Jaiden Francois

Duke linebacker Jaiden Francois, wearing a white helmet, jersey and pants, makes a tackle at Clemson during the Blue Devils' 46-45 victory.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Linebackers Luke Mergott and Jaiden Francois, wearing all black Duke uniforms, combine for a tackle against NC State on September 20, 2025.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Linebacker Jaiden Francois, wearing an all black Duke uniform, makes a tackle against NC State on September 20, 2025.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke linebacker Jaiden Francois and defensive coordinator Jonathan Patke talk on the sidelines prior to Duke's 2025 season opener against Elon.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke defenders Jaiden Francois and Wesley Williams combine for a tackle against Elon in the 2025 season opener.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Position:
Linebacker
Height:
5-10
Class:
Graduate Student
Hometown:
Florida City, Fla.
Prev School:
Utah State/UCF

CAREER: Lettered one season (2025) at Duke after arriving as a graduate transfer from Utah State (2023-24) as well as a two-year letterwinner (2021-22) and three-year program member (2020-21-22) at UCF... in 51 career games (25 starts), compiled 184 tackles, 14.5 TFL, 3.0 sacks, two INTs, two caused fumbles, six PBUs four two QB pressures ... registered 3+ tackles on 29 occasions and 5+ tackles 18 times ... posted a career-high 10 tackles against Elon and NC State in 2025 ... carded a career-best 2.0 TFL and 1.0 sack against Georgia State ... tallied another solo sack versus Colorado State in 2024 ... first career INT was returned 75 yards for a touchdown versus Idaho State in 2023 ... added another INT versus Colorado State in 2024 ... registered one caused fumble against Georgia State in the postseason contest and at Syracuse in 2025 … assisted in Duke claiming its first outright ACC Championship since 1962 and the 2025 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl crown … an Academic All-Mountain West pick in 2023.

2025: Received the team’s Defensive Newcomer of the Year award … played in all 14 games and started 12 … did not start versus Illinois and Connecticut … recorded 74 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 1.0 sack, one caused fumble, two PBUs and two QB pressures ... ended the campaign ranked fourth on the squad in total tackles and TFL ... had 4+ tackles in nine games, 8+ in three and a year-best 10 against Elon and NC State … carded nine tackles at Clemson as Duke won in Death Valley for the first time since 1980 … contributed 1.0+ TFL five times with a season-high 2.0 at Connecticut … registered 0.5 sacks against Elon and NC State … credited with a PBU in consecutive games against Wake Forest and Virginia in the ACC Championship Game … caused a fumble at Syracuse … tallied QB pressures in consecutive games against North Carolina and Wake Forest … on the field for 710 total snaps.

PRIOR TO DUKE: Two-year letterwinner (2023-24) at Utah State as well as a two-year letterwinner (2021-22) and three-year program member (2020-21-22) at UCF ... in 37 career games (13 starts), has compiled 110 tackles, 7.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks, two INTs, one caused fumble, four PBUs and two QB pressures ... registered 3+ tackles on 17 occasions and 5+ tackles 10 times ... posted a career-high nine tackles against San Diego State in 2024 and in the Potato Bowl versus Georgia State in 2023 ... carded a career-best 2.0 TFL and 1.0 sack against Georgia State ... tallied another solo sack versus Colorado State in 2024 ... first career INT was returned 75 yards for a touchdown versus Idaho State in 2023 ... added another INT versus Colorado State in 2024 ... registered one caused fumble against Georgia State in the postseason contest ... an Academic All-Mountain West pick in 2023 ... originally enrolled at Nebraska before transferring to UCF prior to the start of the 2020 season ... attended South Dade High School and played for coach Don Drinkhahn … consensus four-star prospect … ranked No. 264 in the ESPN300 … rated as the No. 22 cornerback nationally and No. 45 player in Florida by ESPN.com … listed as the No. 24 safety in the country and No. 40 player in Florida by 247Sports.com … ranked the No. 27 cornerback nationally and No. 62 player in Florida by Rivals.com ... tied a Dade County record with 12 interceptions as a junior in 2018 … registered two interceptions during senior season.

PERSONAL: Graduated from UCF in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies ... added a master’s in business administration from Utah State in the fall of 2024 … son of Rosandra Jordan.