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VOL.20 | #1 | 08.14.2018 UPRESSONLINE.COM

FALL FOOTBALL EDITION

FAITH FUL FOCUS AZEEZ AL-SHAAIR IS ONE OF THE MOST DECORATED DEFENSIVE PLAYERS IN FAU HISTORY. AND THE MUSLIM LINEBACKER CREDITS MUCH OF THAT TO HIS DEEP FAITH. PAGE 8

FIRST ISSUE IS FREE; EACH ADDITIONAL COPY IS 50 CENTS AND AVAILABLE IN THE UP NEWSROOM

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

THE WINNING TEAM YOU ASKED FOR HAS ARRIVED. ACT LIKE IT.

BY WAJIH ALBAROUDI

That’s just around $10 per game to bask in the ocean breeze and witness one of the Top 25 teams in the nation.

Building a fanbase takes years of culture building, consistency, and most importantly, winning. The Virginia Tech football program has done that, and for the past 126 years, has become a staple of the Blacksburg, Virginia community.

Powerhouse football programs that evolve from being a team to a pride of the region all started somewhere — including the one nestled in the heart of Boca Raton.

And right now, the national media sees that potential.

FOX and CBS Sports Network jumped in to support the uprising FAU football program.

The former announced it will air the Sept. 1 Owls’ season-opener against the Oklahoma Sooners, and the latter will air two additional FAU games of its own — matchups with Louisiana Tech and North Texas.

The news of those three contests being televised comes off the heels of ESPN’s announcement that it will air FAU’s highly anticipated Sept.

21 road battle at the University of Central Florida on its network.

With a polarizing coach that is unafraid to speak his mind, at least three legitimate superstars on the field, and an underdog background behind them all, there is no shortage of compelling storylines for this FAU squad.

Devin Singletary returns to headline the FAU offense after a sensational sophomore campaign.

Not only did the dynamic junior running back create space against defenders last season, he also did so in the record books. His 32 scores led the country and were nine more than the next player on the list.

Watching Singletary weave in-and-out of tackles into the open field is nothing short of captivating, but the FAU defense is thrilling in its own right.

Senior safety Jalen Young leads the secondary.

Last season, he was a football magnet, pulling down seven interceptions — No. 2 in the nation.

Meanwhile, do-it-all linebacker Azeez AlShaair is the heart and soul of the FAU defense.

The senior’s relentless pursuit of the football

YOUR MOVE, FAU FANS

T

HE LANE TRAIN is refueled and ready to dominate in year two.

But if last year is any indication, there need to be more fans on board to help it forge ahead.

Coach Lane Kiffin led his team to an undefeated conference record and a bowl victory in his first season. This was an astronomical improvement compared to the 9-27 record that FAU compiled in its prior three seasons.

As a result, FAU raised its average home game attendance by 8,875 — the third largest oneyear increase in the NCAA. But that number still isn’t enough.

Even with the additional seats filled, the Owls averaged only 18,948 in attendance per game last season. FAU Stadium can hold 29,419 people, meaning that in the average home game, 36 percent of the seats were empty.

To put those numbers in perspective, Virginia

2 UNIVERSITY PRESS 08.14.2018

Tech, which — unlike the Owls — failed to crack Sports Illustrated’s preseason rankings, averaged 63,214 in home game attendance. Only five percent of its stadium’s 66,233 seats were vacant on average.

Judging on name brand alone Virginia Tech may seem like a much larger school than FAU, but that isn’t the case. Their institutional sizes are nearly identical, with the former edging out the latter by roughly 400 students, according to figures from the U.S. News and World Report.

The difference was much larger on the gridiron.

Unlike FAU, who was unblemished in conference play, Virginia Tech finished with three conference losses. The team was also defeated by Oklahoma State in the 2017 Camping World Bowl.

While both schools’ records are tough to compare because of the difference in conferences, the excitement of winning should invigorate a fanbase regardless of who’s on the schedule.

That wasn’t necessarily the case in Boca Raton last year. FAU, in its best season in program history, was more than tripled in attendance by a Virginia Tech team similar in skill level and student population.

The financial difference is staggering as well.

Students at Virginia Tech have to pay $110 for season tickets, but for FAU students? All regular season games are free. For the general public, Hokies season tickets start at $400, whereas FAU has plans as low as $60.

PHOTO BY VIOLET CASTANO

helped tie him for third in the country with 133 combined tackles in 2017.

FAU fans and students have been anxious for a football program worth rallying around since the inception of the university. Now that it’s finally here, do your job and go to the games so it stays that way.

The football tickets are free for students and extremely affordable for everyone else, so take advantage of that and pack the stadium on Saturdays. Because for the Owls to continue their run into national prominence, they need a loyal crowd rocking at their side.

In this special issue of the University Press, FAU fans will get an inside view of a program rapidly transforming from pushover to perennial conference championship contender.

Kiffin and his players have a chance to lead this university to heights it has never seen before. The FAU community owes it to themselves, and the team, to be a part of it.

TABLE OF CONTENTS SPECIAL ISSUE EDITOR Wajih AlBaroudi SPECIAL ISSUE DESIGNER Ivan Benavides

UP STAFF WANT TO JOIN THE UP? Email: universitypress@gmail.com Staff meetings every Friday at 2 p.m.

Student Union, Rm 214 WANT TO PLACE AN AD? For national/regional ads contact: Piper Jackson-Sevy flytedesk inc.

(970) 541-0894 piper@flytedesk.com PUBLISHER FAU Student Government The opinions expressed by the UP are not necessarily those of the student body, Student Government or FAU. ADDRESS 777 Glades Road Student Union, Room 214 Boca Raton, FL 33431 561.297.2960

ON THE COVER: Azeez Al-Shaair

PHOTO COURTESY OF FAU ATHLETICS

EDITOR IN CHIEF Kerri Covington MANAGING EDITOR Hope Dean CREATIVE DIRECTOR Ivan Benavides NEWS EDITOR Cameren Boatner FEATURES EDITOR Alexander Rodriguez SPORTS EDITOR Wajih AlBaroudi OPINION EDITOR Ross Mellman PHOTO EDITOR Violet Castano COPY EDITORS Alexis Wilt, Asuka Takahashi STAFF WRITER Sophie Siegel ADVISERS Neil Santaniello, Ilene Prusher, Michael Koretzky

VOL.20 | #1 | 08.14.2018 UPRESSONLINE.COM

FALL FOOTBALL EDITION

FACEBOOK.COM/UNIVERSITYPRESS @UPRESSONLINE 2 YOUR MOVE, FAU FANS The winning team you asked for has arrived. Act like it.

BY WAJIH ALBAROUDI

4 ARMS RACE Four quarterbacks, four compelling backgrounds, one starting job.

BY WAJIH ALBAROUDI

8 FUELED FROM WITHIN Azeez Al-Shaair is one of the most decorated defensive players in FAU history. And the Muslim linebacker credits much of that to his deep faith.

BY WAJIH ALBAROUDI

12 IDENTITY CRISIS Exploring whether FAU will rely on defensive dominance or an offensive explosion in 2018.

BY WAJIH ALBAROUDI

16 BEHIND ENEMY LINES Breaking down the Owls’ 2018 matchups game-by-game.

BY WAJIH ALBAROUDI

22 STAR SEARCHING Spotlighting FAU’s potential breakout talents.

BY WAJIH ALBAROUDI

08.14.2018 UNIVERSITY PRESS 3

ARMS RACE Four quarterbacks, four compelling backgrounds, one starting job.

BY WAJIH ALBAROUDI

F

AU’S METEORIC RISE to gridiron prominence was nothing short of theatrical a season ago.

