BOCA RATON, Fla. –Florida Atlantic University football returned to work Tuesday morning completing a full day of special teams focus. Following practice, former Owls went through their paces in both the weight room and on the track’s turfed field as part of the 2023 Pro Day.
The Owls will have a regular practice on Thursday and will move Saturday’s practice to Friday night.
QUOTABLE
Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator and Tight Ends Chad Lundsford
On going heavy on special teams
“The great thing is Coach Herman is a very heavily involved coach in special teams. We get special teams every day. Do I enjoy it? Heck yeah, special teams is my passion. We have a bunch of guys that really want to do a good job with it, a bunch of coaches that really work hard at it, and I love the fact that our head football coach is really hands on. He’s active in meetings, on the field, and our guys really understand the importance of special teams.”
On Tom Herman focusing with different units
“I have been around a lot of good coaches. I have been very blessed to be around some that I have learned a lot from. Coach Herman is the real deal. He knows what is going on for defense, offense, and special teams. He’s coaching our players and coaching our coaches. Our whole staff and whole team feels that. That is a recipe for success. He’s one of the most active coaches that I have been around in all three phases.”
On standouts from special teams and tight end units during Spring
“Just starting with special teams, we have really concentrated mostly on our punt team and field goal and field goal block team. We actually moved to our punt return team today. As far as specialists go, I think Nick Marino has been very accurate, his speed has been very good, I really like how he has stepped up as a leader. There are a lot of guys on our football team who have stepped into special teams roles. Larry McCammon and Kobe Lewis are guys that have stepped up on our punt team, those guys are big time players in our offense and they have big roles in our offense, and they’re showing the rest of the team that special teams is just as important. You have guys like Jarrett Jerrels who for a long time has been a core guy as special teams who’s still giving effort. The tight end group is a group of guys who we’re trying to figure out who the guy is and who is going to help us. Our guys have to learn how to be consistent, pay attention to detail, and learn how to dominate reps.”
On the vision under new Hagerty Head Football Coach Tom Herman
“Obviously when you take over a new program, you have to teach the foundation, what the standard is, and then you can’t lower the standard. Coach Herman set the standard high, what I love about him is he is holding us accountable as we hold the players accountable. If you ask me what I think his vision is for FAU, he thinks this place is a goldmine. You look at the success our basketball team is having being in the Final Four, why can’t football do that as well? Winning is contagious and obviously Dusty May is doing a tremendous job with the basketball team, Coach Herman is the same type of guy and he’s setting the standards that allow us to be a championship football team. What we have to do as players and coaches is buy into it, and I know we are, and taking it one day a time.”
Redshirt Junior LS Nicholas Marino
On the heavy special teams day
“I enjoy every day, but special teams day is my favorite overall just because we’re more involved. We have other coaches watching us and talking to us.”
On Florida Atlantic’s Pro Day
“We have five of them, and I’m close to all five. It’s pretty cool watching them. It’s going to be me in two years, so it’s pretty exciting to see what I’m going to be doing.”
On what he is seeing from the team so far
“Team chemistry. I have been here since 2019, this year’s chemistry is amazing. Everyone seems to be really excited at practice. We have no Debbie Downers. It’s high energy at all times.”
On how the special teams unit is approaching practice
“A lot of competition, there’s competition every day. You can have one great day and then the next practice if you go 0-2, you’re at the bottom of the depth chart. It’s always moving, Coach Lundsford has a flowing depth chart and he likes it like that. It’s high in competition, and competition makes everyone better, so you better rise up.”
On Coach Lundsford
“He’s crucial, whether it’s on the field or off of the field. I come to him all of the time, I thank him. He helps me be a leader and a better man on and off the field. He’s always there for you whenever you need him.”
On team chemistry
“It’s extremely contagious. Chemistry is everything, chemistry is trusts and bonds. Once a team has chemistry, you’re more comfortable. So when uncomfortable situations happen and you’re down by two points and the field goal’s up, I’m comfortable with my holder, line and kicker, and you just want to win and do what you got to do.”
PRO DAY RESULTS
SPRING GAME
The “Spring Game” is scheduled for Saturday, April 15 at 12 p.m.
THE 2023 SCHEDULE
Click HERE
Note: Broadcast outlets and kick-off times will be announced later this Spring. All games can be heard on Fox Sports 640 AM South Florida.
TICKETS
Fans can purchase tickets for the 2023 season, the first in the American Conference, by calling 1-866-FAU-OWLS or by going online HERE. For more ticket information click HERE.
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