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BOCA RATON – DeAngelo Antoine’s decision to transfer from USF to FAU prior to the start of the 2019 season entered Owl Nation’s consciousness as more of a Tweet than a full-blown story.
The 5-foot-10, 200-pound Antoine only caught 25 passes in his four years at USF. He’d scored two touchdowns.
Not much of a reason to throw a party.
Even Lane Kiffin didn’t seem to know what to do with Antoine. Miscast as an outside receiver during fall camp, Antoine didn’t step into a prominent role in the Owls’ attack until it became clear that starting slot receiver Willie Wright hadn’t returned to freshman-year form.
Antoine replaced Wright as the starting slot receiver, and the Owls’ offense took flight.
In his lone season at FAU, Antoine caught 61 passes for 771 yards, both totals representing the most by an Owls wide receiver and second-highest on the team.
Antoine scored six total touchdowns – five receiving, one rushing – with four of those touchdowns coming against Wagner. He also led the Owls with 285 kickoff return yards.
The biggest knock against Antoine came when he let his studies slip, rendering himself academically ineligible for the Boca Raton Bowl. Turns out, that didn’t matter much.
Former Alabama running back BJ Emmons made a strong case that he could be a special back for the Owls next season, but the broken ankle suffered on his first carry against Ohio St. robbed him of most of the season.
True freshman running back Larry McCammon carried the Owls prior to – and, to some extent, even after – his injuries, amassing seven touchdowns and a All-Freshman Conference USA honor.
And guard Desmond Noel, who wasn’t even on the team for fall camp, brought a desperately needed mean streak to the offensive line.
However Antoine earned FAU’s Offensive Newcomer of the Year award for his full season’s body of work.
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