BOCA RATON, Fla. – Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Willie Taggart announced eight individuals will join five greyshirts in Florida Atlantic University’s 2021 December recruiting class.
“I feel really good about the guys we are bringing in,” said Taggart on Wednesday morning. “After evaluating our football team and where we need to go, I felt like we added some needed players that can come in and help us instantly, which we need experience. Being a young football team, it is really critical in this recruiting cycle that we get some experience that will help mix in with the younger guys that we have on the football team.”
FAU concentrated its efforts on immediate needs, at positions both vacated by player graduation and needs based on last year’s play. In an effort to assemble the best possible class of student-athletes, the FAU coaching staff did not anticipate completing the signing class yet, with the knowledge that more players will enter the portal between now and the national championship as well as the Owls’ need to balance the roster.
“Recruiting has changed tremendously,” added Taggart. “It has always been an everyday thing, but now with so much movement, you don’t know. Every day is different, but you have to understand your roster and recruit your roster, making sure you know that first. You have a lot of different periods now recruiting with the transfer portal … It is a new age. You have to try and adjust and stay ahead of the game.”
Meet the Players
| NAME | POS | HT | WT | YR | HOMETOWN / HIGH SCHOOL (PREVIOUS SCHOOL) |
| Carter Boatwright | TE | 6-4 | 240 | R-SO | Moultrie, Ga. / Colquitt County (Florida State) |
| Justin Goodwin * | DL | 6-3 | 280 | FR | Birmingham, Ala. / Huffman |
| Jymetre Hester * | WR | 5-10 | 160 | SO | Belle Glade, Fla. / Glades Central (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC) |
| Jahbari Hill * | CB | 6-1 | 187 | FR | Boynton Beach, Fla. / Atlantic Community |
| Morven Joseph | OLB | 6-2 | 220 | SO | Lakeland, Fla. / Lake Gibson (Tennessee) |
| Okino King * | OL | 6-2 | 298 | FR | Fort Lauderdale, Fla. / Northwestern HS |
| Jaleel McRae | ILB | 6-2 | 230 | R-JR | New Smyrna Beach, Fla. / IMG Academy (Florida State) |
| Xavier Peters | OLB | 6-4 | 255 | R-JR | West Chester, Ohio / Lakota West (Garden City CC) |
| Jamie Pettway | ILB | 6-2 | 235 | R-JR | Albany, Ga. / Westover (Missouri) |
| Brandon Schabert * | WR | 6-2 | 205 | FR | West Palm Beach, Fla. / American Heritage – Delray |
| Marvin Scott III | RB | 5-9 | 205 | SO | Daytona Beach, Fla. / Spruce Creek (Nebraska) |
| Wyatt Sullivan | WR | 6-4 | 198 | FR | Quincy, Fla. / Robert F. Munroe Day School |
| Jaylen Wester | OLB | 6-0 | 200 | FR | Palmetto, Fla. / Palmetto |
* – Greyshirts
And here are the bios of the eight newest Owls:
Carter Boatwright
Redshirt Sophomore | 6-4 | 240 | TE
Moultrie, Ga. / Colquitt County High School (Florida State)
At Florida State (2020-21)
- Played in one game each season with the Seminoles
High School
- His senior season, 2019, helped Colquitt County to 9-3 record
- Caught 10 passes for 95 yards and a score
- Was a GACA All-Star as a sophomore
Personal
- Out of high school, rated as the No. 42 tight end in the nation, and as a three-star prospect, according to the 247Sports composite
- ESPN also had him at three stars, as the No. 22 tight end, and No. 95 recruit from Georgia
- Chose FSU over UCF, Pitt, Coastal Carolina, Navy, Appalachian State, Akron, Troy, UAB, Southern Miss and Marshall, among others
===
Morven Joseph
Sophomore | 6-2 | 220 | OLB
Lakeland, Fla. / Lake Gibson High School (Tennessee)
At Tennessee (2020-21)
- In two seasons, saw 12 game appearances for the Volunteers
- Posted his first career sack this past year, Sept. 18, against Tennessee Tech
- During the 2020 campaign, played in 10 games
