(Photo Credit: Alex Liscio)
Key Players Returning:
RB James Charles, WR T.J. Chase, OC Nick Weber, OG Federico Maranges, OG Desmond Noel, OT B.J. Etienne, OT Marquice Robinson, DE Jaylen Joyner, DE Ryan Veingrad, LB Caliph Brice, LB Chris Jones, LB Chase Lasater, LB Ahman Ross, LB Eddie Williams, CB Zyon Gilbert, CB Romain Mungin, BS Jordan Helm, FS Teja Young, KR/PR LaJohntay Wester, and PT Matt Hayball.
Key Players Departing:
LB Leighton McCarthy, and PK Vladmir Rivas.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: LB Keyshawn Greene (Nebraska transfer).
3 Star Recruits: WR Fred Eaford (Deerfield Beach, Florida), OG Andrew Boselli (Florida State transfer), WR Jymetre Hester (Perkinston, Mississippi), S Amari Wansley (Buford, Georgia), WR Brandon Schabert (Delray Beach, Florida), WR Jahmal Edrine (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida), WR Mason Sterling (San Mateo, California), DE Julius Barfield (Melbourne, Florida), and DT Jacob Merrifield (Winder, Georgia).
2020 Results:
G01 CHARLOTTE W 21-17
G02 at #22 Marshall L 9-20
G03 UTSA W 24-3
G04 WESTERN KENTUCKY W 10-6
G05 at FIU W 38-19
G06 MASSACHUSETTS W 24-2
G07 at Georgia Southern L 3-20
G08 at Southern Miss L 31-45
BOWL vs. Memphis L 10-45
Team Info:
2020 Overall: 5-4 (2nd in CUSA East)
Home: 4-0
Away: 1-3
Neutral: 0-1
CUSA: 4-2
Non-CUSA: 1-2
Head Coach: Willie Taggart
Florida Atlantic: 5-4
Career: 61-66
Bowls: 0-2
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Nick Tronti (89-167, 905 yards, 53.3%, 5.4 avg., 6 TD, 3 INT)
Rushing: James Charles (92 car., 429 yards, 4.7 avg., 4 TD)
Receiving: T.J. Chase (23 rec., 334 yards, 14.5 avg., 2 TD)
TD’s Scored: James Charles (4)
Sacks: Jaylen Joyner (5.5)
Tackles: Chase Lasater (72)
Interceptions: Teja Young (2)
Pass Deflections: Zyon Gilbert (5)
Tackles For Loss: Jaylen Joyner (7)
Forced Fumbles: Chase Lasater/Ahman Ross (2)
Kick Returners: LaJohntay Wester (12 ret., 260 yards, 21.7 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returners: LaJohntay Wester (10 ret., 89 yards, 8.9 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: None
Punting: Matt Hayball (45 punts, 1983 yards, 44.1 avg., 17 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 00 N’Kosi Perry (GR/TR)
RB: 28 James Charles (RS SR)
WR: 85 John Mitchell (RS SR)
WR: 9 T.J. Chase (GR/TR)
WR: 89 Brandon Robinson (RS JR/TR)
TE: 47 Logan Peterson (RS JR)
LT: 75 Marquice Robinson (RS SO)
LG: 53 Desmond Noel (RS SR/TR)
OC: 63 Nick Weber (RS JR)
RG: 60 Andrew Boselli (GR/TR)
RT: 76 B.J. Etienne (RS JR)
KR: 83 LaJohntay Wester (FR)
PK: 38 Margan Suarez (FR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 94 Ryan Veingrad (SR/TR)
NT: 48 Evan Anderson (FR)
DE: 52 Jaylen Joyner (RS SO)
LB: 5 Ahman Ross (RS JR)
LB: 25 Chase Lasater (RS JR)
LB: 19 Caliph Brice (SR/TR)
LB: 49 Chris Jones (FR)
CB: 20 Romain Mungin (SO)
CB: 24 Zyon Gilbert (SR)
BS: 35 Jordan Helm (RS SR)
FS: 32 Teja Young (RS SO)
PR: 83 LaJohntay Wester (FR)
PT: 42 Matt Hayball (RS SO)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: B
Kickers: C
Punters: A
Schedule:
09/04 at Florida Gators | FAU trails the series 0-3. The Owls are 0-2 since 2011, and they lost (14-20 OT) the last meeting between schools in 2015.
09/11 GEORGIA SOUTHERN EAGLES | Last season’s 3-20 loss was the first meeting between schools.
09/18 FORDHAM RAMS | First meeting between schools.
09/25 at Air Force Falcons | FAU won (33-27) the only prior meeting between schools in 2018.
10/02 FIU PANTHERS | FAU leads the series 14-5. The Owls are 6-4 since 2011, and their last series loss (31-33) was in 2016.
10/09 at UAB Blazers | FAU leads the series 5-2. The Owls are 3-1 since 2011, and they won (49-6) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
10/21 at Charlotte 49ers | FAU leads the series 4-2. The Owls won (21-17) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series loss (24-27) was in 2018.
10/30 UTEP MINERS | The series is tied 1-1. The Owls won (35-31) the last meeting between schools in 2016, and they lost (17-27) the inaugural meeting in 2015.
11/06 MARSHALL THUNDERING HERD | FAU trails the series 1-7. The Owls lost (9-20) last season’s meeting between schools, and their only series win (30-25) was in 2017.
11/13 at Old Dominion Monarchs | FAU leads the series 4-2. The Owls won (41-3) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
11/20 at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers | FAU leads the series 9-3. The Owls are 6-3 since 2011, and their last series loss (3-52) was in 2016.
11/27 MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS | FAU trails the series 5-12. The Owls are 2-7 since 2011, and they won (28-13) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
Predictions:
Home: 5-1
Away: 3-3
Neutral: 0-0
CUSA: 5-3
Non-CUSA: 3-1
Overall: 8-4 (2nd in CUSA East)
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