Owls’ QB battle in spotlight
BOCA RATON — Although no trophy will be awarded during FAU’s spring game, there will be stakes attached to Saturday’s exhibition.
“Winners eat steak and the losers eat hot dogs and beans,” FAU coach Lane Kiffin said. “We have a lunch on Monday over at the stadium, and they drafted everyone from the president to academic people, equipment people, so everybody’s got a team.”
The culmination of spring practice, Owl fans will have the chance to see the reigning Conference USA champions hit the field in modified game action on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is 4 p.m. in FAU Stadium.
The Owls will be split into “Red” and “White” teams, with the first team offense going against the first team defense, and so on with the second unit. New offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. will lead one squad, while running backs coach Kevin Smith will guide the other. Kiffin will stay neutral during the scrimmage as he observes Saturday’s action.
The biggest storyline will be the battle to be starting quarterback, as De’Andre Johnson and former Oklahoma signee Chris Robison, who joined the team in January, compete for the position.
While fans will get to see the signal callers operate Kiffin’s high-octane offense in a game situation, the Owls coach said he doesn’t expect to name a starter quite yet.
“I would not think we would make that decision [now],” said Kiffin of the quarterback battle. “I think this will go into the fall. I think they’re too close now.”
Although Johnson was on the roster last season, he missed all but one game with blood clots in his arm. The former Florida State quarterback is now healthy as he continues to re-acclimate himself.
“I think [Johnson]’s a lot further along than he was on day one — mentally and physically,” Kiffin said. “I think he was just rusty like anybody would be after the long layoff and he’s doing really well.”
FAU will continue to practice caution with star running back Devin “Motor” Singletary, who’s been dealing with a nagging hamstring injury. The American Heritage-Delray alum has been held out of contact drills since tweaking it during a scrimmage on April 10.
On Thursday, Kiffin said the team will hold Singletary out of the first half of FAU’s spring game – which will featuring tackling – but that left the door open for a potential appearance by Singletary later in the day.
“Second half is up for question,” Kiffin said of Singletary’s status for Saturday. “But he will not go in the first half.”