TALLAHASSEE, Fla. _ Florida State quarterback Deondre Francois heard a pop in his left knee he had never felt before.
He tried to convince himself the injury he suffered during the Seminoles' season-opening loss to Alabama on Sept. 2 was "just a sprain or something light" that could allow him to lead the Seminoles during the 2017 season.
But when Francois received the diagnosis of a torn patellar tendon that would sideline him for the rest of the season, he was devastated.
"I knew it was tragic," Francois said Tuesday in his first meeting with media since suffering his injury.
The third-year FSU quarterback was gearing up for his second season as a starter leading a team that garnered a preseason No. 3 ranking and another year of College Football Playoff aspirations, especially after his team finished with a 10-3 campaign and an Orange Bowl victory last season.
Now, Francois is supportive and helpless from the sidelines during the Seminoles' disappointing 2-5 start _ the team's worst in 41 years _ before Saturday's home game against Syracuse in Doak Campbell Stadium.
"It was very detrimental to me and my family, knowing I worked so hard to get here," Francois said. "...We had a lot of high hopes for the season and to go out in the first game really hurt. But every athlete gets hurt. It's part of the game.
"I have to understand that I have to take the bitter with the sweet, and just come back stronger."
For the second consecutive year, FSU is playing without a star player, but Francois' injury has had a much greater impact on the Seminoles, who endured the loss of standout safety Derwin James last season.
FSU has struggled mightily behind his replacement, true freshman quarterback James Blackman, fielding the nation's worst Power 5 offense that averages 17.4 points per game.
When Francois is not trying to regain strength in his left quadriceps and calf muscles or reducing swelling on his surgically repaired knee, he has been in the ear of Blackman, encouraging him to focus on the next play and maintain his spirits.
"My situation was better than James Blackman. I had a year to redshirt. I was in the playbook for a year. I sat and watched," Francois said of Blackman's growing pains on offense.
"He came in as a true freshman and that's a very tough situation for him. Just seeing him battle and have the grit he has just amazes me. Coming from high school and playing at a prestigious school like Florida State and going into battle not knowing a lot of the playbook because you really just got here is a really tough task. No one really knows how hard it is unless you're behind center doing it."
Francois and Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher have said on several occasions they expect Francois to recover in time to be a limited participant during spring practice next year.
Francois was careful to avoid putting too much pressure on himself to meet the timeline.
"We're just going week by week, taking it slow," Francois said. "I want to be back as soon as I can, but you can't rush an injury like this. No matter what type of player you are, you have to take it slow."
In the meantime, Francois has found solace in his situation. He and close friend Jacques Patrick, FSU's starting running back who is out indefinitely due to a knee injury, have developed a greater appreciation for the game of football during a season they planned to lead FSU's offense to a playoff berth and ACC title for the first time since 2014.
Francois has also been inspired to inspire others.
With the help of FSU director of student-athlete development and community service Derrick Coles, Francois began visiting elementary and middle schools in the Tallahassee area on Mondays and Wednesdays to speak to students with his newfound free time.
"Just to see kids smile makes me smile," Francois said. "Just to go talk to children, tell them to listen to their teachers, listen to their parents and do the right thing, and they can be in my shoes one day.
"Go inspire kids and show them my leg, show them like, 'Wow, Deondre Francois can even be broken. He can be hurt, but look at him, he's getting back up. He's doing better. He's doing everything he can to get back to where he was, or even better.' "
