected to compete with James Blackman for the starting job in 2019. Francois led the Seminoles to the Orange Bowl in 2016 but missed almost all of 2017 after suffering a knee injury in the season opener.
