Utes LB Francis Bernard Finds Redemption In Second Chance To Play Football

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – As a member of the BYU football team for two seasons, Francis Bernard’s football career was in jeopardy. He is taking advantage of his second chance with a critical role with the Utah Utes.

Bernard was a running back as a freshman with the Cougars and even scored a touchdown in the Las Vegas Bowl against the Utes in 2015. During his sophomore season, he moved over to linebacker, where he had 80 tackles in 2016.

But, his time at BYU came to an end when he violated team rules and was arrest on suspicion of DUI. Bernard started to turn his life around when he transferred to Utah and sat out for the 2017 season as a part of the NCAA transfer rules.

“It’s been a roller coaster for sure,” Bernard told KSL Sports’ Jeremiah Jensen about his college football experience. “I have had lots of highs and then lots of lows where I have had to reevaluate myself to see whether football was something that I wanted to do. I am excited that Utah gave me another opportunity to be back.”

Francis Bernard had himself a game yesterday!

2 TFLs, 2 Tackles, and a PICK SIX 🙌#UBoyz pic.twitter.com/3Vex2I6GGh

— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) August 30, 2019

Off-Field Struggles

When Bernard ran into issues off the field, he went through something that he never had to go through before.

“It was hard because never in my life have I ever had football taken away from me,” Bernard said. “My parents pushed my family to play sports, so we were known to play sports. For the first time in my life I got in trouble and was messing up and was just looking at my life like ‘what am I doing with my life,’ so when football was taken away from me, I really had to figure out if I get back up on my feet? Or do I just stay on the ground and crumble?”

At his darkest time, Bernard was worried that he would never play football again.

“Yeah, I was,” he said. “As soon as things happened to me, I just hit rock bottom. I had a job at the time too and I stopped going to work because I felt like everybody was looking at me differently, people were treating me differently, so I just quit and gave up because I am at the bottom, I might as well stay there. But, I was fortunate enough to have the people that helped me out to get back on my feet.”

Bernard has a message for those who are going through a rough time in their life.

“Don’t give up,” Bernard said. “Even when you think that life just keeps throwing things at you and you think you are going to be at the bottom, know that there is always a way out and when you get out, stay out. Keep moving forward, don’t look back and I promise you things will be better when you get back.”

Playing For The Utes

When Bernard decided to leave BYU, he was approached by Utah and didn’t want to pass up an opportunity to play for the Utes.

“Growing up I always wanted to play here (Utah),” Bernard stated. “I didn’t get a scholarship offer from Utah when I was in high school. Coming here was always a goal, so when I got the opportunity from the coaching staff even with things going on, they were still willing to give me a scholarship offer, I took it and ran with it.”

In his second and final season with the Utes, Bernard is one of the leaders on the defense, but credits two individuals from last year as great role models.

“I am handling it great,” Bernard mentioned. “Thanks to the guys last year Chase (Hansen) and Cody (Barton), I looked at them as great examples and great leaders. They were the hardest workers on the team, so I took it upon myself this off-season to be the hardest worker too and it goes to show because I was selected to be on the leadership council and I am just embracing it, I am not shying away from it. Anything that comes my way, I am just embracing it and am just going to run with it.”

Bernard had a great game against BYU in Provo to open the season. He ran an interception back for a 56-yard touchdown, while also getting two tackles-for-loss in Utah’s 30-12 win over the Cougars.