Florida Atlantic Owls – Page 4

Florida Football Opponent Report: Scouting the Florida Atlantic Owls

Here’s everything you need to know about FAU as Willie Taggart is set to coach his first game in the Swamp.

Folks, we made it.

The start of the 2021 college football season is here. And after a bizarre 2020 season in which fans were largely absent from the stands, non-conference games were largely eliminated and several leagues, such as the Pac-12, were essentially rendered pointless, we finally have at least some return to normalcy in the sport.

Things are so back to normal, in fact, that Florida is once again opening the season with what should be an opponent it easily disposes of. Florida Atlantic comes to town, a program that the Gators have played three times since 2007 (and most recently in a wild 2015 game that went to overtime), and the Owls are led by a second-year coach who UF fans know well.

Former Florida State coach Willie Taggart was handed the reins in Boca Raton ahead of the 2020 season, and his first-year returns were a bit average. After finishing 11-3 in 2019, the team fell to 5-4 in the shortened pandemic season. With a 4-2 record in Conference USA play, FAU finished just half a game behind Marshall in the East division race.

Taggart will coach his first game in the Swamp this Saturday. The Gators defeated his Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium in 2018, but Taggart was fired in the middle of his second season before he got to coach a game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

The Gators are expected to once again compete for the SEC East and, potentially, a playoff spot. They should easily dispose of the Owls, but season openers tend to be unpredictable, and this Florida Atlantic team could easily provide a more challenging matchup than next week’s road game against USF.

Here’s your full primer on the Gators’ season-opening opponent.

NEXT: A transfer portal offense

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10 interesting tidbits ahead of Florida football’s game against FAU

Here are 10 things you need to know about the Florida Atlantic Owls football team.

During the college football season, Pat Dooley will offer a special Thursday look at the opponent Florida will be facing. This week, of course, it is Florida Atlantic. Be sure to catch Dooley’s Sunday Hash, a look back at Saturday’s game every Sunday morning posted by 9 a.m. EDT.

Florida Atlantic was 5-4 a year ago, good for second in Conference USA. Here are 10 things you need to know about the Owls football team.

Florida football releases Week 1 depth chart vs. Florida Atlantic

Florida’s first depth chart of the season is out and we now know Jaydon Hill’s replacement.

Training camp is over and all attention shifts to Gators’ Week 1 matchup against FAU. Florida released a depth chart on Monday and there were only a few surprises.

Avery Helm is listed as the team’s starting corner opposite preseason All-American Kaiir Elam. Jason Marshall battled with Helm throughout camp and is listed as Elam’s backup. Marshall would be the next in line if Helm struggles with the assignment.

The kicking situation also seems to be in somewhat of a state of flux. Chris Howard and Jace Christmann are both listed for kick-offs and place kicking.

Trent Whittemore won the starting spot in the slot, but Rick Wells and Xzavier Henderson should see plenty of passes come their way as backups. Runningbacks Lorenzo Lingard and Demarkcus Bowman don’t appear on the chart with Florida favoring its more experienced players.

Coach Dan Mullen isn’t the biggest fan of naming starters and reading too much into lists like this, though.

“I don’t look too much into the depth chart stuff,” Mullen said to reporters. “I know what our plan is.”

Florida football Week 1 Depth Chart pic.twitter.com/ZI9oDlBf4s

— Inside the Gators (@InsideTheGators) August 30, 2021

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Blowouts and building blocks : Takeaways from Lincoln Riley’s four season openers

With week one of the college football season fast approaching, how has Lincoln Riley faired in season openers?

While Oklahoma didn’t punch its way into the College Football Playoffs in 2020, the COVID-altered campaign still provided some very positive takeaways for the Crimson and Cream.

In week five, the Sooners took down the Horned Frogs, 33-14 in Fort Worth. Quarterback Spencer Rattler dissected the TCU defense for 332 yards and a pair of touchdowns. More impressively, the young signal-caller proved he had learned a valuable lesson following his benching in the previous game versus Texas as he completed 13 of his 22 passes with no interceptions. Rattler would throw just two more picks that season as the Oklahoma offense became as efficient as it was explosive.

