Will he or won’t he? RB to decide
Singletary says he has given leaving for NFL draft ‘some thought’
BOCA RATON — It’s not just the seniors who could be saying goodbye on Senior Night at Florida Atlantic on Saturday.
There’s a possibility star junior running back Devin “Motor” Singletary could be playing his final game for the Owls when they face off against Charlotte for their final regular season home game in a 6 p.m. kickoff from FAU Stadium.
Arguably – and it would be a pretty good argument – the most decorated player in FAU football history, Singletary could become the first Owl to leave Boca Raton early for the NFL draft. He admitted after Wednesday’s practice that it’s on his mind, but he’s far from a decision.
“Of course, I gave it some thought, but you know, just got to wait, see how everything plays out,” said Singletary, a 5-foot-9, 200-pound back with a nose for the end zone.
Both he and FAU coach Lane Kiffin said Wednesday that they are yet to speak about any upcoming decisions about the next level.
“Just like these seniors, he’s a great kid, and we don’t really talk about it until after the year,” Kiffin said. “We’ll sit down afterward, get his reports back and see where he stands.
“He’s done a good job. I don’t sense [the NFL attention getting to him].”
NFL draft projection site WalterFootball ranks Singletary, an American Heritage-Delray product and Deerfield Beach native, as the 2019 draft’s seventh-best running back and projects him to go between Rounds 2 and 4 on a running back rankings page last updated on Nov. 3.
With how quickly wear and tear tends to accumulate on running backs compared to other positions in professional football, the benefits of beginning a pro career early could be there for Singletary, 21, especially as a player with not much left to prove at the college level.
Singletary leads the nation in rushing touchdowns by five scores, with 22 through 11 games.Three players have 17 TDs. Last year Singletary led the nation with 32, a mark which was good for third all time in a single season. He’s also seventh in the nation with 1,260 rushing yards.
Singletary enters Saturday in sole possession of sixth place on the NCAA FBS career rushing touchdowns list with 66. He’s six behind Texas’ Ricky Williams, a former Miami Dolphins great, and Louisiana Tech’s Kenneth Dixon. They are tied for fourth with 72 each.
Should FAU lose against Charlotte, the Owls will finish 5-7 and not be eligible for a bowl game. A win makes FAU bowl eligible with six wins, but the possibility remains, with more bowl-eligible teams than bowl games for them, they get left out. Kiffin, however, expressed confidence on Sunday that FAU gets into a bowl game with a win.
Foul calls: Kiffin hasn’t been pleased with several calls made by Conference USA officials this season. Kiffin discussed one call in particular from last Thursday night’s loss at North Texas when safety Jalen Young and linebacker Rashad Smith collapsed on Mean Green quarterback Mason Fine for a hit that knocked Fine out of the game with a hand/wrist injury.
Targeting was originally called but overturned upon review. Roughing the passer, however, was withheld to award North Texas a key automatic first down in the red zone.
“I don’t know how that’s a penalty,” Kiffin said. “So they miss the call by making it targeting, which is fine – they take it off. But then to leave roughing the passer. I don’t understand. It’s not targeting. It’s definitely not late. I mean, the guy just threw the ball. I don’t understand.”
Kiffin provided an inside look at what it’s like when he has arguments with officials on the sideline.
“I’ll see them during the game, tell them, ‘All right. That’s great. Can’t wait to get the report back where you guys missed this one,’” he said. “So, we’ve had a lot of those this year in some really tight games. It’s unfortunate.”