FAU sweeps preseason player of the year awards
The Owls open the season Sept. 1 at Oklahoma.
BOCA RATON — With Conference USA media days beginning Thursday, the Florida Atlantic football team will enter the event as the center of attention.
The league announced Monday running back Devin “Motor” Singletary and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair are the preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year. The winners were chosen by a poll of the league’s head coaches.
Singletary, the conference’s reigning most valuable player, ran for 1,920 yards and a nation-leading 32 touchdowns last year. A junior, he has garnered a host of preseason accolades, including being named a second-team All-American by Athlon Sports and is on the watch list for the Maxwell Award, given to the nation’s best player.
Last year Al-Shaair ranked fifth nationally with 147 tackles, which were a school record. He has led the team in the category the past three seasons. A senior, Al-Shaair already holds the FAU record with 354 tackles.
The Owls, who finished 11-3 and won the Boca Raton Bowl last year, had a leaguehigh six players selected for the preseason All-Conference first-team. The others were tackle Reggie Bain, tight end Harrison Bryant, cornerback Shelton Lewis and safety Jalen Young.
Last year Young, a senior, was No. 2 in the nation with seven interceptions. Lewis and Bain were All-Conference selections a year ago while Bryant was on second-team despite missing the final three games because of an ankle injury.
The Owls open the season Sept. 1 at Oklahoma. Azeez Al-Shaair is the preseason defensive player of the year. Devin Singletary is the preseason offensive player of the year.