Prior to the start of FAU’s fall camp we listed nine storylines we’d be following. They ranged from the quarterback battle to off-the-field situations the Owls would need to handle. Now that camp is complete, we thought we’d revisit those storylines to see how where the Owls stand entering the season.
QB Battle: FAU began the fall camp with incumbent Jason Driskel and newcomer De’Andre Johnson battling to be the starting quarterback. Rather than picking one to be the main guy, FAU actually expanded the competition to include Daniel Parr, who started one game last season but missed all of spring while recovering from foot surgery. Johnson has been ailing and Parr held the momentum heading into Friday’s final scrimmage. At this point, if Parr doesn’t grab the job it appears that Lane Kiffin might play two – or even all three – QBs in Friday’s opener against Navy.
New Faces: A month ago we discussed wide receivers DeAndre McNeal, Willie Wright and D’Anfernee McGriff in this spot. McNeal impressed early. McGriff has struggled to find his role, recently moving to slot receiver. Wright has been dynamic both as a slot receiver and a punt returner and may have the brightest future of the three. Guard Willie Tuihalamaka, whose main nickname is “Hala” but one offensive lineman said is sometimes simply called “Bill,” worked with the first team much of camp but last week slid down to the second team. We also mentioned JUCO signees Carson Lydon (LB) and Rodney Washington (DB) as potential impact players, but neither of them ever made it to Boca Raton. Nickel Quran Hafiz, safety Zyon Gilbert, defensive end Ernest Bagner and offensive lineman B.J. Etienne have also worked their way onto the two-deep.
Even Newer Faces: Entering camp Lane Kiffin said the Owls still planned to add some impact players who weren’t yet with the team. He made good on his word. Since the start of camp former Florida St. linebacker Kain Daub, former Auburn wide receiver John Franklin and former Pitt defensive tackle Jeremiah Taleni joined the Owls and figure to see action against Navy. The Owls also brought in former Colorado St. offensive lineman Zach Stefo, but he didn’t last a week before leaving the team. Safety James Pierre, a former Syracuse signee, also joined the Owls for the start of camp after spending all of last year without enrolling at college. Pierre’s worked his way onto the two-deep. FAU also added former Oklahoma quarterback Chris Robison and West Virginia wide receiver Jovon Durante, both of whom have to sit out this seaon to comply with NCAA transfer rules.
On the Way Out: FAU had a math problem heading into camp: too many players promised scholarships. The NCAA only allows for 85 players to be on scholarship at any given time. Defensive back Jovon Burriss, tackle Joey Palmer and linebacker Isaac Readon, along with the aforementioned Lydon and Washington, signed with FAU in February but never made it to campus. In addition, cornerback J’Quan Napier, who was enjoying a good camp, transferred to Wagner and quarterback Steven Frank also elected to transfer.
Base Defense: FAU considers the 4-3 to be its base defense, but a lack of healthy linebackers prompted the Owls to employ a 4-2-5 scheme throughout the spring. With Azeez Al-Shaair, Rashad Smith aand Khantrell Burden all missing at least a week, FAU never really had a full complement of healthy linebackers in fall camp either – although all the players expected to contribute should be ready to go against Navy. During the fall FAU has compensated by using certain defensive ends as hybrid-type players. At the very least, the Owls should be comfortable when Conference USA play begins. In the spread-happy C-USA, the 4-2-5 likely would been the base anyway.
The Navy Effect: FAU might not have ever deviated from the 4-2-5 base if not for its season-opening opponent. Navy’s flexbone attack is ground-based and requires defenders to play disciplined, assignment football in a way that won’t be as necessary against spread offenses. Luckily for FAU, the Owls have extra time to prepare. Ten days ago FAU began setting aside a portion of practice to defending Navy. “When you get to fall camp you have to dedicate some time to it,” defensive coordinator Chris Kiffin said. “We’ve been able to do that. Coach Lane has let us have some time during practice to focus on triple option.”
O-Line Infirmary: FAU’s injury problems along the offensive line last season have been well documented. Those injuries lingered throughout spring, causing four contributors from last season to completely miss the workouts. It’s still early, but 2017 looks like a different story. Yes, FAU lost versatile second stringer Matt Weiner for the season last week to an ACL injury, but for the most part the Owls have been healthy. Reggie Bain looks like the preseason All-Conference USA choice he was last season. Antonyo Woods is settling in at center. The Owls starting offensive line enjoyed a couple weeks of stability before Jakobi Smith replaced Tuihalamaka at right guard this week. From a health standpoint, the Owls couldn’t ask for much more.
Off-Field Focus: FAU entered camp with both coordinators, Kendal Briles and Chris Kiffin, under scrutiny – Briles for his time at Baylor and Kiffin for the NCAA allegations levied while at Ole Miss. FAU was also dealing with the arrest of wide receiver Kalib Woods on two charges of felony battery and the suspension of fellow wide receiver Kamrin Solomon for his alleged role in the same incident. All had been quiet on the Briles front until last week, when he mentioned his father, former Baylor coach Art Briles, had been watching FAU video and offering advice. Nothing major happened on the Chris Kiffin front during camp, so that hasn’t added unwanted attention. Solomon is back on the team, though he’s been with the scout team. Court documents show Woods had his house arrest lifted in mid August and an FAU spokesperson confirmed to OwlAccess.com that he is back taking classes. His role, if any, with the team is unclear. Woods has not been added to the official roster. None of these events seem to have sidetracked the Owls or hampered their preparation during camp – aside from prompting the need to add Franklin at receiver.
The Lane Train: Hiring Lane Kiffin as the fifth coach in program history drew national attention. That curiosity has carried into fall camp when, on any given practice day, a member of the national media could be on the sidelines. But, all things considered, it’s been kind of a quiet camp for Kiffin. The Art-Briles-helping-FAU storyline blossomed like a game of third grade “Telephone,” with some national media outlets expanding on local reports and concluding that the Owls had hired Briles as a consultant. On the positive side, Kiffin’s decision to have the Owls scrimmage in Miami’s Hadley Park drew rave reviews from that community and his ability to land big name transfers – some with checkered pasts – has kept FAU in the national conversation. That’s new to anyone who’s spent any length of time at FAU, but doesn’t seem to have done anything other than energize the current Owls.
FAU opens its season on Sept. 1 against Navy. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.
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