Owls are underdogs in C-USA
Florida Atlantic’s football program has high expectations for itself under first-year coach
but Conference USA media members don’t share the same optimism.
During the Conference USA media preseason poll released Tuesday morning, the Owls were predicted to finish fifth in the East Division. FAU is coming off three consecutive 3-9 seasons and the firing of former coach
Kiffin took over in December.
Last year, the Owls went 2-6 in Conference USA, tying for sixth out of seven teams with Marshall in the East Division. In the 2016 preseason poll, FAU was predicted to finish fourth in the East.
Two-time defending conference champion Western Kentucky (20 first-place votes) was picked to win the East Division this season. Middle Tennessee State (four), Old Dominion (three) and Marshall (one) followed. After FAU, FIU and Charlotte rounded out the East Division.
The Owls went winless against their fellow East Division teams last season. They have never finished better than fourth in the East Division.
In the West Division, Louisiana Tech (20 firstplace votes) was tabbed as the favorite, followed by UTSA (seven), Southern Miss (one), North Texas, Rice, UTEP and UAB.
Western Kentucky and Louisiana Tech met in the Conference USA title game last year. FAU will play both division favorites on the road this season. The Owls play at Western Kentucky on Oct. 28 and at Louisiana Tech on Nov. 11.
FAU returns 17 players who started the season finale against Middle Tennessee, although receiver
is suspended while facing two felony battery charges. The Owls are led by and
who combined to rush for 1,849 yards and 25 touchdowns last season.
No Owls were named to the Conference USA preseason teams on Monday. Coaches voted on the preseason teams.
FAU has not made bowl game since 2008. a Florida State’s 2017 football roster is down to 85 players after announced the transfer of defensive back
Lewis, a four-star standout from Washington, D.C., appeared in 12 career games through two seasons. He started in five games as a sophomore at the star position in FSU’s defense last year, but missed the final five games of the season with a hip injury.
The Seminoles, loaded at defensive back position, have now met the NCAA requirement for scholarship players on their roster.
Earlier in the offseason, seldom-used tight end defensive
and tackle linebacker
left the team. With the departures, the Seminoles added freshman
a 5-9, 198-pound running back from Destin to the roster. receiver
status for fall practice is in question, Fisher said, as he continues to recover from a core muscle injury that sidelined him for the 2016 season.
Campbell, a former fivestar recruit, has played in only 11 games, mostly on special teams, since joining the Seminoles in 2015. Wide