| 3/27/2025 | Football BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic football team surpassed the midway point of the allotted 15 spring practices as the Owls continue to stress technique, playing with energy and preparing for this Saturday’s scrimmage. First-year Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Zach Kittley was mic’d up at a recent practice, displaying his embracing personality. Kittley also was the focal point of Thursday’s media availability. KITTLEY MIC’D UPQUOTABLE Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Zach Kittley On how the team’s energy is through spring practices “We are on practice eight now. We have a standard that we have to hold them to. There is an expectation. These guys are trying to get to know us as coaches and get to know our practice schedule and how we move around from period to period. We are getting more familiar with all of that and the guys just finished practice really well today. We kind of cut down a little bit but had a big team period there at the end just to play real football and I thought we did a really good job responding there at the end.” On how the scrimmages have gone “We have really only had one true big scrimmage, but we have another one coming this Saturday, so I am excited to see the progress we have made over a week. The first one was good. You don’t ever want to see one side dominate the other side. You want to see the defense have success, offense have success, you want to see your kickers make field goals, and your punters punt the ball well. I felt like it was a back-and-forth day for the first one, so that is really good for us and hopefully we will see kind of the same thing here on Saturday.” Defensive Tackles Coach Devin Santana On his return to Florida Atlantic “It has been a whirlwind coming back home, but it has been awesome. I absolutely love working for Coach Kittley, he brings the energy every day. We (defensive line) set the tone. I tell the guys it starts with us up front. I absolutely love being back. It has been fun, it has been fast, trying to get everybody meshed together. We have new staff, new players, so everybody is coming together as one, but it has been fun so far.” On if he is pleased with the progress of the defensive tackle room “I would say surprised and pleased. I think we are growing every day and we are developing as a group. That’s the biggest thing. We have three goals: development, retention and application, and then competition every day. Those are our keys for the spring and I think we are meeting those every day. Our guys are showing up, they’re competing every day. We are getting better. The biggest thing for me is being able to see those guys retain and apply information and I have seen that a lot, so I have been pleased with that.” On what he is looking for out of Saturday’s scrimmage “We are probably going to travel with six or seven guys, so seeing those guys that can possibly get in there and get into that group, who is going to help us, who is going to fight when we go tempo and defeat that tempo this weekend.” Senior DT Bryce Langston On building his relationship with Coach Santana “When I heard he was becoming the coach, it excited me because I knew his work ethic and that he was going to push me. He is just a great person outside of football and just building that bond with him, getting even tighter with him during the spring season has just been amazing the whole time.” On adjusting to the tempo and the weather “I am glad we are getting used to it now while it is this type of weather because it will give us more confidence and just build us up to be ready for it during the season in case, we face teams that run tempo. We do it in practice now and it is just going to build us to help us be better at it and just getting the calls in quick, playing fast, it has been good for me.” On the work he is putting in this offseason “This is my last ride, so I can’t do anything but give it my all. I am trying to accomplish a bigger goal than just going to college. I want to do it for my family and be able to make it to the NFL…I study my plays every night. I push myself so hard because I feel like I have a goal that I have to achieve for me and my family. I push myself every day, just working trying to perfect myself.” Redshirt Junior DL CJ Doggette On choosing to come to Florida Atlantic “When Coach Santana texted me and called me again and we already had a little relationship, I just knew what he could bring out of me. I knew I would have someone to push me every single day and teach me all of the techniques I need. He knows what it takes to get there. He has coached a lot of great athletes at this d-tackle position and I feel that is what I needed. Coach Dewhurst [Defensive Coordinator Brett Dewhurst], Coach Kittley, everybody is like a family here. We all have the same goal: we want to win a championship. The people that also got recruited here, have a goal to win something. It felt like a great decision for me.” On avoiding getting ‘Lost in Paradise’ “Coach Santana keeps us real locked in, he knows how to keep us focused. All you have to do is buy-in to it. When you buy-in, you don’t really worry about the outside noise and other stuff to do. Of course, the beach is nice. Me and my family love the beach, so that is a nice thing to have for certain breaks, but you have to know when to be locked in and do what you have to do and learn the plays and take care of your body.” On being disruptive “One thing Coach Santana really preaches is always being around the ball, run to the ball. If we really buy in to what he is teaching us to be around the ball and always run to the ball, then you are going to make the plays that are meant for you to make. All you have to do is do your job and run to the ball like he preaches, and the plays will be there.” NOTABLE Chisom Ifeanyi created havoc in the pocket and recorded a pass breakup. Derrick Rogers forced a fumble near the defensive sideline following a reception downfield. JR Wilson Jr. climbed the ladder for a touchdown reception over his defender. Logan Lupo connected on a 49-yard field goal near the end of the team session. NIL IN PARADISE REGISTRATION To register click HERE. COMPLETE SCHEDULE Click HERE. SEASON TICKETS To purchase season tickets, click HERE. FOLLOW THE TEAM Stay informed by reading FAUSports.com or through football’s Twitter and Instagram accounts @FAUFootball. |
