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BOCA RATON – From breaking his hip in an August 2016 motor scooter accident, to enduring coaching changes and 18 losses over his first three seasons, FAU left tackle Reggie Bain is no stranger to adversity.
Bain’s unwavering focus through that adversity combine with his All-Conference USA talent make him the unquestioned leader of the Owls offensive line.
“I just gotta keep going,” Bain said.
As a redshirt-junior last fall, Bain was a younger presence on an offensive line that started three seniors in Roman Fernandez, Antonyo Woods, and Jakobi Smith.
Bain is now the elder statesman of his unit, and has more responsibility in keeping himself – and his teammates – accountable.
“The room looks up to me more so you know I can’t be half-stepping, I’ve got to come ready to go all the time,” Bain said. “Young guys coming up to me asking me questions and I gotta be ready.”
Building chemistry along the line is crucial, and Bain understands that as a leader it is his job to set the standards high.
“It starts with meeting off the field,” Bain said. “Coming in just when they want us to come in is not going to get it done, we gotta do a little bit extra.”
Bain put his words in motion following FAU’s first spring practice. He was one of the last players to leave the field – taking additional time to give the young offensive linemen tips, and later conversing with first-year offensive line coach John Garrison about the day’s work.
Right tackle Brandon Walton said Bain’s leadership has extended further than the practice field.
“We see (Bain) as a guy with the wisdom,” Walton said. “He is kind of like a second coach, he works with me all the time,”
Quarterback De’Andre Johnson spoke about the relief he feels having his stalwart left tackle in the lineup.
“Definitely feels good knowing you got a veteran guy protecting your blind side, especially with a player of his caliber and the skillset of what he can do,” Johnson said.
Coach Lane Kiffin said it is a luxury having such a dependable player in Bain manning one of the most vital positions on the field.
“Well it’s good, not just from a leadership standpoint but obviously how important the position is,” Kiffin said.
Bain enters the spring in hopes of building another all-conference season – one that he would like to lead to a Senior Bowl invitation and a springboard to the NFL.
He said the foundation built by the seniors a season ago made him and the entire offensive line understand what it takes to be successful.
“I think it helps because we know what it takes now,” Bain said. “We know what we gotta do, we just gotta go out and do it.”
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