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BOCA RATON – Conference USA coaches believe FAU’s roster boasts two of the best players in the league.
C-USA named FAU running back Devin Singletary its preseason Offensive Player of the Year and tabbed linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair as its Defensive Player of the Year.
Singletary, last season’s C-USA MVP, rushed for 1,920 yards and 32 touchdowns as a then-sophomore. The touchdown total led the nation and only three players in the history of college football have scored more in a single season. The back who goes by the nickname “Motor” is entering his junior season.
Earlier on Monday Singletary was named to the watch list for the Maxwell Award, which is presented each year by the Maxwell Club to college football’s player of the year.
FAU’s career tackling leader, Al-Shaair led Conference USA with 147 tackles – the second-highest single season total in FAU history. Al-Shaair is entering his senior season. The Maxwell Club named Al-Shaair to the watch list for its Bednarik Award, presented to the nation’s top defensive player.
Four other Owls joined Singletary and Al-Shaair on the preseason All-Conference team, split evenly between offense and defense.
Senior left tackle Reggie Bain is expected to be the glue of FAU’s offensive line. He’s coming off a season where he earned All-Conference recognition and could become the first FAU offensive lineman ever selected in the NFL draft.
Tight end Harrison Bryant joins Singletary and Bain on the offensive team. A rising junior, Bryant’s 32 catches last season were third most among Owls – and he missed the final three games of the season with a broken foot. Five of those catches went for touchdowns.
Defensively, it’s of little surprise that C-USA selected Jalen Young as a preseason All-Conference performer, An All-Conference USA performer last season, Young’s seven interceptions in 14 games tied for second nationally. His 77 tackles last season as a junior were third most among Owls.
The conference also selected cornerback Shelton Lewis to it’s All-Conference squad. Lewis intercepted four passes last season as a junior,
Unlike postseason All-Conference teams, the preseason selections do not include a second team.
FAU is coming off an 11-3 season in coach Lane Kiffin’s first season. It culminated with the Owls’ first Conference USA championship and a Boca Bowl title.
Conference USA launches its football media days this week in Texas.
Here is the complete 2018 preseason All-Conference USA team:
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Devin Singletary, Jr., RB, Florida Atlantic
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Azeez Al-Shaair, Sr., LB, Florida Atlantic
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Parker Shaunfield, Sr., K, Southern Miss
OFFENSE
QB Mason Fine, Jr., North Texas
QB Brent Stockstill, Sr., Middle Tennessee
RB Spencer Brown, So., UAB
RB Devin Singletary, Jr., Florida Atlantic
OL Reggie Bain, Sr., Florida Atlantic
OL Chandler Brewer, Sr., Middle Tennessee
OL Jordan Budwig, Sr., FIU
OL Levi Brown, Jr., Marshall
OL O’Shea Dugas, Sr., Louisiana Tech
TE Harrison Bryant, Jr., Florida Atlantic
WR Tyre Brady, Sr., Marshall
WR Jalen Guyton, Sr., North Texas
WR Ty Lee, Jr., Middle Tennessee
WR Teddy Veal, Sr., Louisiana Tech
DEFENSE
DL Jaylon Ferguson, So., Louisiana Tech
DL Fermin Silva, Sr., FIU
DL Kevin Strong, Jr., Sr., UTSA
DL Oshane Ximines, Jr., Old Dominion
LB Azeez Al-Shaair, Sr., Florida Atlantic
LB Khalil Brooks, Jr., Middle Tennessee
LB Chase Hancock, Sr., Marshall
LB Josiah Tauaefa, Jr., UTSA
DB Ben DeLuca, Jr., Charlotte
DB Malik Gant, Jr., Marshall
DB Shelton Lewis, Sr., Florida Atlantic
DB Amik Robertson, So., Louisiana Tech
DB Jalen Young, Sr., Florida Atlantic
SPECIAL TEAMS
K Parker Shaunfield, Sr., Southern Miss
P Jack Fox, Sr., Rice
KR Isaiah Harper, Sr., Old Dominion
PR Darrell Brown, Jr., Old Dominion
LS Matt Beardall, Jr., Marshall
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