BOCA RATON, Fla. – We often think of Florida Atlantic University’s football season as being months away (four months and 20 days to be exact). To the fans, there is time. Time for players to gain weight. Time for players to learn the routes. Time for the players to get on the same page.
But following practice on Tuesday morning, Hagerty Head Coach Tom Herman stressed that the time is now. Herman stressed urgency, coming to the building to prepare, attacking practice with the same attitude you would attack a fourth-and-one play.
The Owls completed the full-pad session with a big portion of the day’s script devoted to a situational scrimmage. Newcomer Kobe Lewis had a big day at running back, as did Larry McCammon III. The receivers were led by Omari Hayes and Tony Johnson.
QUOTABLE
Safeties Coach Derrick Gibson
On consistency and experience at the safety position
“I have all of my guys coming back. Right now, we just have to get healthy. We have a lot of guys banged up. It’s good to be with the guys for my second year. A lot of guys are including, Armani-Eli Adams is doing a great job reading the field like no other right now. Dwight Toombs is coming along right now. We’re coming along real good.”
On Eli Adams and Toombs stepping up
“When Teja (Young) went out last year, Dwight stepped up and made a lot of plays on the football. He led the team in picks last year. [This spring], he is the leader in total ball production on defense right now, so he’s still picking up where he left off from last year. #30 [Adams] is tremendous. He can play either safety, boundary, or field, and it gives him a lot of flexibility.”
Redshirt Junior Safety Dwight Toombs
On the differences this year from the previous spring practices
“The biggest difference is we are practicing a lot faster, a lot more physical. In the past, around this time the last couple of weeks, we had to slow up and protect certain guys. But I feel like this year, everyone is still going hard and playing fast.”
Redshirt Senior Safety Armani-Eli Adams
On how his experience helps him
“Understanding different formations and offensive tendencies, when you are able to be here for a long time you get a grasp of different things that offenses like to do. When you can recognize that before the play even starts, that helps me out a lot and just slows everything down.”
On what Hagerty Family Football Head Coach Tom Herman brings to the table
“He’s more involved with defenses. He’s in our meetings. His has input and he sees things. We did not get in the past. Just understanding where he is coming from and what the offense likes to do, it helps us out a lot so we can play faster.”
SPRING GAME
The “Spring Game” is scheduled for Saturday, April 15 at 12 p.m. at FAU stadium.
THE 2023 SCHEDULE
Click HERE
Note: Broadcast outlets and kick-off times will be announced later this Spring. All games can be heard on Fox Sports 640 AM South Florida.
TICKETS
Fans can purchase tickets for the 2023 season, the first in the American Conference, by calling 1-866-FAU-OWLS or by going online HERE. For more ticket information click HERE.
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