BOCA RATON – The first day of spring practice wasn’t exactly a snap for Antonyo Woods. To be precise, it was a bunch of snaps.
Woods opened the spring as the starting center on an FAU offensive line that is still decimated by injuries.
“I don’t know how it came about,” Woods said. “One day they were just like, oh, you’re going to play center. So I was like, OK.”
Woods played guard and tackle for FAU last season. Early in his career the Owls tried to make him a center, but that didn’t go so well.
“I was a youngin’ and I wasn’t ready to have that responsibility,” said Woods, a rising redshirt senior.
Center is a position of need for the Owls. Last year’s starting center, senior Dillon DeBoer, exhausted his eligibility. His backup, Richard Williams, underwent knee surgery following the season and will miss the spring – one of a handful of Owls who started games on the offensive line last year who will miss the spring because of injuries.
Matt Weiner and Brandon Walton worked as the starting right tackle and right guard, respectively.
Roman Fernandez manned left guard. Reggie Bain returned to his left tackle spot, healthy enough from the broken hip he suffered in a motor scooter accident that caused him to miss all of last season.
Jakobi Smith also saw some repetitions at guard.
“We’re starting later than most people are so I thought we’d get more guys back but it is what it is,” coach Lane Kiffin said.
Fernandez played some at center in previous seasons but not on Tuesday. He said a move back to center hasn’t been discussed with him.
Woods admitted that one practice wasn’t enough to make him feel like a center.
“Not yet,” Woods said. “As of right now I’m not really comfortable with it, but I’m pretty sure it’s a natural position for me.”
Woods struggled with some snaps on Tuesday but left the field optimistic about his ability to play the position.
“To be honest, I thought I was going to do a lot worse than I did,” Woods said. “Overall I think I had a pretty good day.”
FAU returns to the field for its second spring practice on Thursday. The spring game is scheduled for April 22 at 4 p.m.
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