Florida Atlantic Owls: CFN College Football Preview 2021

College Football News Preview 2021: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Florida Atlantic season with what you need to know.

College Football News Preview 2021: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Florida Atlantic season with what you need to know.


Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
Top Players | Keys To The Season
What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
Florida Atlantic Schedule Analysis
– Florida Atlantic Owls Previews
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

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2020 Record: 5-4 overall, 4-2 in C-USA
Head Coach: Willie Taggart, 2nd year, 5-4 (61-66 overall)
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 101
2020 CFN Preview Ranking: 87
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 13

Florida Atlantic Owls College Football Preview 2021: Offense

The offense sputtered. It finished 112th in the nation averaging 325 yards and 19 points per game, but the ground game wasn’t bad. The offensive line struggled a bit in pass protection and gave up too many tackles for loss, but it paved the way for 180 rushing yards per game.

Now all five starters are expected back up front – ten offensive starters are expected to return overall – with two good ones to work around in junior tackle BJ Etienne and senior guard Desmond Noel.

The Owls have a whole lot of options at running back, helped by the addition of 1,175-yard, 13 touchdown back Johnny Ford from USF. James Charles led the team with 429 yards and a score, and 220-pound Malcolm Davidson – the 2019 leading rusher – ran for over seven yards per carry with two scores. There should be running production from the quarterback, too, who’ll be …

The quarterback situation got very, very interesting. It was already a decent situation with former Indiana transfer Nick Tronti coming off an okay first run and Javion Posey finishing second on the team in rushing, but they’re going to have a hard time holding off N’Kosi Perry, the Miami transfer who was part of the Cane offense for the last three years. However, Perry isn’t all that accurate, and that’s a problem – FAU quarterbacks combined to hit just 53% of their passes.

Getting WR John Dunmore should help – the former star Penn State recruit needs to stretch the field for a passing attack that averaged fewer than 11 yards per catch. 6-4, 200-pound Brandon Robinson led the team with three touchdowns on his 12 grabs, but leading receiver TJ Chase is the team’s lone missing starter.

– What You Need To Know: Defense
Top Players | Keys To The Season
What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
Florida Atlantic Schedule Analysis

NEXT: Florida Atlantic Owls College Football Preview 2021: Defense

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