BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University football team made use of the Tom Oxley Center fields on Wednesday morning, moving through practice and attempting to improve upon skills and lessons learned from last Saturday’s controlled scrimmage.
The players will have the opportunity to watch the 2022 Pro Day, scheduled for tomorrow morning and will then have one more day of practice prior to this Saturday’s scrimmage.
Eleven Owls will be put through their paces before NFL scouts. Pro Day will begin with weights and measurements, followed by lift. The former Owls will then move to the FAU Track & Field Complex, approximately at 10 a.m., where they will run the 40 and will work through drills. The following players are expected to participate on Thursday, March 31: Damian Alloway, Caliph Brice, James Charles, TJ Chase, Zyon Gilbert, Akileis Leroy, John Mitchell, Zaire Mitchell-Paden, Desmond Noel, Brandon Robinson and Willie Wright. Also, Nick Tronti will be on site to throw.
QUOTABLE
Redshirt Junior Safety Teja Young:
On how spring football is going so far:
“Camp is going great so far. I think everybody’s growing, everybody’s gelling together as a team. In that aspect of camp, I think camp is going awesome. For the scrimmage coming up, I think this scrimmage will be big for fixing things that we messed up on in the first scrimmage. It was very small details like adjustments to certain formations.”
On affecting the quarterbacks:
“I feel like that’s a defensive thing as a whole, not just a d-line or a linebacker thing. I feel like that’s on all of us to pressure the quarterback, show him different looks, just to get him out of his rhythm.”
On stepping up in a leadership role:
“I’m still learning how to be a leader, but I definitely embrace that role and I know my teammates look up to me so I’m always trying to make sure I’m on point.”
On which young defensive backs have impressed in camp:
“We’ve had a couple of good ones like Little Pete [Peter Warrick], Dwight Toombs, those two are safeties. For the corner position, I like Jay-Will [Jayden Williams], Smoke [Romain Mungin] has been more consistent. I think a lot of those guys are getting better and that just comes with reps and being older.”
On consistency:
“What coaches mean by consistency is you don’t want to be a one trick pony. Everybody can get out there and catch one pass or catch two passes. It’s hard to catch eight passes every single day. It’s hard to do the same technique every single day without it looking sloppy or without giving up a certain look or a certain read. Consistency is bigger than just catching the ball. Consistency starts with how you wake up in the morning, how you attack the day. All of that counts into consistency.”
On working with players turned coaches Jordan Helm and Korel Smith:
“We still have that bond like we’re on the field. They always say ‘once you guys play together you guys will be friends for the rest of your life.’ That’s always great and makes me feel comfortable. At first, I was a little nervous that I was going be with a lot of new faces, but to just go out there and see Korel Smith and see Jordan Helm, it just made me feel more in my comfort zone.”
On Pro Day:
“We know Zyon [Gilbert]’s going to blow the tests out of the water. We know Zyon is going to do well at pro day. I’m just ready to see him compete. He got bigger, stronger, faster. But not even just Zyon. You’ve got John Mitchell, you’ve got B-Rob [Brandon Robinson]. You’ve got a lot of guys coming back that’s going to put on a show for pro day and it’s going to help bring more exposure to FAU.”
Sophomore Wide Receiver LaJohntay Wester:
On spring camp so far:
“It’s been going great for the whole offense, the whole team really. We’ve been moving fast. The tempo’s been fast. The energy’s been there. The competitiveness has been there. It’s been fun.”
On what he wants to improve on:
“Consistency. That’s the big thing that I’ve been working on, me personally and us as a whole on offense, is just being consistent and finishing.”
On his first real spring:
“It’s been fun. I’ve been moving fast out there. I’m getting used to the playbook and new coaches, our new receivers coach as well, coach [Billy] Gonzalez. It’s been fun.”
On playing with tempo:
“Defenses can’t keep up with it. That’s our advantage. We run all day, so us practicing tempo is going to really help us in the game.”
On Tony Johnson stepping up in camp:
“The thing I like about Tony Johnson is he pays attention. He’s a dog. He’s always listening and learning. I think that’s a big impact on why he’s been improving this spring.”
On offensive coordinator Brent Dearmon and receivers coach Billy Gonzalez:
“Those two guys are both amazing coaches. They’re not going to take it easy on you at all, they’re going to push you to the limit, and that’s one thing I like about both of them.”
On Brandon Robinson and TJ Chase at FAU’s pro day:
“I learned a lot from them. Those guys are great dudes. I hope they go into the league and at least get a shot at a team. Those are some hard-working guys. They deserve it, so best of luck to them.”
WHAT’S NEXT
The Owls will play their 2022 Spring Game on Saturday, April 9 at 6 p.m. FAU will open the 2022 season on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022, versus Charlotte at FAU Stadium.
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