A 41-13 beatdown of Oklahoma State in week eight showcased to the nation that Alex Grinch’s defense would only improve from there. The Sooners bottlenecked now-Carolina Panthers running back Chubba Hubbard to 43 yards on the ground while tormenting Spencer Sanders into three sacks and an interception.

Last, but certainly not least is the 2020 Cotton Bowl. Where OU’s 55-20 blowout win over Florida cemented the Sooners’ beliefs that they could hang against SEC competition.

Each season brings unique opportunities and challenges in the world of college football. However, looking back at a program’s past can help predict future tendencies.

With Oklahoma’s season opener against Tulane just 14 days away, here’s how the Sooners have faired in week one during the Lincoln Riley era.

Former Georgia Bulldogs WR Hines Ward accepts CFB coaching role

Former Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Hines Ward is returning to the college football ranks as a coach for the FAU Owls.

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Former Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Hines Ward is returning to the college football ranks as a coach. Ward will be an analyst for the Florida Atlantic Owls.

FAU did not have any full assistant roles, but Ward is expected to work with FAU Owls wide receiver coach Joey Thomas, who is a former NFL and CFL player.

Hines Ward is a Pittsburgh Steelers legend that is close to making the NFL Hall of Fame. Ward played for the Steelers from 1998 to 2011.

Before the Steelers picked Ward in the third round of the NFL draft, Ward played under David Kelly at Georgia, who is Florida Atlantic’s coordinator of player personnel. Ward’s connection and impressive experience helped him secure his new role.

Hines Ward previously has coached with the New York Jets from 2019-2020. Ward will look to continue his coaching career with FAU and will continue to impact young men.

Offensive coach Hines Ward, New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold (14), and running back Frank Gore (21) walk off the field after losing to the Denver Broncos, 37-28, at MetLife Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020, in East Rutherford.

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Former Georgia Bulldogs WR Hines Ward accepts CFB coaching role

Former Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Hines Ward is returning to the college football ranks as a coach for the FAU Owls.

Former Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Hines Ward is returning to the college football ranks as a coach. Ward will be an analyst for the Florida Atlantic Owls.

FAU did not have any full assistant roles, but Ward is expected to work with FAU Owls wide receiver coach Joey Thomas, who is a former NFL and CFL player.

Hines Ward is a Pittsburgh Steelers legend that is close to making the NFL Hall of Fame. Ward played for the Steelers from 1998 to 2011.

Hines Ward previously has coached with the New York Jets from 2019-2020. Ward will look to continue his coaching career with FAU and will continue to impact young men.

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No. 6 Florida baseball hosts No. 21 FAU in midweek solo match

Here’s a look below at the starting pitchers lined up for Wednesday night’s game along with the projected starting lineup and other factoids

The sixth-ranked Florida Gators baseball team rides a five-game winning streak into Wednesday night’s midweek affair against their in-state foes, the No. 21 Florida Atlantic Owls as UF’s homestand continues at newly-minted Florida Field. This one-off between the two schools promises to provide some excitement as FAU arrives having won six of its seven games to open the season.

Florida stands at 6-2 after stumbling out of the gates against the then-No. 21 Miami Hurricanes on opening weekend, but since have rediscovered the winning touch against the North Florida Ospreys and the Samford Bulldogs. FAU’s sparkling record comes courtesy of a series win against the Central Florida Knights on opening weekend — in which they lost its only game so far — after which it took a solo match with the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles and a three-game sweep of the Seton Hall Pirates.

The Gators lead the all-time series with a record of 24-9, notching an 11-4 mark during head coach Kevin O’Sullivan’s tenure. Florida is 18-7 in its home confines historically, while going 5-1 on the road and 1-1 on neutral ground against the Owls.

Here is a look below at the starting pitchers lined up for Wednesday night’s game along with the projected starting lineup. Scroll down further for interesting excerpts from the media guide.

No. 6 Florida baseball hosts No. 21 FAU in midweek solo match

Here’s a look below at the starting pitchers lined up for Wednesday night’s game along with the projected starting lineup and other factoids

Here is a look below at the starting pitchers lined up for Wednesday night’s game along with the projected starting lineup. Scroll down further for interesting excerpts from the media guide.