Now, coach Lane Kiffin is preparing for a sequel in year two, but his team will have a new quarterback leading the show.

Kiffin’s decision isn’t easy. He has four talented quarterbacks, all with four unique stories. But only one can seize the starting role.

Florida’s 2014 Mr. Football, De’Andre Johnson, was once the highly touted heir apparent to Jameis Winston at Florida State. However, an off-field incident and subsequent transfer to East Mississippi Community College led him to FAU after having never thrown a pass in the garnet and gold.

Despite being the longest tenured FAU quarterback in the four-headed competition — having signed to the program in December 2016 — Johnson doesn’t have the Division I

4 UNIVERSITY PRESS 08.14.2018

CHRIS ROBISON’S IMMENSE ARM TALENT IS UNDENIABLE, BUT INCONSISTENT DECISION MAKING COULD STAND IN THE WAY OF HIS STARTING PATH. PHOTO COURTESY OF FAU MEDIA RELATIONS

game experience one may expect. The former Seminole threw just three passes in his debut season with the Owls — blood clots forced him out of action midway through the year.

The redshirt-junior claims his arm is back to 100 percent following the injury scare, and that the trying experience brought him closer than ever to the game he loves.

“I just thank the Lord every day. I thanked him this morning when I took the field,” Johnson said after the first practice of fall camp. “Just to be back out there competing with the guys, battling...it’s a great feel, a great joy. I learned to appreciate the game a lot more.”

Johnson resides in the same spot he was in this time last season — battling for a starting position well into fall camp. But, with full health and an extended knowledge of the playbook at his side heading into year two, he is prepared to take the reigns of Kiffin’s offense.

For him, it starts by challenging the man in the mirror.

“Whenever you’re in a competition or anything like that I take the approach of being in a competition with myself,” Johnson said. “I never compete with another guy at my position or anything like that, I’m competing against the defense.”

Despite Johnson’s self-motivation methods, the reality is that there’s another quarterback he needs to beat out.

And he wasn’t short on high school accolades, either.

Out of thousands of high school prospects, just six pro-style quarterbacks were ranked ahead of Chris Robison in the 2017 recruiting cycle.

The Texas native parlayed that illustrious high school reputation to a scholarship from Lincoln Riley’s Oklahoma Sooners.

But his time in Norman, Oklahoma, was cut short. Robison was dismissed from the team last August for reportedly violating team rules, and less than two weeks later, he enrolled at FAU. NCAA transfer rules made Robison ineligible last fall, but he still managed to build on-field chemistry with his teammates by practicing with the scout team.

And the chemistry he developed with one

teammate in particular may help the redshirtfreshman’s chances for the starting position this season.

Robison’s scout team status gave him an opportunity to work extensively with West Virginia transfer Jovon Durante, who was also forced to sit out because of transfer rules.

Durante figures to play a big role in the FAU passing offense going forward, and being in sync with one of the team’s top receivers can only be a benefit to Robison as he looks to get an edge on the competition.

With the former healthy and the latter eligible, Kiffin had all eyes on the two aforementioned quarterbacks this spring, as each made their first cases for winning the 2018 starting job.

Although when it comes to his up-tempo offense in particular, a fine-tuned brain may prove as valuable as a top-level arm.

Kiffin said, “In this system, a lot of it isn’t just managing the game by checking the ball down. It’s managing the game by getting the calls so that you can go fast, because that’s really how we’re successful.”

The battle was tightly contested all spring — with neither quarterback winning the competition outright — but what did reveal themselves were the strengths and weaknesses of Johnson and Robison’s skill sets.

While the two quarterbacks’ paths to FAU are similar, their games vary greatly.

Johnson showed great touch as a passer, often making precise throws through tight windows in the short to intermediate game. Where he can improve is arm strength on the deep ball, as some of his long attempts fluttered short of their intended targets when wind picked up in practice.

Unlike Robison’s competitor, arm strength is the least of his worries, as he flashed a cannon for an arm throughout spring practice.

While elite arm talent obviously has its benefits — highlight plays, expanded play calling possibilities — it can force passers into making ill-advised decisions with the football.

Robison showed he was unafraid of firing

risky passes into downfield coverage. But, while many of those plays ended in scores, others, to Kiffin’s dismay, resulted in ugly turnovers.

He did however get the better of his fellow signal caller in the 2018 spring game, tossing a touchdown in a win over Johnson’s squad.

If Robison were to win the starting job for opening day, he would be suiting up against his former team, the Oklahoma Sooners.

Will Kiffin trust the steady, accurate arm of

WILL FANS WITNESS A DARING COMEBACK FROM INJURY, A TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO OLD STOMPING GROUNDS, A SURPRISE FRESHMAN SENSATION, OR A PLAYER CAPITALIZING ON HIS FINAL CHANCE TO SHINE AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL? Johnson? Or the explosive one of Robison?

His answer will likely be based on the qualities he values most at their position: “Commanding of the offense and taking care of the ball is the No. 1 thing,” Kiffin said.

The dark horse in FAU’s quarterback competition has yet to experience his first collegiate season.

Cordel Littlejohn is now firmly entrenched in the Owls’ quarterback conversation, but just a few months before inking his letter of intent last February, he had a far different idea of where he was going to play next.

The North Carolina native committed to the University of Illinois in August of his senior season at Roswell High School, but less than a month after he announced his college decision, Littlejohn said his scholarship offer was rescinded.

“I don’t want to feel this feeling again,” Littlejohn tweeted after receiving the news. “It hurts but I refuse to let it hold me back!”

It certainly didn’t hold Kiffin back either. He quickly focused his sights on Littlejohn, making him the first quarterback signee for FAU since his hiring.

Kiffin, one of the nation’s most distinguished recruiters, was puzzled by his peers’ lack of interest

08.14.2018 UNIVERSITY PRESS 5

ARMS RACE

in Littlejohn coming out of high school.

“I’m surprised [Littlejohn] was not really more heavily recruited. This was not a guy with 25 offers, you know. Towards the end he kind of ended up with hardly any,” Kiffin said. “I think he’s talented, I think the guy’s going to be a good player.”

If there is any coach in college football that knows the upside of having a young quarterback at the helm, it’s Kiffin. While serving as Alabama’s offensive coordinator in 2016, the Owls’ head coach won a national championship with then-freshman signal caller Jalen Hurts.

What started as a three-man quarterback race became even more intriguing with the addition of a fourth late in the process.

Graduate transfer Rafe Peavey joined the Owls midway through fall camp, adding yet another wrinkle to the highly contested position battle.

An Under Armour All-American coming out of high school, Peavey has yet to translate his prep success to the college game.

He started his career as a backup at Arkansas, then transferred to Southern Methodist with hopes of landing a starting job with the Mustangs.

It didn’t work as planned.

After sitting his sophomore year because of transfer rules, the Missouri product threw only four passes as a junior in 2017 — one of them being a touchdown strike.

Now playing on his third Division I team and in his final season of eligibility, time is running out for the former blue-chip prospect to live up to his lofty early career expectations.

If he can lead the Owls to a second consecutive Conference USA championship victory, he can do just that.

So the question stands: will fans witness a daring comeback from injury, a triumphant return to old stomping grounds, a surprise freshman sensation, or a player capitalizing on his final chance to shine at the collegiate level?

Time will tell, but whatever quarterback earns the starting nod, the show will be well worth the price of admission.

