More To Come

FORT LAUDERDALE – Lane Kiffin enjoyed Saturday’s excursion to Broward County so much that he’d like to do it again.

And he may want to take a practice or two further south.

“We need to look into some other places too, not just one trip – go to some other places, maybe down to Miami, some different areas,” Kiffin said. “It was good to get out here and good for some different people to experience our practice.”

Kiffin made the comments following FAU’s spring scrimmage at Carter Park, the second consecutive year FAU made the trip to the Fort Lauderdale facility.

He might like to try another trip as early as fall camp.

“I was just thinking for next spring but possibly in the fall, but for sure next spring,” Kiffin said.

Saturday marked the first full squad scrimmage with tackling this spring.

“The defense came out like it was a game,” Kiffin said. “I felt the offense came out like it was a practice.”

The defense made three consecutive stops before De’Andre Johnson, working primarily with the second unit, found Bobby Mitchell for a 60-yard touchdown.

“Once the offensive coordinator gave me the play call I already knew it was coming to me,” Mitchell said. “(Johnson) looked at me. I already knew he as going to throw it good. All I had to do was beat the DB off the line.”

The score was the first of two for Mitchell. The second came on a short catch and run from Jason Driskel.

“Bobby’s a guy who’s a blazer” Johnson said. “It was refreshing to see him out here just playing free, catching the ball, not over thinking the routes or how to catch the ball.”

Johnson also found the end zone on a short scramble.

“I thought he settled down and did some things a lot better in the second half of the scrimmage,” Kiffin said.

Driskel, who Kiffin labeled “consistent” added a second touchdown pass, this one to Dante Cousart.

FAU ran about 100 plays during Saturday’s scrimmage.

Some other notes from the scrimmage:

Safety Jordan Helm picked off Steven Frank in the end zone and returned it past the 50.

The Owls are looking at Herb Miller as their potential starting nickel back. He was in the starting lineup along with corners Raekwon Williams and Shelton Lewis.

Kiffin praised walk-on freshman linebacker Hosea Barnwell, who is getting some reps with the first team. “It’s a good find,” Kiffin said.

Wide receive Kalib Woods, along with running backs Buddy Howell and Devin Singletary saw limited action during full contact drills but did participate in the non-contact part of the scrimmage. The limitation was believed to be precautionary.