FAU Football: Preview, prediction for Owls’ 2019 season
By Phil Poling
New-look offense
The FAU offense will look wildly different in 2019 after losing skill-position players Jovon Durante, Devin Singletary and Kerrith Whyte to the NFL. Durante led the Owls in every receiving category, while Singletary and Whyte combined for over 2,200 rushing yards and 32 scores in 2018. All-C-USA left tackle Reggie Bain is also gone.
Last Chance U: Where star players from Seasons 1, 2, and 3 landed
Oklahoma-transfer Chris Robison is expected to start at quarterback for the second-straight season, and while he was inconsistent as a freshman, another offseason of preparation should do him some good. Rumors swirled in late May about former-Florida State gunslinger Deondre Francois joining the quarterback’s room at FAU as a walk-on, but nothing official has been announced.
Although there is an inexperienced group within the returning skill-position players, you’ll recognize a couple of their names. Tavaris Harrison and Willie Wright combined for 849 receiving yards on 67 receptions a season ago, while tight end Harrison Bryant turned in a first-team C-USA performance. He racked up 662 receiving yards, including four touchdowns, on just 45 catches.
James Charles, Malcolm Davidson, Jordan Merrell and Ronald Patterson are expected to contribute in some fashion, larger roles will be defined by early-season production.
Kiffin’s best offense’s (as a head coach) posted scoring averages of 40.6 (FAU, 2017), 35.8 (USC, 2011) and 32.1 (USC, 2012) points per game. The Owls in 2018 only scored 31.1 points, an average that’s still the fourth-highest in Kiffin’s head coaching career, but they did so with talent that’s obviously inferior to his USC teams. He’s proven his offense’s can score, but it’s about outscoring your opponent that matters most. And in that, one must rely on their defense as well.