BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic University’s football team worked through a muggy and hot Tuesday morning practice. All was playing out as scheduled, until lightning in the area gave the Owls a respite, except most took it upon themselves to use the time waiting in the weight room to lift.
The rain was light and didn’t affect one of the more competitive practices that ended with third and second down situational drills. The field was broken into the first and third teams (north end) and the second and fourth teams (south end). The two groups ended practice with the offense attempting to continue the drive from various points on the field. For the defense, it was simple, get off the field.
For the most part on Tuesday, the defense got the better of the offense. There were some explosive plays that would dampen the defensive celebrations. Jaydon Platt had a scoring drive, as an example. Then the Owls moved into second down situations. Despite a big run by Larry McCammon III and the last scoring drive for the offense led by both Willie Taggart, Jr. and finished by Michael Johnson, the defense kept the offense out of the endzone, forcing field goal attempts. The biggest defensive celebration came following a Michal Antoine, Jr., who had an interception and 20-yard return.
QUOTABLE
Offensive Coordinator Brent Dearmon
On last week’s scrimmage and what they hope to work on this week
“Anytime you go into a scrimmage situation, you want to be as game-like as you can with your substitutions and communication, so we try to switch in and out personnel groupings so our skill guys could communicate. We got into some short yardage and goal line situations, so you got to see some physicality, we were preaching low pad level to our offensive line and tight ends. What we have to be is more consistent. Right now, we’re really good one day and then we show up the next day and it’s not as good. So just teaching the guys what it means to show up, put your hard hat on, and go to work every single day, not picking and choosing which days you want to show up.”
On installing the offense
“We’re pretty much complete with the base. You put in little wrinkles off things or a little wrinkle off one play, because our defense has seen that play so many times by now. But for the most part, it’s all in.”
On the number two quarterback
“I think we’re getting there. Two guys are really battling. Will (Willie Taggart Jr.) and Mike (Michael Johnson Jr.) are doing a good job of it battling out. They’re two guys that show flashes at times, they just have to show flashes more often. They have a great guy in the room that’s leading them, showing them how to do it, showing them how to show up every day in N’Kosi Perry, but we’d like to see one of those guys take the reigns over the next couple of days.”
On the tight end room
“I think those guys are doing a really good job. We had a couple of guys banged up over the last couple of days, so we’ve had to do a little bit of lighter packages. But being able to get them back today, it’s good to see them back out here today and getting healthy. That group’s really competing. It’s a jack of all trades room, because you have to block, you have to be a good route runner, you have to have good hands, so you ask them to do so much stuff and I think they’re doing a really good job.”
On filling out the depth chart
“You want to go into next scrimmage with a pretty good idea of your two-deep and the last scrimmage is more of a polish-up deal. You kind of want to try to figure it out by the end of this week and guys start getting a little of continuity with each other. Our big focus is still developing guys, and then we go into next week and you start getting continuity, start putting a little bit of game one defense out there in front of them.”
Graduate Student Quarterback N’Kosi Perry
On his motivations through the spring and summer
“My personal motivation is I love these guys. Last year, I grew a bond with this team. To see the way we finished the season, to see how that affected the team and how many guys were upset about that just put an extra chip on my shoulder. It made me want to come back harder this year and win every single game, as many as we can, for not only myself and my future, but for this program, this team and the guys on this team.”
On the offseason grind
“I think it’s starting to come together pretty well. I feel like we’ve been progressing every single day, except for maybe one practice that we got in a little rut, but we bounced back yesterday, and ever since, we’ve just been having great practices. We’ve been preaching this offseason to stack good days (accumulate), not worry about the future too much because if we stack (put together) good days, the future will take care of itself.”
On which receivers have impressed
“A lot of guys have impressed. As you know, LeJohntay (Wester) and Je’Quan Burton, they’re back for this season so that’s great, but we have a lot of young guys and we have some depth this year, so that’s really good for the team.”
On the tight ends
“I like our tight end room. We’ve got a lot of versatility. We’ve got some quicker guys, we’ve got some big, bodied guys who can block, we’ve got some guys with great hands, so I love the tight end room. I feel like it’s very underrated.”
Redshirt Junior Safety Armani-Eli Adams
On how this team is different than years past
“I’m seeing more camaraderie. I’m seeing a lot more team bonding.”
On Teja Young
“He’s going to keep it honest, no matter if it’s good or bad. You just need that as a player. Even if things aren’t going your way, he’s going to pick you up. He’s been doing that for five years. I know him like the back of my hand.”
On his personal goal for this season
“Just being more of a vocal leader. I’m not really the loudest, but just speaking up when I need to.”
On competing for a starting spot
“It’s what I work for. I’ve waited my turn and the opportunity is presenting itself.”
On the cornerback room
“there’s been a lot of progression with Coach [Brandon] Harris. He’s been doing a good job with them. Each day they’re working on a new technique. They’ve really come along. All of us still have a lot of work to do, but they specifically have been doing a good job honing in on the smaller details.”
CONGRATULATIONS
Offensive lineman Chaz Neal becomes the latest to graduate and continue to play, giving FAU an experienced line. Congratulations Chaz.
ON THE FIELD
- Prior to the lightning break, the Owls practiced option plays. Perry found Tony Johnson for a score and Michael Johnson connected with Jayshon Platt
- Newcomer Mavin Scott III rattled off a 55-yard scoring run
- Kelvin Dean, Jr. beat his defenders for a huge gain, but it was Taggart, Jr. that scored by breaking out the jets to fly past his defenders. Junior was greeted in the endzone by not only his offensive unit, but also by the quarterback room
- Quarterback newcomer Tyriq Starts found Platt in the same session
SEASON OPENER
FAU will open the 2022 season on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022, versus Charlotte at FAU Stadium. The game is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. and will be televised on CBSSN and will air locally on Sports640 AM South Florida.
TICKETS
To purchase FAU tickets, call 1-866-FAU-OWLS or click HERE or HERE. Individual tickets are now on sale as well. Call the FAU ticket office, today, to secure your tickets. Stay informed by reading FAUSports.com, or through football’s Twitter and Instagram accounts @FAUFootball.
