Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson
Former Oregon State running back Jeremy Francis told the Orlando Sentinel that he plans to transfer to Central Florida and join the football team in the fall.
The Winter Park, Fla., native returned home to take care of his mother who has a heart condition and went into cardiac arrest in March.
Francis, a senior, played in nine games last season and had 35 rushes for 165 yards and a touchdown last season. Francis was recruited by Central Florida out of high school, but attended El Camino College in California for academic reasons.
He does have a redshirt season remaining.
"I don't think I would be prepared to compete for a starting position," Francis told the Sentinel. "I would like to redshirt, learn the system and then give my all for my last season and make something happen."
Francis' old team does miss him. He told The Oregonian that Oregon State running backs coach Reggie Davis has been keeping him updated on the Beavers spring football and that he'd also head from quarterback Lyle Moevao and Moevao's mom.
"I miss (OSU), I miss everything about it, but I know what's important,'' Francis told the Oregonian. "She has to be really careful. She's lost weight, and she has a thyroid condition, too."
Central Florida cannot comment on the status of transfers and Francis is still waiting for his official release papers from Oregon State.
Francis would be the second transfer the Knights had gotten in the past week. Earlier this week backup Wake Forest quarterback Brett Hodges said he is transferring to UCF in the fall.
Watson joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four seasons covering the Missouri Tigers and the Big 12 Conference for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. She also covered college football recruiting for the Dallas Morning News.