- Recorded two tackles his first year, with a half-tackle for loss, plus a quarterback hurry
High School
- His senior year, collected 115 tackles, 28 for loss, with 13 sacks
- Led his Lake Gibson squad to an 11-1 mark and Class 6A District 9 title
- For his efforts, was chosen FHSAA Class 6A All-State First Team
- The year prior, had 62 tackles (18 1/2 for loss) and 8 1/2 sacks
- Also forced four fumbles
- Was named FHSAA Class 6A Honorable Mention, and was an All-County First Team defensive choice by The Ledger
Personal
- Four-star recruit that was ranked as the No. 12 weakside defensive end nationally by 247Sports
- Was also the No. 38 prospect from the state of Florida by them
- Per ESPN, was No. 33 at his position and No. 63 in the Sunshine State
- Was courted by most top schools; chose Tennessee over Florida, Florida State, Alabama, Georgia, Auburn, LSU, Miami, Michigan State, Kentucky, Texas A&M, UCF and USF
===
Jaleel McRae
Redshirt Junior | 6-2 | 230 | ILB
New Smyrna Beach, Fla. / IMG Academy (Florida State)
At Florida State (2019-21)
- Played three seasons for the Seminoles, seeing action in 25 games
- This past season, played in four games
- His second year, had six tackles in eight outings (with one start)
- Tied his career high in the 2020 season opener with three, against Georgia Tech
- Saw the field in all 13 games his freshman campaign
- Recorded 15 tackles (2.5 for loss) with a sack
- Was named to the ACC Honor Roll
High School
- Played his senior season at IMG Academy, helping the squad to a 7-1 record, for a defense that allowed just 7.9 points per game
- Selected to play in the 2019 Under Armour All-America Game, and was named to the Dick Butkus Award watch list (as the top high school LB)
- Previously played at New Smyrna Beach High School
- As a junior, had 73 tackles (6.5 for loss), and was named Second Team All-Area
- Had 72 tackles as a sophomore, 12 for loss, with five sacks
- Was chosen as a MaxPreps Sophomore All-American
Personal
- Rivals and ESPN named him as a four-star linebacker
- Was tabbed as No. 122 in the ESPN300, as No. 11 at his position, and No. 20 from Florida
- 247Sports rated him No. 34 at OLB, and 56th overall in the state of Florida
- Picked FSU with other offers coming from Georgia, Florida, Cincinnati, LSU, Texas A&M, UCF, Mississippi State and Georgia Tech
===
Xavier Peters
Redshirt Junior | 6-4 | 255 | OLB
West Chester, Ohio / Lakota West High School (Garden City CC)
Prior to FAU
- Saw action in five games in 2021 for Garden City Community College, recording three tackles
- Broncbusters went 8-3, including scoring a school record for points in opener, 76-24 over Fort Scott CC
- In 2019, took the field for three games at Kentucky
- Posted his first career tackle as a Wildcat against Vanderbilt
- Played in two games – but took a redshirt – in 2018 at Florida State
- Had a tackle and a pass breakup against Wake Forest
High School
- At Lakota West, had 78 tackles his senior season, including six sacks
- Chosen First Team All-Greater Miami Conference, and Second Team Southwest Ohio All-District
- Was an Under Armour All-American as well
Personal
- Out of high school, 247Sports ranked him as the No. 5 recruit from Ohio, and the No. 15 outside linebacker in the country
- Rivals chose him No. 5 in Ohio, No. 6 OLB and No. 75 national prospect
- ESPN had him as Ohio’s No. 12 overall recruit, the No. 21 OLB, and No. 25 prospect from the Midwest region
- Committed to Florida State over Kentucky and Alabama, as well many other interested schools such as Georgia, Florida, Cincinnati, Oklahoma, LSU, Oregon, USC, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Penn State, Texas, UCLA, West Virginia and Tennessee
===
Jamie Pettway
Redshirt Junior | 6-2 | 235 | ILB
Albany, Ga. / Westover HS (Missouri)
At Missouri (2019-21)
- After a redshirt first year, played in nine games for the Tigers in 2020
