BOCA RATON – The signings started shortly after sunrise and may last well into the darkness.
They included players from California, Texas, Alabama and Georgia.
Wide receiver DeAndre McNeal and offensive lineman Joey Palmer became the biggest name to sign their names to Lane Kiffin’s first recruiting class.
The best story, however, happened closer to home.
Miami-Booker T. Washington linebacker Isaac Readon had committed to FAU way back in August under the Charlie Partridge regime, and both he and Tornadoes coach Tim “Ice” Harris were assured Readon still had a spot in Kiffins class – until he didn’t.
Two days prior to Wednesday’s National Signing Day, Harris spoke out about the way FAU left Readon at the FBS alter.
Readon headed to school on Wednesday prepared to sign with Virginia Union but still holding out hope he’d be an Owl.
“I prayed over it – I did a lot of praying over it,” Readon said. “I had faith and it happened.”
Before Readon could sign with Panthers, he heard a commotion in the hall.
“Coach Ice came running back and yelled, Wait!” Readon said.
Kiffin changed his mind, and FAU delivered Readon’s signing papers early Wednesday morning.
Readon signed with FAU. When the announcement that FAU came through with the scholarship was made at the Booker T. Washington signing ceremony moments later, Harris said the venue “erupted.”
Harris, who only days prior discussed how he told FAU coaches he would not talk to them about his players until they rectified Readon’s situation, now publicly praised Kiffin and the Owls.
“I’m thankful to Lane Kiffin and his staff,” said Harris, one of the most respected high school coaches in Miami. “Our whole community appreciated that.”
At his Signing Day press conference hours later Kiffin explained that his coaching staff originally assessed Readon as being a player who wouldn’t fit into the new schemes run by Kiffin’s Owls.
Kiffin re-evaluated Readon’s video over the past couple of days and decided the 5-foot-11, 200-pound Readon could help the Owls.
“He could play a couple multiple spots for us and then our special teams, as we look at last year’s production, we really need to improve a lot on special teams,” Kiffin said. “We think he could be a core special teams player for us as well.”
Readon is one of 24 players FAU announced as having signed with the Owls during Kiffin’s 5:30 p.m. media conference. Kiffin said that the Owls were still pursuing a couple more recruits – a process that could extend for hours.
Of the 24 current signees, nine came from junior colleges – the most FAU included in one signing class since Carl Pelini signed the same amount 2012.
Kiffin said the Owls were focused on players, not filling positions of need.
“We’re looking more at, OK, let’s find the best players that we can that are out there,” Kiffin said. “There’s some guys that fall into that ‘athlete’ category that we’re just excited to bring into our program. We’ll figure out offense, defense, special teams, where they’ll play.”
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