BOCA RATON – Javion Posey will make his first career start later today when FAU heads south to FIU, sources tell FAUOwlAccess.com.
The redshirt-freshman replaces redshirt-junior Nick Tronti, starter of the Owls first four games. FAU is 3-1 with Tronti behind center.
Tronti barely edged Posey during fall camp’s quarterback battle. During his four games as a starter, the Indiana transfer completed 47 of 87 passes for 490 yards and three touchdowns. His longest completion covered only 36 yards. He’s also averaging 1.7 yards per carry, scoring twice.
FAU’s 288.5 yards per game ranks above only FIU and WKU in Conference USA. The Owls have not scored more than 24 points in a game this season.
Posey relieved Tronti in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s 10-6 victory over Western Kentucky. The invigorated Owls drove 40 yards during their first Posey-led possession before Posey’s attempt to throw a pass out of bounds resulted in a jump-ball interception.
That was his lone passing attempt of the night.
Posey shook off the mistake, leading the Owls on a 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in his second possession, racing the final 11 yards himself for what became the game-winning touchdown.
Though he only played one quarter and didn’t complete a pass, Posey did lead the Owls in rushing with 60 yards on nine carries.
While Tronti has enjoyed success on the ground both as a starter and in coach Lane Kiffin’s Wild Tronti rushing package last season, Posey is both faster and shiftier. Posey’s athleticism so impressed Kiffin that he moved the then true freshman to wide receiver in an effort to get the playmaker on the field.
Kiffin said the plan was always to return Posey to his natural quarterback position in the years that followed.
Neither Posey nor Tronti has yet demonstrated a strong downfield arm or an abundance of accuracy.
Posey might have claimed the starting job earlier in the season had he not missed the Owls’ second and third games while dealing with COVID-19 issues.
Searching for a spark during the Owls’ third game, a victory over UTSA, coach Willie Taggart inserted his son, true freshman Willie Taggart Jr., behind center for a couple of series. Taggart Jr. didn’t enjoy success, either.
Posey and the Owls are expecting the return of running back Malcolm Davidson – their leading rusher last season and this one – on Friday. Davidson’s battled hamstring and foot issues this year.
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