Hafiz eases into new role at safety
FORT LAUDERDALE — At first, Quran Hafiz was having difficulty with the switch.
After a couple weeks, the adjustment has been made with ease. Hafiz moved from nickel back to safety during spring drills and has continued to progress.
“I was lost, kind of,” Hafiz said. “As I got more reps it came natural, it came easier to me. Just seeing everything and seeing the whole field, it felt like you can get a lot more plays back there.”
A sophomore, Hafiz had 36 tackles last season as the extra defensive back. He now is a backup safety behind starters Zyon Gilbert and Jalen Young.
Hafiz is playing on the second-team alongside senior Ocie Rose.
“I feel like I still got a lot to learn but I feel like I’m getting down pat. I feel like it’s coming along,” Hafiz said. “Safety, I feel like you bring more of an impact when you’re coming down to hit. You’ve got more speed behind you.”
Hafiz, who played cornerback at Sandalwood High School in Jacksonville, was moved to nickel on the second day of spring practice last year. Coach Lane Kiffin said the move was made to help him better adjust to playing at the college level.
“A lot of times you put them at nickel when you first get them because it’s an easier spot to play than all the roles in the back end,” Kiffin said.
Kiffin said there continues to be no separation between quarterbacks and Both players had their ups and downs during Saturday’s non-contact scrimmage.
“They did make some big third-down, fourth-down plays,” Kiffin said. “They kept drives alive. We’ll go back and look at film.”
Neither has started a college game at the Football Championship Subdivision (Division I) level. A sophomore, Robison transferred from Oklahoma last season. Johnson, a junior, missed most of last season because of blood clots in his arm.
Running back
and Young did not play in the first half of the scrimmage. Kiffin said they weren’t held out for any specific reason.
Both players are healthy.
After Saturday’s practice at Carter Park in Fort Lauderdale, the Owls hosted a youth football clinic.
The cost was $20 and all proceeds were donated to the families of those affected by the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. About 40 kids attended. “I think it’s really important for our kids to see and get out there and help,” Kiffin said.
Kiffin said the players are getting more comfortable with new offensive coordinator
Kiffin has done his best to simplify things for Weis so the adjustment is easier. Weis, 24, is the youngest offensive coordinator at the Football Championship Subdivision level.
Last year, Weis was an offensive assistant with the Atlanta Falcons but was on the FAU staff for two months when Kiffin was hired in December 2016.
“I think they’re really comfortable,” Kiffin said. “Charlie already knew the offense from being around us.”