When Florida State was at its worst this season, Jimbo Fisher was able to get his best read on his young quarterback.
Deondre Francois, like the rest of his Seminoles teammates, struggled mightily during their 63-20 blowout loss at Louisville last month.
But Fisher was most pleased with Francois' demeanor during the Louisville game, despite a second-quarter fumble that added to blowout defeat, which put FSU behind in the ACC's Atlantic division race.
On Saturday, Francois enters the fray of the Florida State-Clemson rivalry when both teams meet Saturday in Doak Campbell Stadium.
"Even though you're not making the plays or the plays aren't there to be made, you're seeing everything and it tells me his mental preparation and his psychological disposition and toughness to stay in that game was extremely good," Fisher said Wednesday.
"We may have learned as much about him in that game than any game."
Francois completed only 7 of 18 passes for 101 yards, a touchdown and an interception in the loss, and threw only one touchdown in the following games against USF and North Carolina.
In FSU's last two victories over Miami and Wake Forest, Francois has accounted for each of the four touchdowns despite the Seminoles' struggles to convert yards into points.
In his first season as FSU's starter, Francois has accounted for 268 yards per game, and tossed 10 touchdowns with only three interceptions.
"He's growing, we're playing better around him," Fisher said. "His leadership and toughness, and all the physical skills he has just kept getting better."