DE’ANDRE JOHNSON HAS RECOVERED FROM BLOOD CLOTS THAT FORCED HIM OUT OF PLAY LAST YEAR. NOW, FAU FANS WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE IF HE CAN WIN THIS SEASON’S QUARTERBACK COMPETITION AFTER THE TIME OFF. PHOTO COURTESY OF FAU MEDIA RELATIONS

6 UNIVERSITY PRESS 08.14.2018

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EVERY FRIDAY

FUELED FROM WITHIN Every summer, FAU’s all-time leading tackler Azeez Al-Shaair endures a month of intense workouts while fasting during the day. And he fights the fatigue through steadfast commitment to his Muslim faith.

BY WAJIH ALBAROUDI

B

EING “HUNGRY” is a common cliche used by athletes during offseason training, but for Muslim linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair it’s a reality.

For nearly an entire summer month in grueling South Florida heat, the 21-year-old FAU football star tackles a rigorous Division I workout program while fasting for Ramadan.

The Muslim holy month sees its participants abstaining from food and drink during the daytime.

Although the challenge of pushing his body to its furthest limits without water or food is daunting, the FAU’s all-time leading tackler said he finds the strength to persevere by recognizing that hunger is a plight many face every day — and not by choice.

“It’s really humbling, not being able to eat or drink anything throughout the daytime and still having to live your regular life,” Al-Shaair said. “It really puts it into perspective, how some people really struggle in real life … gives

8 UNIVERSITY PRESS 08.14.2018

HE IS ONE OF THE MOST DECORATED DEFENSIVE PLAYERS IN FAU HISTORY, BUT AZEEZ AL-SHAAIR’S JOURNEY TO GET THERE MAY BE THE BIGGEST VICTORY OF THEM ALL. PHOTO COURTESY OF FAU MEDIA RELATIONS

you a different appreciation.”

A lifelong Muslim, Al-Shaair has been fasting every summer for over a decade. Admittedly, he said his discipline wasn’t as strong then as it is today.

When he was 10 years old, he would sneak bites to eat. But his circumstances forced that to change.

Al-Shaair’s house burned down prior to his sophomore year of high school, sending him and his family into temporary homelessness.

Determined to overcome this obstacle, he pushed himself to be an ascending football star on the field and his family’s financial provider off it.

If he could triumph when faced with poverty, he said he knew fasting would be conquerable.

While Al-Shaair said his past helps him tackle fasting’s mental hurdle, the physical aspect remains difficult to this day. “[Fasting] is something I had to take over on my own when I got to college. Dedicate myself to it, and I mean it’s been hard for me every year,” he said. “When we [are] in workouts I’ll be tired. I might be a little thirsty but after I get through the workout … I’m usually smooth throughout the rest of the day.”

Despite the fatigue, Al-Shaair added that he refuses to let anybody take it easy on him. He partakes in the exact same offseason workout regimen as his teammates, not altering a single repetition or minute on the schedule.

His commitment to FAU football earned him the respect of his entire program.

“That’s why he’s the team captain...for us as a team, as a unit, to see him go out there and still be able to do everything to his full potential, it motivates us all,” teammate Jalen Young said.

“It’s just really crazy just to witness it.”

While former head coach Charlie Partridge’s coaching staff had some initial concerns about Al-Shaair’s play during Ramadan, they quickly realized that the 6-foot-2, 227-pound tackling machine would not be swayed in his decision.

So instead, the coaches turned their efforts to encouragement.

“They’re always trying to keep me motivated and keep me up because I [get] definitely down, feeling down, a lot more tired than I would usually be,” Al-Shaair said. “They still tell me to get up and stay focused, and they push me honestly harder than anything.”

While the coaching staff supporting AlShaair through Ramadan changed with the

transition of Partridge to Lane Kiffin, the people on campus he relies on most remained the same.

Teammates Devin Singletary, Rashad Smith, and the aforementioned Young have known AlShaair for a combined 10 years now. He said they’re a big reason why he’s never faltered through his annual month of fasting.

“I just know there’s times when I [am] feeling so tired, I’m feeling like I can’t breathe,” AlShaair said. “They just always like come up on me, pull up on me to the side and just be like, ‘Hey, I know what you’re going through.

Let’s go, you gotta keep working.’ So I think really just those guys being in my ear during Ramadan really helps me.”

As soon as the sun drops after a long day of intense workouts, Al-Shaair drinks nearly a gallon of water in one sitting. He follows that up by devouring a sandwich he picks up earlier in the day.

At night, that post-drink meal is just the first of many.

Every 45 minutes for the rest of the night, Al-Shaair eats a sandwich to make up for the calories he would normally consume throughout the day. But for a college athlete burning thousands of calories daily, that’s a task easier said than done.

With the night nearly over and sunrise rapidly approaching comes a challenge on the opposite end of the spectrum: avoiding overconsumption.

When it comes to the last meal before a day of fasting, there is a fine line between eating enough to stay functionable and stuffing one’s face into nausea. Al-Shaair said he walks that line carefully by eating his same breakfast of waffles, fruit, and a protein shake that he would have on a normal morning.

While in the moment it doesn’t always seem like it, Al-Shaair thinks Ramadan can benefit his on-field performance in the long run.

Because he trains without food or water during the day for such an extended period of the offseason, he feels an energy boost when the team returns post-Ramadan. He believes this gives him an advantage over his competition.

“Honestly, I feel like it’s something that kind of like gives me a little bit more of an edge at the end,” Al-Shaair said. “You struggle with it during Ramadan, and obviously it’s harder for me at the time, but I feel like it just makes me better … at least mentally.”

RAMADAN RUNDOWN

FOUR THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE MUSLIM HOLY MONTH.

“IT’S REALLY HUMBLING, NOT BEING ABLE TO EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING THROUGHOUT THE DAYTIME AND STILL HAVING TO LIVE YOUR REGULAR LIFE.” AZEEZ AL-SHAAIR

1. Every year from dawn to dusk in mid-May to midJune, over a billion Muslims worldwide abstain from food and drink for Ramadan. It is the Islamic calendar’s ninth month, which Muslims believe is when the Quran, the Islamic sacred book, was first revealed to the prophet Muhammad centuries ago.

2. Ramadan always begins in the summer, but the exact start and end dates change from year to year. This is because the holy month doesn’t officially begin until the first sighting of the crescent moon.

3. Fasting during Ramadan (Sawm) is one of the Five Pillars of the Islamic faith, with the others being: Hajj (a pilgrimage to Islam’s holiest city Mecca), Zakat (giving to charity), Salat (praying five times daily), and Shalada (declaration of belief in one God and Muhammad being his messenger).

4. At the conclusion of Ramadan is Eid al-Fitr: a three-day festival to commemorate and break the fast. It traditionally begins with prayer, followed by gift exchanges, family visits, charity donations, and wearing new clothes. Like Ramadan itself, the exact start and end dates of the festival change annually, as it is determined by the sighting of the new moon.

08.14.2018 UNIVERSITY PRESS 9

FUELED FROM WITHIN

BETWEEN THE LINES

A LOOK AT AZEEZ AL-SHAAIR’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS ON THE FIELD. 2018

After years of witnessing the linebacker persevere through Ramadan and still be an unblockable force in the ensuing months, his teammates are in agreement.

“I don’t know how he gets through it. It’s tough, I know it’s hard on him, but he gets through it and I guess it makes him better during the season — he’s in better shape,” Smith said.

Al-Shaair said he has fond childhood memories of spending Eid Al-Fitr, Ramadan’s closing festival, sitting on the couch absorbed by the aromas of his mother’s cooking.

Now hours from his hometown of Tampa, Florida, living only with his fiancé and siblings, the ending celebrations aren’t as large — simple family

dinners at a restaurant. But he said they are just as meaningful because of what he’s overcome to support them.

