LB Smith having a breakout season Lane eager to be a team player
BOCA RATON — Florida Atlantic linebacker Rashad Smith is often overshadowed because he plays alongside Azeez Al-Shaair.
Even with Al-Shaair grabbing most of the headlines, Smith is putting up career-best numbers in the shadows. He is the Owls’ second-leading tackler with 77 and arguably been the most improved player on defense.
“I feel like last year was a learning process,” said Smith, a sophomore. “I’m back to having fun this year.”
As a freshman last year, Smith struggled with the adjustment of playing at the collegiate level. He appeared in 10 games but it was mostly a learning experience. This season, he’s been more effective under new defensive coordinator Chris Kiffin.
After opening the season with 10 tackles against Navy, Smith had his best performance in last week’s victory against Florida International. He finished with eight tackles, three sacks and forced a fumble. What coach Lane Kiffin is most impressed by is the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Smith’s ability to cover the run and also drop in pass coverage.
“He’s really built like a safety,” Kiffin said. “He’s really been allowed to play a lot of man to man or he can even cover on slot receivers or flexed-out tight ends.”
Al-Shaair has led the team in tackles the last three seasons but should receive even more competition from Smith next year.
“Just playing off Azeez, every day competing with him trying to be the best,” Smith said.
Next game: FAU at Charlotte, at watchstadium.com
Shandel Richardson Saturday, 2 p.m., online
TALLAHASSEE — Florida State senior Ermon Lane college football career may not have been filled with career highlights or up to par with the five-star billing he earned as a top receiver coming out of high school.
But as Lane’s career winds down for the Seminoles, he wants to be remembered for being a consummate teammate to others.
“I just want to leave a legacy so when I come back, they’ll have something to positive to say about me and nothing negative,” Lane said after FSU’s win over Delaware State Saturday. “I just want to be a team player. It’s never about me. It’s always about the team and how we compete, and how we come together.”
Lane enrolled into FSU as a five-star wide receiver out of Homestead High School and has switched positions twice during his career to help the Seminoles fill needs because of injured depth. After a move to safety last season and for the first seven games this season, Lane moved back to receiver, where he has caught four receptions for 85 yards in the last four games.
“I never let anything get to me — I always positive,” Lane said summarizing his career. FSU coach Jimbo Fisher praised Lane. “[He’s] a great guy,” Fisher said. “Did everything we asked him to do. Worked hard. Had some unfortunate injuries and a foot injury at different times that hindered him. At the same time, he's worked hard and has been great.”
Next game: FSU at UF, Saturday, Noon, ESPN
Safid Deen stayed