Owls honor four captains
Players weren’t chosen until end of season
BOCA RATON — Florida Atlantic coach Lane Kiffin waited until the postseason to the name team captains.
They were linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, safety Jalen Young, running back Devin “Motor” Singletary and receiver Kalib Woods. The selections were made after the season, so the honor could be awarded for leadership during the year.
“Obviously a very good group of leaders,” Kiffin said. “Those will be the permanent captains for the team.”
Al-Shaair led the team in tackles for a third consecutive season and Young was the leader in interceptions. Singletary became the school’s first All-American when he was chosen thirdteam by the Associated Press.
Woods was voted by teammates despite only being around for half of the season. He was suspended the first six games for his role in an off-campus fight in June.
Woods lost his scholarship, but rejoined the team as a walk-on in October. He started the final seven games.
“Pretty neat that they voted him captain based off only really being here half the year, playing half the year,” Kiffin said. “It says a lot about their respect for him.”
Woods was voted most valuable player of the Conference USA Championship Game, catching six passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns. In his only media availability of the season, Woods said he’s moved past the incident and learned from it.
Bryant remains sidelined
Sophomore tight end Harrison Bryant missed his third consecutive game with an ankle injury. There was hope he would return after sustaining the injury Nov. 18 against Florida International.
Bryant ended the season with 32 catches for 408 yards and five touchdowns. The Owls were also without receiver DeAndre McNeal, who injured his ankle during pregame warmups.
A junior, McNeal started the season as one of their top receiving threats but finished with just 23 catches for 317 yards and two touchdowns.
O-line coach to Arizona?
While the program expects Kiffin to remain around a few more years, the Owls could be in search of a new offensive line coach. According to FootballScoop.com, Garin Justice is leaving to take the same position at Arizona.
Justice was arguably one of the team’s top position coaches. The Owls put three offensive linemen — Antonyo Woods, Roman Fernandez and Reggie Bain — on the Conference USA first-team.