Florida Atlantic’s 2020 offense was, in one word, anemic. In points scored, it ranked 115th in the nation, and it was only slightly better in terms of total yards, finishing 112th. The Owls return last year’s starting quarterback, Nick Tronti, a North Florida native who transferred to FAU from Indiana. But Taggart opted for changes this offseason.
He moved on from both of last year’s co-offensive coordinators Clint Trickett and Drew Mehringer, replacing them with Mike Johnson, who was most recently Mississippi State’s receiver coach in 2019 but was the play-caller for UCLA and the San Francisco 49ers prior to that.
With a new offensive coordinator, Taggart also went after a new quarterback in the transfer portal. He came away with N’Kosi Perry, who appeared in 24 games with Miami, tossing for 2,484 yards, 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He was recently named the starter over Tronti.
In the passing game, Perry’s favorite target will likely be last year’s leading receiver T.J. Chase, a Clemson transfer who totaled 334 yards and two touchdowns on 23 catches. Other projected starters for the Owls include Brandon Robinson and LaJohntay Wester, who each finished under 200 yards receiving last year. At tight end, FAU has a converted receiver in John Mitchell, who missed the 2020 season with an injury.
Perry is a quarterback with a bit of mobility, but he hasn’t been very productive on the ground. If FAU wants rushing success, it will likely have to turn to yet another transfer. Taggart added Johnny Ford from South Florida, a 5-foot-5-inch speed back whose best season came as a true freshman in 2018 when he totaled 787 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Florida will also likely see Larry McCammon III, who had just 79 rushing yards last year.
The X-factor offensively could be Javion Posey, an athlete who was initially competing for the quarterback spot but has since moved to a utility role. Taggart has said that he’ll see action at running back, receiver and defensive back this year, and he totaled 403 yards and three touchdowns last year.
The success of all of this will depend on Florida Atlantic’s offensive line play against Florida’s ferocious pass rush of Brenton Cox Jr., Zachary Carter, Khris Bogle and Co. The Owls return starters at center and on the left side, but they will start two transfers on the right side. FSU transfer Chaz Neal, who stands at 6-foot-7-inches, got the nod at right tackle, while Auburn transfer Kamaar Bell will start at guard. The unit should be one of the team’s strengths, and it was far from the problem offensively last year as it finished near the middle of the pack in the Football Bowl Subdivision in terms of sacks allowed.
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