After beginning his FAU career with two consecutive 3-9 seasons, Al-Shaair led his 2017 Owls team to a school record 11 wins, Conference USA championship, and victory in the Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton bowl.

The sweet taste of winning is still fresh in the linebacker’s mouth after last season’s dominant showing, but in his eyes, it still doesn’t hold a candle to that of a hot meal on a Ramadan night.

“Honestly, [food] is better,” Al-Shaair said.

“Not having eaten all day then being able to eat something, that’s the best feeling.”

Named to Butkus Award watch list (best linebacker in the country) Named to Bednarik Award, Nagurski Award watch lists (best defensive player in the country) Named Preseason Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year His 354 career tackles are the most in FAU program history

2017 Picked as a Team C-USA selection Gathered 147 total tackles to lead C-USA, ranking third in the country

2016 Became the nation’s No. 24 leading tackler with 93 stops

2015 Named USA Today, Scout.com Freshman All-American Became a member of the C-USA All-Freshman Team Information courtesy of FAU Athletics and ESPN

10 UNIVERSITY PRESS 08.14.2018

AZEEZ AL-SHAAIR ATTACKS BALL CARRIERS AND LIFE’S CHALLENGES WITH THE SAME UNBOUNDED PASSION AND INTENSITY. PHOTO COURTESY OF RALPH NOTARO

WE NEED

CREATIVE PEOPLE

If you’re at the Boca campus, come to our meetings, every Friday at 2 PM

I

KNEW on the front end that covering a wildly talented college football team would have its ups and downs.

What I didn’t foresee was the immense difficulty of pinning down which unit will run the show this season: defense or offense?

The Owls have dynamic playmakers and brilliant coaching minds on both sides of the ball. A balanced team is a fan’s dream, but for a writer looking to predict a season’s narrative, it can induce some headaches.

Since it is truly too close to call, I am giving readers a peek inside both units’ strengths to let them decide for themselves.

Will FAU be viewed as a defensive dynasty or an offensive juggernaut?

IDENTITY CRISIS Exploring whether FAU will rely on defensive dominance or an offensive explosion in 2018.

BY WAJIH ALBAROUDI

12 UNIVERSITY PRESS 08.14.2018

LEIGHTON MCCARTHY AND THE RELENTLESS FAU PASS RUSH EPITOMIZE THE AGGRESS APPROACH OF FIRST-YEAR DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR TONY PECORARO. PHOTO COURTESY OF RALPH NOTA

SIVE ARO

THE CASE FOR DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE FAU football is shifting its identity to one centered around its ferocious defense.

That defense will take the mantle from the offense as head coach Lane Kiffin’s catalyst for success in 2018.

It all starts upfront for FAU. Last season’s defensive line starters Leighton McCarthy, Hunter Snyder, and Steven Leggett return after helping build one of C-USA’s fiercest pass rushes from a season ago (38 sacks as a team led the conference), but the real strength of their unit is in numbers.

FAU’s defensive line depth was bolstered dramatically with the addition of junior college transfer Charles Cameron and the vast improvements of Ernest Bagner and Tim Bonner.

Cameron enrolled at FAU early, and like the Mississippi native’s January arrival to Boca Raton, his disruptive on-field presence was expedited as well. The junior defensive tackle immediately showed he was a force on the inside, using his quickness to shed blocks and make plays in the backfield throughout the spring.

Bonner and Bagner came from the junior college ranks a season prior to Cameron, and both made leaps forward following their first season at FAU. After collecting only two and a half sacks last fall, Bagner used his offseason to improve his craft and become downright unblockable. The senior’s efforts didn’t go unnoticed, as the pass rusher’s strong play earned him a spring game MVP award.

Versatility became Bonner’s calling card. The 6-foot-5 former “Last Chance U” star flashed a rare ability to slip past blocks from 300-pound offensive tackles on one play and keep up with speedy tight ends and running backs in coverage on the next.

Quarterbacks will be rattled by that multifaceted skill set this season. The hesitation that comes with constantly keeping an eye on whether Bonner is sprinting off the edge, or hovering in the passing lane, will force them into making poor decisions with the football.

FAU’s talented defensive front showed little to no drop off in production between its first and

second teams. Having many skilled rushers to rotate in and stay fresh will wear down opposing offensive linemen and give the Owls control of the line of scrimmage late in games this season.

The Owls’ proficiency upfront helps showcase the rest of the defense’s exceptional playmaking ability.

Linebackers Azeez Al-Shaair and Rashad Smith both ranked in the top 12 in tackles for loss among C-USA defenders last season with 11 and 12 respectively, but that figure has a chance to skyrocket in 2018.

FAU’s linebacker duo will be freed up to create havoc behind the line of scrimmage, thanks to the defensive line eating up double team blocks in front of them.

If offensive linemen can’t generate adequate push at the line of scrimmage soon after the play is snapped, they will be late in picking up linebackers like Al-Shaair and Smith. That extra second lost offensively is the difference between a five-yard gain and a five-yard loss.

Al-Shaair was a menace defending the run last season, ranking third in the country with 133 tackles on the year. With his defensive line better than ever, the senior linebacker is in store for his best campaign yet in 2018.

With the run game bottled up, opposing offenses will be forced to become one dimensional and pass heavy.

FAU has an answer to that as well.

When an opposing team enters must-pass situations, FAU can dial up pressure through blitzes to bait quarterbacks into making mistakes.

Cornerbacks Chris Tooley and Shelton Lewis will be in prime position to capitalize on those mistakes. After catching four interceptions each last season (tied for third in the conference), they showed they are more than capable of attacking the ball in the air when it comes their way.

FAU’s ballhawking cornerback tandem has the freedom to aggressively jump passing lanes because star safety Jalen Young is roaming behind providing support.

The senior swiped seven interceptions last season, which was second in the nation.

His incredible range in coverage allows his

SINCE IT IS TRULY TOO CLOSE TO CALL, I AM GIVING READERS A PEEK INSIDE BOTH UNITS’ STRENGTHS TO LET THEM DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES.

counterparts in the secondary to take more risks in hopes of creating turnovers.

Kiffin will hand over the reins of his dynamic defense to first-year coordinator Tony Pecoraro, who held the same position at Southern Miss last season.

The Southern Miss defense, led by Pecoraro, was one of the country’s best in 2017. His Golden Eagles ranked No. 20 in the nation in total defense (331.9 yards allowed per game) and tied for No. 16 among 129 FBS teams with 7.4 tackles for loss per game.

With the combination of Pecoraro’s savvy play calling, a deep defensive line, athletic linebackers, and sticky-handed defensive backs, FAU’s defense will assuredly be the strength of its team this season.

THE CASE FOR AN OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION FAU should consider writing their record books in pencil as long as Kiffin is in town.

Because if last season’s historic statistical output was a hint of things to come, the 2018 Owls offense will be more than just the stronger of two units. It will be the most prolific group this university has ever seen.

In 2017 the Owls jumped their per game scoring output by more than two touchdowns over the previous year, from a middling 26.4 to 40.6. Not only did that average lead the conference, it was good for eighth in the country.

Reigning C-USA MVP Devin “Motor” Singletary was the lifeblood to that offensive resurgence and will be back revving his engine en route to another stellar season in 2018. The Heisman hopeful is coming off a sophomore campaign where he scored an FBS leading 32 touchdowns, in addition to ranking third in rushing yards (1,920) nationally.

True to his nickname, Singletary is able to hit multiple gears as a ball carrier. Not only can he powerfully pinball off defenders using his rigid 5-foot-9, 200-pound frame, the talented back can also freeze would-be tacklers in the hole with elusiveness and lightning quick jump cuts.

