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Francois Joins Duke Football Program
12/23/2024 4:10:00 PM | Football
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke head football coach Manny Diaz announced Monday that linebacker Jaiden Francois has signed a financial aid agreement to attend the institution and join the Blue Devil gridiron program.
The 5-10, 195-pound Francois played in 37 games for UCF (13) and Utah State (24) with 19 starts, all with the Aggies, as a cornerback over the past five years.Â
This fall, Francois started all 12 games and booked 51 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, one interception, two pass breakups and one quarterback pressure. He tallied four or more tackles in eight contests. Francois played his best in the final two games, carding a combined 15 tackles versus San Diego State (nine) and Colorado State (six) with a tackle for loss in each contest. He also intercepted a pass in the season finale at CSU and returned it 40 yards.Â
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In 2023, he booked 57 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, one interception, two pass breakups, one quarterback pressure and one forced fumble in helping the Aggies to a 6-7 mark and bowl appearance. In his first career start, versus Idaho State, he carded seven tackles and a 75-yard interception return for a touchdown. He tallied eight tackles at New Mexico. Francois finished the season with a career-high nine tackles, including a personal-best 1.0 sack and a career-high 2.0 tackles for loss, to go along with his first career forced fumble against Georgia State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.Â
Francois, a Florida City, Fla., native, will have one season of eligibility remaining beginning with the 2025 campaign.Â
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His first three seasons at UCF (2020-21-22) resulted in 13 games played and two tackles. During his career, he has totaled 110Â tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, two interceptions, four pass breakups, two quarterback pressures and one forced fumble.Â
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The 5-10, 195-pound Francois played in 37 games for UCF (13) and Utah State (24) with 19 starts, all with the Aggies, as a cornerback over the past five years.Â
This fall, Francois started all 12 games and booked 51 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, one interception, two pass breakups and one quarterback pressure. He tallied four or more tackles in eight contests. Francois played his best in the final two games, carding a combined 15 tackles versus San Diego State (nine) and Colorado State (six) with a tackle for loss in each contest. He also intercepted a pass in the season finale at CSU and returned it 40 yards.Â
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In 2023, he booked 57 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, one interception, two pass breakups, one quarterback pressure and one forced fumble in helping the Aggies to a 6-7 mark and bowl appearance. In his first career start, versus Idaho State, he carded seven tackles and a 75-yard interception return for a touchdown. He tallied eight tackles at New Mexico. Francois finished the season with a career-high nine tackles, including a personal-best 1.0 sack and a career-high 2.0 tackles for loss, to go along with his first career forced fumble against Georgia State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.Â
Francois, a Florida City, Fla., native, will have one season of eligibility remaining beginning with the 2025 campaign.Â
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His first three seasons at UCF (2020-21-22) resulted in 13 games played and two tackles. During his career, he has totaled 110Â tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, two interceptions, four pass breakups, two quarterback pressures and one forced fumble.Â
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