BOCA RATON – Buddy Howell isn’t sure how many of his friends and family will show up on Saturday to see him play as a collegian on a field he bulldozed as a fullback playing Pop Warner football.
He is fairly certain, however, they’ll enjoy themselves.
“They’re probably going to be out there talking jokes,” Howell said. “That’s how my people roll. We crack jokes all day and have fun. They are going to be expecting me to get off and stuff like that, so I’m going to have to go out there and give them a show.”
Florida Atlantic heads south tomorrow for a 3 p.m. practice at Hadley Park in the Liberty City area of Miami.
A graduate of Coral Gables, Howell grew up about 15 minutes away from Hadley Park.
“I’m going to send out the text and whoever comes, comes,” said Howell, which rushed for 828 yards and set the program’s single season record with 13 touchdowns last season.
Each of the last two springs FAU has held a practice at a public park to the south – both times at Carter Park in Fort Lauderdale. This will be the first such fall practice.
FAU also considered returning to Carter Park for a practice next week but has since scrapped those plans, a spokesperson said.
Howell has a simple playbook for his return to Dade County.
“I’m excited to go out and show everybody what we are all about,” he said.
HARD KNOCKS at the OX: Friday’s FAU Practice Report
Making Plays: Running back Marcus Clark seems to earning more touches as a third-down, change of pace-type back. He turns cracks into daylight. …QB De’Andre Johnson and WR Ladante Harris have provided a potent connection lately. All alone in the back of the end zone, Harris caught a TD from Johnson during seven-on-seven drills and hauled in a couple more passes down the seam for big gains during full-team workouts. …Henry Bussey is running crisp routes and seems to be gaining the trust of the signal callers. He’s also catching what’s thrown to him. …Nickel Quran Hafiz picked off a Jason Driskel pass that fluttered out of the quarterback’s hand. …Andrew Soroh’s big hit separated Bussey from the ball on a pass that was thrown behind the receiver. …James Pierre snatched a pass deflected by linebacker Jesse Howanitz and raced down the left sideline for a near Pick 6. …In a goal-to-go situation, linebacker Kris Harris filled the hole and blasted Clark, stopping the play dead. …Safety Ocie Rose fired around the offensive line for a strip sack of Driskel.
Tracking the Depth Chart: Brandon Walton was back with the first team at right guard on Friday. Jakobi Smith slid back to the second team. …DeAndre McNeal spent his second consecutive day as a first-team wide out, with Pico Harrison moving across the field to serve as the second wideout. Bobby Mitchell worked as a second team wide receiver on Friday.
Newcomer Watch: Former Colorado St. offensive lineman Zach Stefo, listed at 6-foot-5, 295, joined the Owls for his first practice on Friday. A graduate student transfer with two years of eligibility remaining, Stefo immediately lined up as the second-team right tackle. “He was a guy that was highly recruited coming out,” Kiffin said. “Coaches there speak very highly of him – Colorado St. Very Smart.”
QB Battle: Jason Driskel returned to the field after missing Thursday’s practice because of a scheduled academic exam. Driskel worked with the first team on Friday as he Johnson continue to rotate on a daily basis. Daniel Parr, who threw with the second team on Thursday, was back with the third team.
Instant Message: “I thought our guys responded to that.” – Lane Kiffin on having former University of Miami running back Clinton Portis speak to the team on Thursday.
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