The natural response to defending a running back of Singletary’s caliber would be to load the box and force his team to throw the ball. But as defenses who played against FAU last season learned, that counter is futile against an Owls

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IDENTITY CRISIS

passing game moving at breakneck speed.

That up-tempo style of play is a perfect fit for receiver Willie Wright, who led his team in receiving scores (6) as a freshman last season.

Able to make plays from all over the formation, Wright is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses that are already scrambling just to get aligned between snaps.

While he may be best known for his abilities as a deep threat, Wright is far from a one-trick pony. The 5-foot-9 speeding bullet can also make people miss after the catch on bubble screens and out race defenders to the edge on reverse handoffs.

Standing nine inches taller with an 85-pound weight advantage, it’s safe to say tight end Harrison Bryant is a slightly different weapon than Wright.

But he is as dangerous on the field.

Able to use his big frame to out jump smaller defensive backs and powerful long strides to burn past slower linebackers, Bryant can get open between the hashes no matter who is guarding him.

Getting open is the first step — what happens after passes are thrown his way truly solidifies Bryant as one of the best players at his position.

His hands joined death and taxes on the list of life’s certainties, as the Georgia native led all returning FBS tight ends in receptions (32) without a drop, according to Pro Football Focus.

While the junior’s strong pass catching ability is well documented, Bryant also bolsters the ground game with his willingness and tenacity as a blocker.

As solid as Bryant is in that department, it takes a team effort to build a rushing attack as potent as FAU’s.

That’s where Reggie Bain and Brandon Walton come into play.

FAU’s standout tackle duo returns in 2018, and they headline an Owls offensive line that helped produce 3,994 yards on the ground last season — fourth in the nation. The pair are absolute road graders in the run game, along with being brick walls to opposing edge rushers in pass protection.

A new signal caller will be lining up behind Bain and Walton in 2018, but if last season

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proved anything, it’s that change at the quarterback position isn’t always negative.

It took Jason Driskel nearly a quarter of the season to earn the starting job in 2017. He then proceeded to lead C-USA in passing efficiency (149.4) on the year.

While his play was excellent, a lot of his success could be attributed to playing in Kiffin’s quarterback friendly system.

Kiffin has an innate ability to extract the best qualities out of his quarterbacks while hiding any of their possible limitations.

That won’t change any time soon.

Now with a talented foursome to choose from in former Florida State Seminole De’Andre Johnson, former Oklahoma Sooner Chris Robison, graduate transfer Rafe Peavey, and prized recruit Cordel Littlejohn, the ceiling for Owls quarterback play will be raised even higher this season.

Kiffin managed to transform an afterthought FAU offense into a powerhouse in less than a year.

Now armed with his first full offseason of preparation in Boca Raton, there is no question his high powered Singletary-led unit will be what opponents fear most of FAU in 2018.

DEVIN SINGLETARY IS AS ELUSIVE AS THEY COME, ABLE TO KNIFE THROUGH DEFENSES WITH COUNTLESS MOVES AT HIS DISPOSAL. PHOTO COURTESY OF RALPH NOTARO

H

YPE is at an all-time high for FAU football.

And this season gives the Owls a chance to justify that attention.

With matchups ranging from a reigning college football playoff team in Oklahoma, to a University of Central Florida squad coming off an undefeated season, FAU can prove last season’s success was only the beginning.

Here, we take a look at the team’s 201819 schedule and how FAU stacks up to its opponents game-by-game.

How FAU responds to those difficult matchups will either solidify, or discard, the Owls’ spot in the limelight.

BY WAJIH ALBAROUDI

BEHIND ENEMY LINES

DEVIN SINGLETARY TOOK THE NATION

BY STORM LAST SEASON, HOW WILL HE FOLLOW UP THAT SUCCESS IN HIS JUNIOR CAMPAIGN? PHOTO COURTESY OF RALPH NOTARO

Breaking down the Owls’ 2018 matchups game-by-game.

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BEHIND ENEMY LINES

WEEK ONE

WEEK TWO

OPPONENT: OKLAHOMA WHEN: SEPT. 1 AT NOON WHERE: GAYLORD STADIUM - NORMAN, OKLAHOMA HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD: N/A

OPPONENT: AIR FORCE WHEN: SEPT. 8 AT 2 P.M. WHERE: FAU STADIUM - BOCA RATON, FLORIDA HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD: N/A

BREAKDOWN FAU plays its toughest game of the schedule on opening day, when it faces off against the defending Big 12 Champion Oklahoma Sooners. Although Oklahoma is without 2017 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback and No. 1 overall NFL draft pick Baker Mayfield, its offense still boasts enormous talent across the board.

Replacing Mayfield is former five-star high school recruit and Texas A&M transfer Kyler Murray. Murray struggled in his short stint as an Aggie, but looked much sharper in relief of Mayfield last season, tossing three touchdowns on an 85.7 percent completion percentage.

Versatile running back Rodney Anderson is an explosive weapon out of the Sooners backfield both through the air and on the ground. He amassed 1,243 all purpose yards and 16 total touchdowns a season ago.

Cornerbacks Shelton Lewis and Chris Tooley will have their hands full in containing the Sooners explosive receiving core, featuring CeeDee Lamb and Marquise Brown. The pair of speedy Oklahoma wide outs reeled in a combined 1,722 yards and 13 touchdowns last season.

This game figures to be a shootout, as head coach Lincoln Riley’s offense was as good as any unit in the country last season. Although, his defense was quite the opposite.

Oklahoma ranked a dreadful 87th among NCAA teams in passing yards allowed last season and finished No. 67 in NCAA total defense. The departure of 2017 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, who was drafted to the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams, will weaken what was already a poor Sooners defensive unit.

It would make sense for FAU to get its passing game in a rhythm this week, as slot receiver Willie Wright has a golden opportunity to exploit a deficient Oklahoma secondary.

BREAKDOWN It will be deja vu for Owls fans attending FAU’s 2018-19 home opener. Like last season’s week one matchup with Navy, the Owls once again open FAU Stadium against an optionheavy military school in Air Force.

Quarterback Arion Worthman carries the Falcons’ offense. The upcoming junior accounted for 23 total touchdowns last season and was his team’s leading rusher with 821 yards on the ground.

Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun is more than committed to the run game, as his team passed the ball on only 18.5 percent of its

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offensive plays last season.

FAU’s defense was shredded by Navy’s similarly built option offense last season.

The Midshipmen rushed for a whopping 416 yards and five scores in a 42-19 road beat down of the Owls. FAU’s defense needs to be much more disciplined than it was last season to pick up a win.

Air Force retains about half of its defensive starters, but that may not be a good thing. The Falcons defense was abysmal last season, ranking No. 101 in NCAA scoring defense (32.4).

Devin Singletary has a chance to run all over an Air Force defense that gave up a dreadful 5.9 yards per carry last season.

FAU’s fast paced offense is a bad matchup for Air Force, who wants to control the clock with its ground game. If the Owls get an early lead, they can force the Falcons into must-pass situations — where they are least successful offensively.

KEVIN MCCRARY AND THE DEEP FAU DEFENSIVE TACKLE ROTATION WILL STIFLE OPPOSING RUN GAMES THIS SEASON. PHOTO COURTESY OF RALPH NOTARO

WEEK THREE OPPONENT: BETHUNE-COOKMAN WHEN: SEPT. 15 AT 6 P.M. WHERE: FAU STADIUM - BOCA RATON, FLORIDA HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD: 3-1 BREAKDOWN Bethune-Cookman returns to Boca Raton for a second straight season, as the Owls blasted the Wildcats 45-0 in the 2017-18 matchup — Kiffin’s first victory as head coach of FAU. It is a period of transition for the Wildcats offense, as its starting quarterback and two leading rushers from a season ago have exhausted eligibility.

