BOCA RATON – With fall camp nearly complete FAU quarterbacks Jason Driskel and Daniel Parr are ready to learn which one of them will be behind center when the Owls open the season against Southern Illinois on Sept. 3, but they are not obsessing over it.
“Obviously, being a competitor, I want to know what my role is going to be on the team, but you’ve got to take it one day at a time, one practice at a time, and that’s what I’m trying to do right now,” said Driskel, a redshirt sophomore.
Parr, a redshirt freshman, echoed those sentiments.
“You definitely want to get a sense of where things stand, but at the same time it doesn’t really matter,” Parr said. “You’ve got to prepare like you are the starter at all times.”
The duo made their comments, Parr at the podium immediately following Driskel, during FAU’s media day on Sunday, an event that coincided with a team meet-and-greet for fans.
Both players said they were largely pleased with their performances in camp. If either had an idea which way they believed the coaches were leaning, they didn’t share it.
Parr went so far as to say he is actively avoiding trying to look for hints at what coach Charlie Partridge and offensive coordinator Travis Trickett are thinking.
“I think that’s probably the worst thing you can do,” he said. “They’re going to put you out at practice wherever they think you need to get reps and do whatever you need to do.”
Driskel played in 10 games last season, starting twice for an injured Quez Johnson. Parr enrolled in January of 2015 as one of the first major recruits landed by the Partridge regime, then used the 2015 as his redshirt year.
Partridge intends to make his decision on the starting quarterback by Thursday, when the Owls officially end camp begin preparation for Southern Illinois.
The Owls’ third-year head coach used Sunday’s media day as a vehicle for announcing that walk-on defensive end Haiden Nagle, defensive back Alfred Ansley and defensive back Anthony Hamilton had been awarded scholarships.
“We were able to reward three players that came through this program the hard way, had to earn everything that they’ve done since they walked in,” Partridge said. “These are three young men that haven’t asked for anything. They just come to work every day and they’ve really earned it.”
Partridge also announced that FAU players had chosen their captains. Three players, tight end Tyler Cameron, wide receiver Kalib Woods and center Dillon DeBoer, represent the offense. Defensive end Trey Hendrickson and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair – a true sophomore – represent the defense.
“Over the course of last year he has really learned to channel that emotion and always be a positive emotional influence on those around him,” Partridge said of Al-Shaair. “He’s continued to mature at a very, very high rate and has he respect of all his teammates.”
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