BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University football team began practice this week at the Tom Oxley Athletic Fields and will work the remainder of the week at the fields where the Owls built the program and worked from 2000-2019. The same fields where the Owls prepared for three conference titles and five bowl appearances, winning four of those bowls.
TAGGART’S TAKE
On camp thus far and the expectations for the week:
Camp is going well and the way that we had anticipated it to go. I feel like our football team is getting better. We haven’t had a scrimmage yet. We are going to have a scrimmage this weekend, which will be good for the guys. We are throwing a lot at our guys right now. We are going to have some good plays. We are going to have some bad plays, but I think the big part for us right now is that we can comprehend the things that we are giving them and then go out and execute consistently enough to show us what they can do.
SIDELINE CELEBRATIONS
- It was a big defensive day and a big day for transfer tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden
- Caliph Brice started the defense’s day with an acrobatic leaping, one-handed interception (with his left hand) and had a 15-yard return, during 7-v-7
- Michael Johnson, Jr. found Je’Quan Burton in the same session for a score and Nick Tronti did the same thing just a few plays later when he connected with Johnny Ford
- Mitchell-Paden then came down with a contested ball and was later led into the end zone by a N’Kosi Perry pass. The tight end also went over the top of his defender at the goal line, to not only prevent the INT, but to come down with the ball and back into the end zone
- Akileis Leroy broke up a pass, Justin McKithen had an interception, and Zyon Gilbert had a 98-yard scoop and score
SPEED ZONE
- For the second day in a row, three players were clocked at speeds higher than 20 MPH and all three were different than the day before. D’Marcus Adams, a repeat offender, was the first on Monday, followed by fellow defensive back McKithen, and the final speedster was running back James Charles in his attempt to catch Gilbert on his return
2021 SEASON
The Owls open up the 2021 campaign on the road on Saturday, Sept. 4, in Gainesville against Florida. The home opener is the following Saturday, at 3:30 p.m., hosting Georgia Southern. For more information on season tickets, call 1-866-FAU-OWLS or visit HERE.
Also scheduled for opening weekend at FAU Stadium is the Coach Howard Schnellenberger Celebration of Life, to be held the night before the game against GSU, Friday, Sept. 10, with the public event starting at 7:30 p.m.