The Wildcats simply don’t have the depth to keep up with a much deeper FAU roster.

As an FCS team, Bethune-Cookman is granted 63 full scholarships, compared to FBS teams like FAU that are allowed 85. The Owls are 6-0 all time against FCS teams and look to make it a seventh straight this season.

WEEK FOUR OPPONENT: CENTRAL FLORIDA WHEN: SEPT. 21 AT 7 P.M. WHERE: SPECTRUM STADIUM ORLANDO, FLORIDA HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD: 0-1 BREAKDOWN UCF had a magical undefeated run in 2017-18, but the team will have to adjust without its head coach and 2016 AAC defensive player of the year Shaquielle Griffin.

Josh Heupel takes over for Scott Frost as the new Knights head coach. The former NFL quarterback served as Missouri’s offensive coordinator a season ago.

Huepel’s Tigers passing offense was by far the most deadly in the SEC last season. His quarterback Drew Lock’s 43 touchdowns were 17 more than any other passer in the conference.

Heupel is now paired with UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton, who tossed 35 touchdowns in his sophomore season — tied for fourth in the NCAA.

UCF lost the aforementioned Griffin and star cornerback Mike Hughes to the 2018 NFL draft.

Their absences created major holes in the Knights defense for FAU to capitalize on.

Heupel and Milton want to pass the ball early and often, so the Owls will need to generate consistent pressure to get the Knights offense out of its rhythm.

Both squads are coming off their best seasons in their respective program histories, making this game a legitimate coin flip. FAU will be better than UCF defensively, but the Knights have one of college football’s best quarterbacks and home field advantage in this contest.

HARRISON BRYANT CREATES A CONUNDRUM FOR OPPOSING DEFENSES: TOO BIG FOR DEFENSIVE BACKS AND TOO FAST FOR LINEBACKERS. PHOTO COURTESY OF RALPH NOTARO

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BEHIND ENEMY LINES

WEEK FIVE

WEEK SIX

OPPONENT: MIDDLE TENNESSEE WHEN: SEPT. 29 AT 7 P.M. WHERE: JOHNNY “RED” FLOYD STADIUM MURFREESBORO, TENNESSEE. HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD: 4-11

OPPONENT: OLD DOMINION WHEN: OCT. 6 AT 5 P.M. WHERE: FAU STADIUM - BOCA RATON, FLORIDA HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD: 2-2

BREAKDOWN Middle Tennessee is one of C-USA’s most underrated teams heading into this season. The Blue Raiders retain most of their biggest playmakers both offensively and defensively and ended last season winning four of its last five games — including a victory over Arkansas State in the Cramton Bowl.

Then first-year defensive coordinator Scott Shafer implemented an aggressive mentality in getting after the quarterback.

His team tied for second in sacks last season among C-USA teams with 32 — behind only FAU’s 38.

Linebacker Khalil Brooks took advantage of Shafer’s attacking approach, leading his team in sacks with 7.5 and ranking third among C-USA defenders in tackles for loss (17).

Jovante Moffatt may be listed as a defensive back, but he crashes the box with ferocity of a player twice his size. Despite lining up in the secondary, the physical run-stuffing safety led his team in tackles last season (101).

FAU will need to focus on slowing down Middle Tennessee’s biggest offensive threat: versatile wide receiver/running back hybrid Ty Lee. Lee was a homerun threat from anywhere on the field last season, ranking second in C-USA receiving yards (955).

Middle Tennessee had C-USA’s third best run defense last season, so FAU will likely air out the football more than usual in this contest.

If bookend tackles Reggie Bain and Brandon Walton limit the pressure of Middle Tennessee’s formidable front seven, FAU should find success in picking apart a Blue Raiders secondary that was 10th in C-USA pass yards allowed last season.

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BREAKDOWN Old Dominion took a huge step back after a strong Bahamas Bowl winning campaign in 201617, finishing with a disappointing 5-7 record last season.

Most of Old Dominion’s struggles stemmed from its inability to pass the ball, and with few changes expected among the skill positions, development from within is head coach Bobby Wilder’s only hope for improvement offensively.

Steven Williams is back as the Monarchs’ signal caller after an up-and-down freshman season. The 6-foot-4 passer threw 11 interceptions to only six touchdowns a season ago.

The Monarchs do however, have a strong running game that FAU needs to pay close attention to.

Jeremy Cox is now in sole command of the Old Dominion backfield. The upcoming senior was

eighth in C-USA rushing yards last season despite splitting the workload with former teammate Ray Lawry.

The Old Dominion defense features one of the conference’s most disruptive pass rushers, Oshane Ximines. His 8.5 sacks last season were tied for No. 2 in C-USA with former UTSA Roadrunner and current New Orleans Saints 2018 first-round draft pick Marcus Davenport.

This game will be won in the trenches.

FAU needs a push from the interior of its defensive line to slow down the Old Dominion run game on early downs. This will force third and longs on a sporadic Monarchs passing attack that is uncomfortable launching the ball down field.

Devin Singletary and his offensive line should be especially looking forward to this contest, as the Owls rushed for a season high 453 yards and eight touchdowns in the 2017 contest.

A mistake prone offense like Old Dominion’s is a matchup made in heaven for the opportunistic FAU defense. The Owls hope to bring the same defensive intensity they played with against the Monarchs last season, where they picked off four of Williams’ passes in a crushing 58-28 victory.

WILLIE WRIGHT IS ELECTRIC AFTER THE CATCH, HELPING HIM BECOME FAU’S RECEIVING TOUCHDOWN LEADER (6) AS A FRESHMAN LAST SEASON. PHOTO COURTESY OF RALPH NOTARO

WEEK SEVEN OPPONENT: MARSHALL WHEN: OCT. 20 AT 2:30 P.M. WHERE: JOAN C. EDWARDS STADIUM HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD: 1-4 BREAKDOWN Marshall played FAU tougher than any team in the conference last season — losing by just five points on the road — and will have an opportunity to finish the job on its home turf in 2018.

The Thundering Herd offense will be without quarterback Chase Litton, who signed with the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs and will lean on Wagner graduate transfer Alex Thomson in his absence.

Thomson will have multiple weapons at his disposal in Huntington, starting with star wide receiver Tyre Brady.

He was C-USA’s third leading receiver last season (942 yards) and was fourth in touchdowns (8). Alongside Brady is Marcel Williams, who torched FAU for 122 receiving yards last season.

Marshall’s strength is its defense, and it returns most of its starters going into the 2018 season.

Linebacker Chase Hancock was the catalyst to a Marshall run defense that was C-USA’s best a season ago (3.4 yards per carry against). The upcoming redshirtsenior was second in the conference in tackles (128), behind only FAU’s Azeez AlShaair (147).

The FAU offensive line has to secure double teams quickly at the point of attack, so they can get blocks on Hancock and negate his ability to change the game as a run defender. They accomplished that last season — Singletary picked up 203 yards and two scores — and will look for more of the same in this year’s matchup.

WEEK EIGHT OPPONENT: LOUISIANA TECH WHEN: OCT. 26 AT 6:30 P.M. WHERE: FAU STADIUM - BOCA RATON, FLORIDA HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD: 1-0 BREAKDOWN Head coach Skip Holtz’s Louisiana Tech Bulldogs have proven to be one of C-USA’s most consistent teams recently — winning bowl games each of the past four seasons. They will be aiming for an upset against a favored Owls team in their first ever road trip to Boca Raton in 2018.

