FB | Final Practice Before the First Fall Scrimmage

8/8/2025 | Football

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic’s football team returned to the field on Friday morning, completing a shortened practice that put the Owls through their final paces before the program’s first full scrimmage of the 2025 fall season.

Saturday’s scrimmage will be just the third day in full pads and could be the most important practice in the young season as it will be the most complete body of work to date and will go a long way towards identifying an identity for each of the program’s three phases.

VIDEO RECAP

QUOTABLE
Linebackers Coach Aaron Schwanz
On putting together the linebacker room
“We made a couple of [additions] in that winter portal period. We brought Tyler (Stolsky) and Leon (Hart Jr.) in, we were fortunate to get them early and continued to see them grow as we go throughout the whole process. Then we brought Khmari (Johnson) in here in the summer period just to continue to provide. The one thing that the room is going to be built on is competition. We want to make sure that we continue to do that throughout the season and Khmari has been a great piece, a great acquisition, football is important to him. He has been a great addition to the room.”

On how the defensive line and secondary helps the linebackers
“It’s hard to be a linebacker if you don’t have people up front. All great defenses are built right down the middle and we’re fortunate to have two great phenomenal players. Our leadership starts up front, C.J. (Doggette) and Bryce (Langston) have set the tempo since day one that we arrived. The way that they play, the style that they play, their leadership qualities, each and every day, the power of their consistency is really filtered throughout the whole entire defense. Behind that, the leadership of Tyler Stolsky and Leon as well, it just continues to grow. We have put some other pieces in the backend to be able to bring some physicality and bring some consistency and create some competition as well, and I think they have done that. They have done a great job of coming in and buying into the system, buying into the culture and continuing to grow from there. The scheme portion of it, whether it’s the team, Coach Kittley [Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Zach Kittley], or the defense, we truly are a family. Coach Dewhurst’s [Defensive Coordinator Brett Dewhurst] leadership style is extremely inclusive. There is zero ego as soon as we walk into the building, good, bad or otherwise, we’re all in it together. He has made that very apparent from day one that we’re going to do what’s best for the team, and once we identify and figure out our strengths and weaknesses as players, we’re going to do whatever puts our players in position.”

On what the linebackers bring to the table
“I’m fortunate enough to have a great room. We have kids in the linebacker room that truly love this game…They have worked their tail off in the offseason and in this position, we talk about being a four-dimensional player in our room, knowing what you have as a Mike or a Will as the first dimension, the second dimension is knowing what you have holistically as the Mike or the Will or the Sam and then knowing what the defense does, all 11, that’s the three-dimensional player. And ultimately, the next step is the four-dimensional player, which is what the offense is doing. Those guys coming in with all of our defense and just going through the one cycle of the year, they have poured every ounce of energy and used every minute of the offseason to get themselves to know what they have, to know what the defense has, but then also moving on and really understanding what the offense is doing and staying ahead of the down. Especially going against Coach Kittley every day, he understands the offense, he understands the defense, he is going to put you in those conflict and stressful situations. It’s our responsibility to stay ahead of the down whether it’s a motion or a shift. I’m blessed with Tyler who does that. He loves the game. He’s playing faster than ever. Leon has been the same. He has probably been our most consistent performer in the linebacker room throughout fall camp, and he had another good day today. He’s a kid that’s a student of the game, loves football, consistent attitude, consistent action, he works with the younger players, always looking to make somebody else better. Rob [Robert Lee], we had a short yardage and goal line yesterday and I said to him that this is a Rob Lee type of day…big plays feel emotion and one thing I know is when the ball moves, Rob’s coming to play…great instincts, he’s another one who put the work in to put himself in position to be an early enrollee. His maturation from winter until now is tremendous.”

Redshirt Junior Linebacker Leon Hart Jr.
On how his first offseason in Paradise has been
“First getting here with Coach Kittley, Coach Schwanz, and Coach Dewhurst, they welcomed me with open arms. They wanted me to come in here, be a leader, and play fast. That’s exactly what we’re coming in to do, I’m bringing swag to the defense, and I just want to play with my brothers and have fun.”

On going against Coach Kittley’s offense
“We get in and go, but at the same time, going out there and playing against that fast type of offense with explosive Air Raid plays. It’s going to be hard every day. We just keep working.”

On goals for the defenses in Saturday’s scrimmage
“I hope that we communicate well, we play fast, make the plays that come to us, and I hope the defense overall limits the explosives.”

On the opportunity at Florida Atlantic
“I’m very happy to be here at Florida Atlantic. It was the place I wanted to be. I was happy Coach Kittley came and grabbed me and I’m thankful for the opportunity.”

On being ready to show what he can do
“I have been waiting on an opportunity like this. God just blessed me with this opportunity and I’m ready to show my talent to the world.”

Freshman Linebacker Robert Lee
On his experience with Florida Atlantic football
“When I first came in, the whole coaching staff brought love, and they were very welcoming. They really pushed me to be the better person that they wanted me to be. Me coming in early and learning the playbook, it really helped me figure out the ins and outs of the defense. This coaching staff pushed me to be a better person.”

On how the game has slowed down for him
“When I first came in, it was really fast with Coach Kittley going to tempo offense. It was really fast for me coming from high school. Now it has started to slow down, I’m starting to know things. You get keys of the offense and when you read it fast, you get to play faster.”

On the importance of special teams
“Special teams as a linebacker, that’s what you’re supposed to do. Play fast, violent, and physical and I feel all of those aspects will translate to special teams.”

On the benefits of early enrollment
“Coming in January, it was really a blessing. More of the college game now is the mental side and once you already have the factors from high school of fast, violent, and physical, you can translate that with the mental side of college, and it makes you be a better player.”

PRACTICE NOTABLES

Redshirt sophomore CB Derrick Rogers collected an interception during 7-on-7 and had a PBU in team red zone.
Graduate QB Zach Gibson hit redshirt sophomore WR Asaad Waseem in the back of the end zone during red zone work.
Team drills opened with redshirt QB Caden Veltkamp hitting redshirt junior WR Eaton Messer 40 yards down field.
Redshirt junior S Jayden Sweeney added a sideline pass defense.
Redshirt junior OL Vincent Fiacable opened the hole for redshirt sophomore RB Gemari Sands to sneak through on a second effort to score.
Hart Jr. was credited with a PBU.
Freshman WR Mykel Calixte was hit in stride with a beautiful practice-ending pass to flip the field.