BOCA RATON, Fla. – The energy and excitement for this weekend’s scrimmage can be felt on the Florida Atlantic University football practice field and one more thing became apparent on Wednesday: the team’s focus on mentality.
Through the first few days and weeks of camp it was apparent that the coaching staff had met their needs on the recruiting trails. The strength staff had done a tremendous job by individually preparing the players to be bigger, in some cases small and faster, and that bringing a nutritionist on board to help with those gains or losses had the team physically prepared for 2021. The results are paying off.
Wednesday’s player interviews highlighted another area that is expected to pay dividends for the Owls and that is mentality.
MEET THE PLAYERS
Redshirt senior running back Tyrek Tisdale
On camp thus far:
Camp has been going smooth from a production standpoint. The running back room has come far. We have been working to do better and working on goals that we made for ourselves and things we have been working towards and want to accomplish this year…as far as the season, there is no running back without the O-line. It all starts with the O-line and they have been having a great camp.
Redshirt senior running back James Charles
On camp thus far:
Camp is going good so far, real competitive, a lot of guys really trying to build a bond in each position room and the whole team. What I would like to see from an offensive standpoint (in the first scrimmage), first is to hone in to details. Everyone doing their one-eleventh. Everybody doing their job. Everybody flying to the ball and being alignment-, assignment-, and technique-perfect. That is really what is going to help us win ballgames and to fly around and play with confidence like we have been practicing with these last couple of days. I just want to see the whole team get after it. We are about to open up on Sept. 4 at Florida. I hope to see the whole team chase after it and get everyone better around them and make sure we are attacking all three phases of the game – offense, defense, and special teams. Once we are doing that, it is going to help us win a lot of ballgames.
On having the opportunity to play and open the season at UF:
It doesn’t get any better than that. Especially with everything that happened last year with COVID. I probably wouldn’t be in front of your face right now. It is a blessing and an opportunity, and we have to seize the moment. Us being there five years ago, it is going to be really fun…this is why you play college football for games like that.
Senior linebacker Akileis Leroy
On camp and the hopes for the linebacker room in this weekend’s scrimmage:
Usually, camp is one of those times when you have to be mentally locked in. It is a lot of the same days over an extended span of time. Saturday we are looking forward to having a physical day, everybody doing their job, not a lot of mental errors. Coach LT (Lance Thompson) does a great job of coaches us on a day-to-day basis. He demands perfection out of us and that is what we work towards every day when we come to camp, day-by-day. If you mess up, on to the next play and keep working towards perfection.
On returning to the team after missing last year:
It is a blessing. Although it is one of those rough times, camp is. It is what builds you up for the season. It lets everyone know where the team is and personally on offense and defense where everyone is. It is great to be back in the atmosphere of all my teammates and all my coaches. It is fun. Some days it is rough but for the most part it is fun.
Redshirt sophomore punter Matt Hayball
On camp thus far:
It has been fun. I have really enjoyed my third camp. Holistically, from all the coaching staff there has been a big emphasis on special teams. We are going to have the best guys out there at all times. The personnel that we have on this team is just so many selfless, team-first guys who just want to do anything they can to help us win. I just have really high expectations.
COACHES SIDELINE
Running Backs Coach Chris Perkins
“Overall, we have a variety of skillsets in the room. I think that all the guys have the potential to help this football team. I’m proud of them thus far in camp. They have been running hard, running behind their pads, running tough and like I said we have guys with different skillsets which is a unique situation. At some point, all the guys are going to help this football team win.”
Inside Linebacker Coach Lance Thompson
Camp is always a time when you learn new things about people, see how things so over the summer. Obviously, with the new defensive staff we have a lot of installation, a lot of coaching coaches, but everything has been positive. The kids are working hard. Saturday will be the first time we will see these guys in some live situations. I think they have made good improvement.
SIDELINE CELEBRATIONS
- The day’s celebrations began with a tipped ball interception by Korel Smith
- Marlon Krakue was called out for a great play and later recorded a sack
- Michael Johnson, Jr. found John Mitchell in the end zone and later found Austin Evans who jumped up and pulled the ball over the top of his defender for the reception
- Ryan Veingrad batted down a ball at the line of scrimmage
- Kelvin Dean, Jr. punched one into the end zone from four yards out
- Daniel Leconte did the same from the one
- Malcolm Lamar stopped a run at the line of scrimmage
- Larry McCammon III hauled in a pass from N’Kosi Perry, and the final session saw Armani-Eli Adams recover a fumble
SPEED ZONE
- Krakue was close to the speed limit on Tuesday and eclipsed the mark on Wednesday
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 6 p.m. with videos and photos. The guest speaking portion of the evening will begin at 7:30 p.m.