- Had a TFL against Vanderbilt for a six-yard loss
- Posted another tackle against Arkansas
- This past season made 10 total tackles (six solo and four assists) in seven games
- Had another TFL among those 10 stops
High School
- Posted 76 tackles his senior year, 8.4 a game, with two sacks and two interceptions (one of which went for a 25-yard score)
- Named by league coaches as All-Region 1-AAA and the region’s Defensive Player of the Year
- All told in his four seasons at Westover, had 182 total tackles, 5.5 sacks and three picks
Personal
- Was a four-star prospect, and by 247Sports, the No. 25 inside linebacker in the nation
- That outlet also ranked him as the No. 47 prospect from Georgia
- Rivals slotted him as the No. 21 ILB
- ESPN put him at No. 66 at his position and No. 84 among Georgians
- Missouri was chosen from a final group that also included Louisville and South Carolina. Also interested were Georgia Tech, Ole Miss, Pitt, Maryland and Tennessee
===
Marvin Scott III
Sophomore | 5-9 | 205 | RB
Daytona Beach, Fla. / Spruce Creek HS (Nebraska)
At Nebraska (2020-21)
- In two seasons, played nine games for the Cornhuskers
- This past year – his second freshman campaign – he carried the ball 17 times for 66 yards with two touchdowns
- Posted his first career score against Fordham, totaling 30 yards on six carries
- At No. 19 Wisconsin, tied for the team lead with nine totes, for 29 yards, including a one-yard score
- As a true freshman, had a start among his five games, rushing 24 times for 71 yards
High School
- Played five seasons in total in his high school career, totaling 7,482 yards and 80 total touchdowns
- Unofficially – according to floridapreprecords.com – that rushing total ranked sixth in Florida high school history
- As a junior and senior at Spruce Creek, had more than 2,700 yards on the ground
- His final season, had 1,477 and 18 touchdowns; as a junior, recorded 1,226 and 16 scores
- Played three varsity seasons at Warner Christian Academy, including 1,736 rushing yards as an eighth grader
- Was also a state champion weightlifter
Personal
- Consensus three-star recruit
- By 247Sports, was touted as the No. 50 nationwide running back and the 94th-ranked prospect from Florida
- By ESPN, was No. 53 at RB and No. 94 from Florida
- Nebraska beat out Alabama, Miami, Michigan, Kentucky, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Iowa State, Wake Forest, Boston College and Tennessee for his services
- Was clocked at a 4.54 40 as a senior
===
Wyatt Sullivan
Freshman | 6-4 | 198 | WR
Quincy, Fla. / Robert F. Munroe Day School
High School
- In 10 games as a senior, caught 38 passes for 608 yards and seven touchdowns
- Also made 38 tackles, with five sacks, and two quarterback hurries
- Plays basketball and runs track & field as well for Munroe
- Previously attended Buford High School (Georgia)
Personal
- Three-star composite recruit by 247Sports.com
- Also three stars by ESPN
- Chose the Owls over such schools as Coastal Carolina, WKU, Charlotte, Akron and Troy
===
Jaylen Wester
Freshman | 6-0 | 200 | OLB
Palmetto, Fla. / Palmetto HS
High School
- Led Palmetto as a senior with 124 tackles (including 71 solo), and 35 went for a loss
- Also added 4.5 sacks, two interceptions, one pass defended, two forced fumbles and blocked three punts.
- Recorded 126 stops as a junior, 30 for loss
- Additionally that season, picked off three passes (returning two for scores and had a total of 110 INT return yards) and blocked one punt and two field goals
- And as a sophomore had 17 TFL, including 2.0 sacks, among his 82 total tackles
Personal
- Also was courted by SMU, USF, Toledo, and Colorado State, among others
- Ranked as the No. 4 recruit in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune coverage area
- His brother LaJohntay is a current Owl, a rising sophomore wideout that has played two seasons with the squad