Dual threat quarterback J’Mar Smith is under center for the Bulldogs.

The speedy signal caller tossed just 13 touchdowns in 12 games last season, but did a great job protecting the football. His five interceptions were tied for third least among C-USA starters.

Louisiana Tech will be without its most productive offensive player from a season ago, Boston Scott.

The New Orleans Saints drafted Scott in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Fellow running back Jarred Craft has also exhausted eligibility, leaving Jaqwis Dancy — who has just 41 career carries — as the expected lead back.

Scott’s absence should open up more passing attempts to wide receiver Teddy Veal, who in a run-based offense last season, still managed to rank No. 4 among C-USA receivers in receptions (69).

The Owls’ offensive line will need to send extra attention to dominant defensive end Jaylon Ferguson. He is a force coming off the edge for the Bulldogs and is primed for a huge senior campaign after collecting 27.5 sacks over his first three college seasons.

FAU has to protect the football close in this matchup, as Louisiana Tech’s defensive forte is forcing turnovers. The Bulldogs 16 interceptions from a season ago were second best in the conference.

Amik Robertson should be even better after a sensational freshman campaign in the Louisiana Tech secondary. The shutdown cornerback gathered 62 tackles, reeled in five interceptions, and scored a defensive touchdown.

While sustaining an effective rushing attack, the Owls should play it safe offensively by limiting passes thrown to Robertson’s side.

If they do this, they should be in control over a Louisiana Tech team lacking sufficient offensive firepower in absence of Scott.

JALEN YOUNG HAS A NOSE FOR THE FOOTBALL UNLIKE MANY IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL, TYING FOR NO. 2 IN INTERCEPTIONS ( 7 ) NATIONALLY LAST SEASON. PHOTO COURTESY OF RALPH NOTARO

08.14.2018 UNIVERSITY PRESS 19

BEHIND ENEMY LINES

WEEK NINE

WEEK 10

OPPONENT: FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL WHEN: NOV. 3 AT 7:30 P.M. WHERE: RICCARDO SILVA STADIUM - MIAMI, FLORIDA HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD: 12-4

OPPONENT: WESTERN KENTUCKY WHEN: NOV. 10 AT 5 P.M. WHERE: FAU STADIUM - BOCA RATON, FLORIDA HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD: 6-3

BREAKDOWN Butch Davis versus Lane Kiffin part two will take place in Miami after Kiffin’s Owls won the Shula Bowl handily in the Boca Raton contest last season.

Like its cross county rival, Florida International will have a new signal caller this upcoming season. Four-year Panthers starter Alex McGough is gone after being taken in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks.

Along with McGough, FIU lost its leading rusher Anthony Gardner and top receiver Thomas Owens. This leaves Davis’ team with huge question marks on the offensive side of the ball.

James Morgan is expected to get first crack at the starting quarterback position after coming to FIU as a graduate transfer from Bowling Green. The 6-foot-5 Wisconsin native passed for 25 touchdowns and 22 interceptions over his two college seasons.

Fermin Silva and Anthony Johnson provided seven sacks each last season and remain mainstays along a skilled FIU defensive line.

Linebacker Treyvon Williams is back, but his running mate, Anthony Wint, exhausted eligibility. The pair tied for the FIU lead in tackles last season with 92 stops each.

Despite having a pair of extremely productive pass rushers on its defensive line, FIU was still abused through the air last season, giving up a C-USA high 24 passing touchdowns. An already porous FIU pass defense looks even weaker heading into this season, as it loses cornerback Brad Muhammad, who led his team in interceptions last season (4).

FAU’s receivers will be salivating over their clear matchup advantage. Kalib Woods sure made the most of that talent disparity last season, hauling in two touchdowns and 175 receiving yards in the 2017-18 contest.

With an offense in a complete rebuild and an exploitable secondary, FIU has the looks of a team that may tumble down the C-USA standings after finishing a solid 8-5 a season ago.

BREAKDOWN Western Kentucky has had the luxury of an NFL caliber quarterback lining up under center for the past half decade. The first being Brandon Doughty of the Arizona Cardinals, and most recently, the Dallas Cowboys’ Mike White.

The Hilltoppers now enter foreign territory heading into the 2018-19 season: an unanswered quarterback competition. Steven Duncan, Drew Eckels, and incoming freshman Kevaris Thomas are expected to compete for that job over fall camp.

Whoever ends up as the Hilltoppers’ signal caller will be hard pressed to produce the same impact as previous starter Mike White, whose 4,177 passing yards were No. 1 in C-USA. Western Kentucky is also losing key pass game weapons in wide receiver Nacarius Fant and tight end Deon Yelder. The pair combined for 126 receptions and 11 touchdowns last season.

20 UNIVERSITY PRESS 08.14.2018

D’Andre Ferby leads an anemic Western Kentucky running game that averaged an NCAA worst 60.8 yards per game last season. Ferby showed little to no burst on his offensive touches last season, gaining just 3.2 yards per carry — second to last among C-USA players with at least 100 attempts.

The Hilltoppers will be without star linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe, who opted to enter the 2018 NFL draft instead of returning for his senior season.

His absence is a crushing blow to the WKU defense. The now Chicago Bear was C-USA’s fourth leading tackler from a season ago (117).

Defensive tackle Evan Sayner will own a bigger workload in the absence of Chris Johnson, who before exhausting eligibility was a forceful presence on the interior of Western Kentucky’s defensive line.

The Hilltoppers’ secondary was C-USA’s fifth best in pass defense efficiency (120.9) in 2017-18. It will likely improve with experience as it returns all of its starters from a season ago.

With White gone at quarterback, FAU can expose a weak Western Kentucky run game and force the Hilltoppers inexperienced passing game to show what it has.

The loss of its best players on both sides of the ball — White and Iyiegbuniwe — might be too much for the Hilltoppers to overcome against an FAU team that topped them 42-28 last season.

HUNTER SNYDER (NO.94) , AZEEZ AL-SHAAIR (NO.2) , AND THE FAU DEFENSE WERE RELENTLESS GETTING AFTER THE PASSER LAST SEASON, LEADING CONFERENCE-USA IN SACKS (38).

PHOTO COURTESY OF RALPH NOTARO

WEEK 11 OPPONENT: NORTH TEXAS WHEN: NOV. 15 AT 9:30 P.M. WHERE: APOGEE STADIUM - DENTON, TEXAS HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD: 8-4 BREAKDOWN North Texas will be eager to make up for its pair of disastrous showings against FAU last season — they were outscored by a total of 62 points, including the 2018 C-USA Championship game.

The 2018 C-USA runner-ups boast a highpowered passing offense led by quarterback Mason Fine. Fine was the most dynamic passer in the conference last season, passing for 31 touchdowns — five more than any other player in C-USA. Despite Fine’s success as a passer, the Mean Green isn’t a one-sided offense by any means.

North Texas has a strong running game that will be spearheaded by upcoming sophomore Nic Smith.

Smith will be taking full reins of the Mean Green backfield after star Jeffrey Wilson made the jump to the NFL. He proved more than capable for the job in his limited role last season, rushing for 665 yards and six scores while serving as a change-of-pace option behind Wilson, who was then the team’s starter.

Fine has arguably the best receiving duo in the conference at his disposal with Michael Lawrence and Jalen Guyton out wide.

Lawrence and Guyton reeled in 819 and 775 yards respectively a season ago, good for No. 6 and No. 7 among all C-USA receivers in 201718.