Former Oklahoma DC Mike Stoops gets defensive coordinator job after Texas fallout

Former Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops has finally landed his new gig as the new defensive coordinator at Florida Atlantic.

A very unusual offseason for former Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops has finally come to a conclusion.

After reportedly heading to become part of Texas’ coaching staff, and then suddenly falling out of favor there, Stoops is now signing on to become the new defensive coordinator at Florida Atlantic per Yahoo Sports’ Pet Thamel.

Sources: FAU expected to hire Mike Stoops as defensive coordinator. He's the former head coach at Arizona and a long-time DC in the Big 12 at Oklahoma and Kansas State. He'd been at Alabama as an analyst the last two seasons.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 28, 2021

Stoops’ time in Norman was certainly checkered, at first being a part of a fantastic Sooners defense that helped him land the head coaching job at Arizona. But, after returning to become the defensive coordinator once again with Oklahoma, it just didn’t work the second time around. The Sooners quickly became a national laughingstock for their defensive play which led to him ultimately being released.

After being let go from Oklahoma in 2018, Stoops became a defensive analyst with Alabama starting with the 2019 season. He now gets another crack at being a defensive coordinator with Florida Atlantic under head coach Willie Taggart.

It’ll be a tough test for Stoops right out of the gates in 2021, as the Owls open their season in Gainesville against Florida on Sep. 4th.

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College Football News Preview 2020: Florida Atlantic Owls

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, looking ahead to the Florida Atlantic Owls season with what you need to know.

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Florida Atlantic Owls season with what you need to know.

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Schedule Analysis
– Florida Atlantic Previews 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

2019 Record: 11-3 overall, 7-1 in C-USA
Head Coach: Willie Taggart, 1st year
2019 CFN Final Opinion Ranking: 45
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 13
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 85

No one knows what’s going to happen to the 2020 college football season. We’ll take a general look at where each team stands – doing it without spring ball to go by – while crossing our fingers that we’ll all have some well-deserved fun this fall. Hoping you and yours are safe and healthy.

5. College Football News Preview 2020: Florida Atlantic Owls Offense 3 Things To Know

– It sort of flew under the radar, but the hire of Willie Taggart was fantastic for the defending Conference USA champs. Unlike the Florida State situation, he doesn’t have to do a rebuild – he’s inheriting a heater from Lane Kiffin, and it starts with an offense that led the league with 449 yards and 36 points per game.

CFN in 60 Video: Minnesota Preview
Florida Atlantic at Minnesota, Sept. 3
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– Chris Robison has had an interesting college career – starting out at Oklahoma and being a bit questionable going into last season – but he was fantastic.

The 6-1, 200-pounder threw for over 3,700 yards with 28 touchdowns and just six picks. Former Indiana Hoosier Nick Tronti is back as the No. 2 man, and there’s more talent waiting in the wings, including Willie Taggart Jr.

And here come the receivers.

Star TE Harrison Bryant is gone to the Cleveland Browns, and top WR Deangelo Antoine is done. 6-4, 220-pound senior John Mitchell is back after catching 38 passes for five scores, and speedster Willie Wright returns. But the new guys are the stars.

Michael Irvin II is coming in from Miami to push for Bryant’s old job. TJ Chase was a huge get for Clemson, and now he’s an Owl. DeAndre McNeal comes in from SMU, Aaron Young transfers in from Duke, and there are more on the way waiting for their eligibility.

The passing game will still be good.

– Just two starters are gone from the O line, but they were both First Team All-Conference USA stars. The pass protection was just okay, and there were way too many plays made in the backfield, but the front five did a decent job for the ground game. It needs a left tackle to replace Brandon Walton and a center to step in for Junior Diaz.

205-pound junior Malcolm Davidson led the team with 711 yards and nine scores, but he was never healthy and missed four games. If he can stay in one piece, look out – he averaged close to seven yards per pop.

Throw in the veteran trio of James Charles, Larry McCammon, and BJ Emmons – who combined for 18 scores – and the backfield is loaded.

NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Florida Atlantic Owls Defense 3 Things To Know

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