8/19/2025 | Football
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The page has been turned for the Florida Atlantic football team which has concluded the preseason camp and turned its attention towards mock game week.
The Owls named their team captains on Sunday, began classes on Monday and divided into team and scout team on Tuesday.
While the team has focused primarily on fundamentals, cohesion and development through much of the preseason, now the little details become even more important.
PRACTICE NOTABLES
- There were multiple big runs from redshirt sophomore RBs Kaden Shields-Dutton and Xaiver Terrell.
- Redshirt junior safety Jayden Sweeney picked off a pass for a long return.
- Asaad Waseem, a redshirt sophomore wideout, hauled in a diving catch.
QUOTABLE
Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Zach Kittley
On starting mock game week
“You get into this mock game week, but you’re really in game week. We’re full throttle in Maryland now. We’re trying to install all three phases in what we do. I introduced Maryland and how we’re going to win in the three phases of football to the team. I’m still glad we have two weeks to prepare, but definitely exciting just getting to the point now where we talk about hitting somebody else and not going up against each other and just doing something else a little bit different. Now, you’re getting into your scout team looks and some of your trade looks and some of that stuff. I was very pleased with today, just the first day of that going on, and I’m looking forward to seeing how we progress this week.”
On the importance of the scout team
“Today was really our first day, but we have had what we call the ‘rabbits’ on special teams, those are our scout specialists, and they have done a really good job so far for us too. We look at effort those guys show on scout team, and I definitely want to reward those guys with travel squad and suiting up for games. Today was a really good day, the first day. Definitely going to be some stuff to clean up, a part of it too is just teaching the tempo of what scout team looks like versus what we call teach periods, which is a little bit lighter, versus a true scout period which is full speed. Just some small things to work through, but overall, I was very pleased with the scout looks today.”
On the progression of the team since the latest scrimmage
“We started with a couple of two-minute scenarios with the ones and twos and then we pulled those guys. The people that have played a lot of college football and have been around the block. We pulled those guys, and we kept the others out there to roll. I thought it was really good, those guys got about 50 something snaps, the threes and fours, and it was probably the most ball they have gotten here, and it was in a live scenario. Really good, I think we were able to really evaluate some guys and be able to push the needle a little bit one way or another…I told the team today after practice that the travel squad is not official until Thursday of next week, so I’m watching every play like I always do and scouting and evaluating everything as we go.”
On handling his responsibilities of leading the program
“Right now, it has been smooth. I don’t procrastinate, I like to get in. I like to go. I work, and I get it done, and then that gives me time to be efficient in other areas. I have a great staff with me that I can delegate certain things to really help me get through my day. That starts with my assistant quarterback coach in Trent Vasey. He does a tremendous job for me helping me get prepared, doing some extra meetings with the quarterbacks when I really need him to be dialed in. He’s an up-and-coming young phenomenal superstar type of guy that will be in this role soon. He has done a great job of really helping me. And then a lot of the off the field stuff is where the chief of staff and some of those roles come in that really help me take a lot off my plate which is huge. That’s my chief of staff’s job, to keep everything off the field and kind of let me do as much X’s and O’s as I can. It has been smooth so far and we’ll see what it looks like once we get into the season.”
Defensive Tackles Coach and 30-Under-30 Honoree Devin Santana
On the depth of the room
“Coming in, we had a lot of guys coming in from the portal. It was a big influx of guys. The biggest thing with all of those guys bringing them in is making sure that we really had good chemistry in the room, so we did a lot of things outside of football to bring those guys closer, I thought that was really important. We had guys come from everywhere, all shapes, all sizes, all levels, which was good. It has really helped with our depth, you can plug and play guys, mix and match guys as we’re going through this whole thing. Guys are going to be up, guys are going to be down, guys are going to be hurt in the middle of the year, so everybody is going to have to have a significant role sometime in the season.”
On Enyce Sledge and CJ Doggette’s leadership
“Enyce, I have had a relationship with him since Auburn. I moved that kid into his dorm, which was awesome. To have him here and see him develop the way that he has been good, but he knows that I’m the hardest on him every single day and I don’t let up. But he knows it comes from a very loving place. I tell my kids I think you can only coach to the depth of your relationship, so if you don’t have a relationship with somebody outside of football, then you’re not going to be able to coach them as hard as you want. If a kid’s not responding to you, you don’t have any type of relationship with them. I think that’s in coaching, and I think that’s in life. I really believe in that, so I build big relationships with all of those guys. CJ’s the same way, he is another guy I recruited before I got here, so I had a relationship with him prior to him. Just as hard as I’m on him, I’m hard on everyone else. He has the highest expectation in the room. He’s our guy in there. He’s a wardaddy for us every single day. He shows up, hurt or not, and he’s going. He has had a really good camp and we’re excited for him.”
On having two defensive lineman (Doggette and Bryce Langston) as captains
“From the time that they walk in until the time they walk out, those guys are trying to not only do everything right but lead in the right way every single day. I think that’s why they were selected as captains. They show up and only do as they are supposed to, and they do more than expected, so hats off to those guys. We’re proud of them, but they know with that title that with power comes great responsibility also, you have to show up every day and be consistent.”
On being named to 247Sports’ 30-Under-30 List
“It was pretty cool. At the end of the day, I tell everyone it’s not about me, it’s about the kids that you coach and it’s about this team. I’m really glad that light got shed on me, I appreciate that, but it’s all about FAU at the end of the day.”
Redshirt Junior DL CJ Doggette
On the team’s progression from spring to fall
“I think we have come together a lot more since the last time we talked in the spring. We’re becoming better, especially with conditioning, that’s a big thing with Coach Santana and then playing fast offenses like Coach Kittley’s. Today, we are just getting into the flow of it. It’s a little different playing an actual different offense now. As the week goes on, I know we’re going to get better and be ready for [Maryland] for sure.”
On his excitement facing an opposing offense
“It’s definitely going to be fun to actually hit a quarterback now and not have to stay two feet away from our QBs. I’m definitely excited for contact with other teams and to actually be able to go full go.”
On playing closer to home in Maryland
“I have a lot of family coming. My grandpa lives in Maryland and a lot of my cousins, so my family is pretty deep there.”
Redshirt Junior DL Enyce Sledge
On how fall camp is going
“I feel that my fall camp has progressed. Coming in, Coach Santana had high expectations for me and for this group. Each and every day, he challenges me and this group. The main focus on my mind is to continue to rise to the occasion, beat the odds, and rise up to the challenges. I feel like I have progressed a lot, but there’s still more to improve on.”
On his relationship with Coach Santana and being recruited by him
“It was a great feeling. It felt like yesterday when I was just enrolling here again, he was helping me move in and I’ll never forget the first day he walked in when I was a freshman at Auburn and he handed me my playbook and walked out. It was a blessing to be able have him call and be able to be back with him. I know he coaches hard and he wants his group to be tough, smart, and dependable and to play fast and physical. It’s a blessing to be able to be here.”
On what he sees from the defensive tackle room
“What I see from this room is how far we have come as a group. Each and every day, Coach Santana challenges us. The only thing we can do is come out and work towards those goals that he sets for us and his group because it starts with us up front.”
On how Coach Santana’s youth plays a role in their relationship
“It helps. He can relate to us a lot. Coach Santana is like that father, big brother, he’s everything in one. He can relate to this group a lot and we warmed up to him fast. I have been with him, but we have been a part for a little time now and coming back around him over time, things change, and people grow. I can say it’s a blessing to be able to have all of that in one.”
PHOTO GALLERY
Gallery: (8-19-2025) Preseason Football Practice #16
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