Curbing His Enthusiasm

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BOCA RATON – His first carry on Howard Schnellenberger didn’t excite B. J . Emmons.

Neither did scoring the first touchdown of FAU’s first spring scrimmage.

The excitement comes later. Think: 2019 season opener.

“Coming into the Ohio St. game really, I’m thinking that’s probably whenever I’ll get more excited,” Emmons said. “Because, just learning everything, and then going into that big stadium and hearing everybody, that’s when the real test is going to come.”

Starting his college career at Alabama, Emmons understands what it means to play in a big house. As s true freshman Emmons carried the ball for the Crimson Tide (35 carries, 173 yards, TD) and their brash offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin.

After a year at Hutchinson C. C., Emmons reunited with Kiffin, a decision he says came easily.

While taking a recruiting trip to a different school, Emmons received a text from Kiffin, the coach he once considered his biggest supporter.

“I like Kiffin so, once he called me, once I left JUCO, it was just like, it’s right there,” Emmons said. “It’s your opportunity. I don’t have to restart with any coaches. I felt comfortable because he’s the headman here. He made it pretty easy for me to decide.”

With the decision made, Emmons began the learning process.

This is the first time he’s ever played in an uptempo offense, and Emmons is still getting acclimated.

He’s working on the timing, along with mastering the playbook and understanding the way his new offensive linemen block.

“I’m still not in my groove, so I feel like once coach [Running backs coach Kevin] Smith tweaks me up, gets me right, I feel like the offensive line will produce a lot,” Emmons said.

Emmons possesses a rare blend of power and speed in his 6-foot, 230-pound frame. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry at Hutchinson and scored 10 touchdowns in 12 games, but also fumbled seven times, losing four.

Nearing the midpoint of spring practices, Emmons proudly says he’s yet to let a football slip through his arms.

“You’ve got to have the ball at all times,” Emmons said. “I’d rather not put it on the ground and lose reps and lose my opportunity to show the coaches what I can do, so keeping the ball in my hands is the most important thing.”

Though he’s currently second on the depth chart behind James Charles, Emmons believes he can follow former Owls Buddy Howell, Devin Singeltary and Kerrith Whyte to the NFL.

“They’ve passed the baton,” Emmons said. “All we’ve got to do is keep raising the standard. Hopefully FAU can be like a Running Back U for the C-USA.”