Owls forced to go young on defense.

BOCA RATON — When the New York Jets signed former Florida Atlantic defensive lineman Brandin Bryant to the practice squad on Monday morning, it highlighted not only the talent of last year’s Owls defense but also the youth of this year’s group.

Bryant is one of three Owls from last year’s defense currently on an NFL roster. Cornerback Cre’Von LeBlanc is with the Chicago Bears and safety Sharrod Neasman is with the Atlanta Falcons. Defensive lineman Trevon Coley went through training camp with the Baltimore Ravens before he was cut.

The hole vacated by those four players has been partially filled by a string of sophomores that includes Steven Leggett, Andrew Soroh and Shelton Lewis. None of those three players entered the season with a collegiate start.

The Owls’ defense ranks 111th out of 128 teams in scoring defense (35.7 points per game) and 115th in total defense (475.7 yards per game).

“I don’t want to create excuses, but I’m going to tell the truth,” FAU coach Charlie Partridge said. “You lose four guys that were in NFL camps. That bridge is now gone and they’re still developing into only their second year.”

Outside Leggett, Soroh and Lewis, FAU’s defense also relies on second-year players Azeez Al-Shaair, Ocie Rose, Khantrell Burden, Herb Miller, Jacob Douglas, Josh Kendall and Jake Stoshak.

Six sophomores start while only two seniors do: defensive linemen Shalom Ogbonda and Trey Hendrickson.

FAU (1-6, 0-3 Conference USA) is amid a sixgame losing streak entering its home game against Western Kentucky (5-3, 3-1) on Saturday afternoon.

“The Coleys, the Bryants, the Neasmans, the LeBlancs, that’s four pretty good players,” Partridge said. “That bridge is gone. There were things on tape that you guys didn’t see that we saw last year. So their progress really hasn’t stopped. Now there’re some things you’re seeing that weren’t noticed last year because they were covered up.”

Partridge contrasted his team’s depth chart with this weekend’s opponent, who won the conference championship last year. Western Kentucky starts four sophomores total on both offense and defense.

In FAU’s most recent game against Marshall, both Partridge and defensive coordinator Roc Bellantoni said the rush defense was the best it had been since the pair arrived for the 2014 season. Bellantoni said the difference was simple execution.

On Monday, when asked what prevented the execution from happening in the previous games, Partridge said “the growth of six first- or second-year players on defense.”

“They didn’t hit a wall,” Partridge said. “They’ve continued to progress throughout the course of the year. The difference was you lose some players. … We just need to keep fighting and keep getting better for each other and stay the course.”

JIM RASSOL/STAFF FILE PHOTO The departure of former players to the NFL, like defensive lineman Brandin Bryant, left, has forced young players into key playing time with the Owls.