| 8/4/2025 | Football BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic football team took to the practice fields on Monday with a continued eye on either making the two deep or simply separating themselves in rooms packed with talent. Monday was a shortened practice, allowing the players to put maximum effort into each play knowing they would have more time to recover prior to Tuesday’s night practice and a day off on Wednesday. VIDEO RECAP QUOTABLE Wide Receivers Coach DJ McCarthy On coaching the wide receivers “These guys know what my expectations are. They know the expectations of the program, what Coach Kittley puts out there, my job is just to manage it. We work on things daily, the one thing we’ll do as a group is I ask each individual what they are going to work on today.” On explosive plays “They understand the open man will get the ball…we have a great playcaller who has history of success putting up numbers, touchdowns, yards, and making things happen…we have players that can make it happen.” On connecting with the WR room “It’s a great mix. We have that nucleus of guys who have been here, who have been through so much in this program, then you have the transfer kids who come here, then you have the transfer kids that came in, then you have the freshman guys that came in. This is who I am, I’m a Matthew 20:28 guy. I’m going to serve these kids. I’ve had them over to my house, we’ve had the birthday parties, occasional meals, they were in my pool, they’ve met my family, my boys. The kids we recruit and the kids I coach, I treat them like my own kids because their parents are going to send them to me to make them be the best that they will be and that’s my job. I take that to heart.” Redshirt Junior WR Easton Messer On stepping up as a team leader “In terms of being a leader, I have always been more of a quiet guy in the group, I never was the number one or the oldest guy so I’ve never had to have that role. That’s one thing Coach McCarthy and Cris Carter really want me to take on, but I also have to stay true to myself. Our room is really great across the board where nobody really needs me telling them what to do or telling them how to do things, everybody handles their business like pros. That makes it easy for me.” On his versatility “Doing whatever I can do to help the team win…I have been in almost every role a receiver room can have. I’ve been the freshman walk-on, I’ve been the scholarship kid who is on all four core special teams and doesn’t really get many reps, then I’ve been the number four receiver. I take pride in that, whatever the coaches ask me to do, I’m going to do it to the best of my ability and I think that’s my game.” Redshirt Sophomore WR Jabari Smith On how he has improved from spring to fall and welcoming new players “I feel like I’m getting better each day, just trying to focus on one detail as far as speed, footwork, routes, getting out of my breaks, trying to get out in three steps instead of four or five. Each guy in the room can go out there and give you 100 receiving yards if they want to, it’s all about trying to find your role in the offense and how you fit into this offense with Coach Kittley.” On contributing to special teams “Special teams is one of the most important phases of the game. Coach Schov [Special Teams Coordinator Tyler Schovanec] is a real detail guy, so we have to be real detailed in our special teams.” On rotating in the offense “It’s all about finding your role. With these 80-90 plays, we have to be in shape, our strength coaches emphasize that because we know we’re going fast.” Redshirt Sophomore WR Asaad Waseem On his transition to Florida Atlantic and paving the road to what he wants to be “My transition was smooth. Coach McCarthy and Coach Carter know a lot about football, so I just take what they say and I just run with it.” On his decision to come to Florida Atlantic “I’ve known Coach McCarthy. Him and my father have a great connection He recruited me out of high school. That influenced my decision.” On getting opportunities in this offense “I’m very comfortable. Coach Kittley is a great offensive mind, a young head coach that can do it all…I’m out there a lot getting a lot of reps. The routes he has me running works to my advantage.” PHOTO GALLERY Gallery: (8-4-2025) Preseason Football Practice #5 PRACTICE NOTABLES Senior WR JR Wilson beat double coverage and made a falling 30-yard catch in the end zone. Wilson also had a leaping catch for the Play of the DayRedshirt junior QB Caden Veltkamp found redshirt junior WR Easton Messer for a 40-yard catch and run scoreSenior S Chris Keys Jr collected an interceptionRedshirt junior WR Dominique Henry recorded a red zone touchdown PLAY OF THE DAYON SOCIALNOTABLE Two members of the Florida Atlantic football team, redshirt senior defensive tackle Bryce Langston and redshirt junior offensive lineman Daughtry Richardson, have been recognized on Bruce Feldman’s Top 101 College Football Freaks List for their elite athleticism. COMPLETE 2025 SCHEDULE Click HERE. SEASON TICKETS To purchase season tickets, click HERE. GROUPS OF ALL AGES To purchase group tickets, click HERE. 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