Defensively, the Mean Green isn’t nearly as proficient as its offensive counterparts. The Mean Green had C-USA’s third worst scoring defense (35.0 points allowed per game) from a season ago and was the fourth worst in yards allowed per game (426.7).

North Texas’ best defensive player E.J. Ejiya is back, manning his outside linebacker spot after leading the team in tackles (109) and sacks (7.0) a season ago. His 109 tackles were fifth best in C-USA. The Mean Green might be FAU’s biggest inconference competition on paper, but looked just as strong heading into last season — and the Owls dominated them twice.

WEEK 12 OPPONENT: CHARLOTTE WHEN: NOV. 24 AT 6 P.M. WHERE: FAU STADIUM - BOCA RATON, FLORIDA HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD: 2-1 BREAKDOWN The Charlotte 49ers won only one game a season ago and have all the makings of a team set to struggle once again in 2018-19.

It is hard to find many silver linings in Charlotte’s 2017-18 season. It owned C-USA’s second worst scoring offense (14.2 points per game) and the conference’s worst total defense (454.6 yards allowed per game).

The Owls will need to keep quarterback Hasaan Klugh in the pocket as much as possible, as he is always a threat to take off with the football as a runner. Nine of Klugh’s 19 total

touchdowns last season came on the ground.

FAU ball carriers need to grip the pigskin tighter when running near Charlotte safety Ben DeLuca.

The upcoming junior defensive back has a knack for punching the ball out of opposing offensive players.

He led C-USA with five forced fumbles last season. DeLuca was also his team’s second leading tackler in 2017-18 (102).

Linebacker Jeff Gemmell is a bright spot in what is otherwise a middling Charlotte front seven. He contributed 106 tackles (No. 7 in C-USA) and 7.5 tackles for loss in his redshirtsophomore campaign.

It would take a herculean effort for Charlotte to go on the road and take down an FAU team that clearly outmatches them on both sides of the ball.

DEVIN SINGLETARY SCAMPERS THROUGH THE CHARLOTTE ENDZONE FOR ONE OF HIS NCAA LEADING 32 TOUCHDOWNS OF 2017. PHOTO COURTESY OF RALPH NOTARO

08.14.2018 UNIVERSITY PRESS 21

STAR SEARCHING Spotlighting FAU’s potential breakout talents.

BY WAJIH ALBAROUDI

F

AU FOOTBALL is hoping new playmakers can contribute both on the field and in the postseason conversation.

Led by standouts Devin Singletary and Azeez Al-Shaair, FAU already has star power that rivals that of any Group of Five team in the country. But in a college football landscape that tends to favor bigger conference teams in the rankings, that still might not be enough come bowl season.

For the Owls to separate themselves from the Group of Five pack that far too often is overlooked, they need to show they are more than just a handful of talented players but rather a team with immense ability across the board.

The UP takes a look at some of the players who will help make that case this season.

WIDE RECEIVER DESEAN HOLMES Head coach Lane Kiffin knows a tantalizing talent like Holmes when he sees one.

That’s why after missing out on him on the recruiting trail in 2015, he made it a top priority to close the deal this time around.

22 UNIVERSITY PRESS 08.14.2018

JOVON DURANTE IS LOOKING TO BRING THE EXCEPTIONAL SPEED HE SHOWED AS A WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEER TO FAU STADIUM THIS FALL. PHOTO COURTESY OF FAU MEDIA RELATIONS

A blue-chip recruit coming out of high school, Holmes had his pick of the litter when it came to colleges. One of the many scholarships he was offered came from the University of Southern California, which was then coached by Kiffin.

Holmes opted to sign with San Diego State over the Trojans, but never played a snap for the Aztecs, deciding to leave the program before the start of his freshman season.

While the start of his career didn’t go as initially planned, Holmes’ impact on the field didn’t skip a beat. The California native hauled in a team-high 912 receiving yards and seven scores in his lone junior college season with the College of the Canyons Cougars, shining in an effort to rekindle his opportunity to play at the Division I level.

He found that opportunity at FAU, joining Kiffin on a different coast than what was envisioned three years ago. Is playing under him what he expected? “Not at all. It’s hard.

You have to do your job at a high level and compete,” Holmes said.

Possessing track star speed and crisp route running skills, Holmes is a big play waiting to happen every time he lines up. Holmes can change the game even when he isn’t catching bombs, as defenses that are forced to play added coverage on him over top will be gashed by short passes underneath.

Eager to prove he was worthy of a second opportunity at the Division I level, Holmes will thrust an already loaded FAU offense to the next level in 2018.

CENTER RAUL “JUNIOR” DIAZ The FAU offensive line had a big hole to fill following the graduation of Antonyo Woods, but is reloaded with an experienced veteran in his place.

Diaz joined the Owls this February as a graduate student from Tulane and is expected to be the immediate starting center this season.

He brings seven games of starting experience for the Green Wave to FAU. After spending the last three years in New Orleans, the South Florida native will be making a homecoming in 2018. Not only is he returning to his home state, the man-in-the-

middle will be teaming up with a familiar face: fellow Miami Central High alumnus and Owls left tackle Reggie Bain.

“That’s my boy. He’s been my boy for a long time,” Diaz said of his longtime teammate Bain. “I feel like we still have that chemistry ... just picking up where we left off.”

The signing of Diaz was crucial for FAU, who lost three starting linemen after last season. Offensive line play is heavily reliant on chemistry between the five players on the field and having an interior with little experience could have thrown off the entire unit’s timing.

That won’t be the case with Diaz in town, as he will keep the guards flanking him on the same page mentally when it comes to line calls and other play-to-play responsibilities.

While his voice is much needed, Diaz’s precise technique as a run blocker is what really makes him special. Last season he helped Tulane build the No. 20 rushing offense in the country at 231.5 yards yards per game.

Back in South Florida with Bain creating lanes for a Heisman trophy candidate in “Motor” Singletary: A dream come true for Diaz.

“It’s still surreal right now...it’s just crazy,” he said. “I’m so excited to be here and I can’t wait for the season to start.”

WIDE RECEIVER JOVON DURANTE For a player whose most valuable trait has been speed for most of his career, it was patience he relied on instead last fall.

Durante was forced to sit an entire season at FAU after transferring from West Virginia in late 2017, working with the scout team as the Owls made their run to the conference championship.

Having to watch from the sidelines was an adjustment for Durante, who missed only one game in his two seasons at West Virginia. He was one of the Mountaineers’ most productive offensive players during his tenure in Morgantown, amassing over 700 receiving yards and seven touchdowns before transferring to FAU. Like the aforementioned Diaz, Durante’s move to FAU was a return to his South Florida

FAU ALREADY HAS STAR POWER THAT RIVALS THAT OF ANY GROUP OF FIVE TEAM IN THE COUNTRY.

roots. The Miramar High product’s wait to play in his home state is now over, with the skilled receiver making his highly anticipated Owls debut this fall.

The six-foot speedster will likely occupy a top perimeter receiver spot for the Owls this season, taking over the outside vertical-threat role held by Kalib Woods in the latter half of 2017. Durante showed flashes of brilliance there this spring, showing off his impressive wheels by burning past the secondary for long touchdowns on multiple occasions over that period.

According to Durante, FAU fans should prepare themselves for more of the same in the fall.

“Making big plays, that’s my middle name,” Durante said to reporters after a spring scrimmage. “Once I see that ball in the air, I’m going to get it.”

Kiffin has waited over a year to unleash Durante under the bright lights of FAU Stadium. With a massive 2018 season the former Mountaineer can prove he was worth that wait.

08.14.2018 UNIVERSITY PRESS 23

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