Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Hendrickson leaves void on Owls defensive line
BOCA RATON — Former defensive end Trey Hendrickson is no longer part of Florida Atlantic’s football program, but that doesn’t mean his presence wasn’t felt as the Owls opened spring practice this week.
Hendrickson — FAU’s all-time leader in sacks, tackles for loss, forced fumbles and quarterback hurries — exhausted his eligibility last season, leaving behind a vacancy along the defensive line and taking with him a lot of experience and wisdom. The Owls will rely on a group of linemen, including redshirt seniors Haiden Nagel and Nick Internicola, to fill Hendrickson’s void.
Both Nagel and Internicola said they pulled lessons from Hendrickson during his time at FAU. Nagel learned to “play with anger.” Internicola lauded Hendrickson’s arsenal of pass rush moves.
Neither is trying to duplicate him, though.
“He was a big leader on our team, but we had to move on,” Internicola said. “We knew after the last game that it was time for us to move on. He was a big impact on our team. He was a big motivation. We learned a lot from him and we took a lot of his advice. Now, we’re moving forward.”
Added Nagel: “That’s my main focus this year is to not replace him but get everyone as a unit to get the sack. Not just one person getting the sack, but all of us taking turns getting the sack. That’s what we’re trying to emphasize as a unit.”
Last season, Hendrickson fought through double-teams to record 9.5 Nick Internicola, sacks. The rest of the defensive linemen combined for eight. Among returning defensive linemen, Nagel led the group with 37 tackles last year, and Hunter Snyder had 23 and Internicola had 13.
The Owls also signed two junior college defensive ends in February who could contribute immediately: Ernest Bagner from Riverside City College and Tim Bonner from East Mississippi Community College.
FAU coach Lane Kiffin said the Owls will try to move the defensive ends around to diversify their defense and increase versatility.
“We’ll try to get to where we’re really multiple with those guys down and those guys standing up and moving around,” Kiffin said. “They’re dropping [into coverage] some already. We do a lot with those guys and I think it’ll be really good for them, helps them put things on tape that people want to see at the next level.”
The linemen are also acclimating themselves to new defensive line coach Eric Mathies, who coached at South Florida last year. When asked about Mathies, both Nagel and Internicola immediately mentioned his energy during practice and film sessions.
“He’s always critiquing player-by-player,” Nagel said. “He’s breaking down each and every step, each and every technique you’re using in the film room. He breaks it down and then translates it onto the field by working on it through drills.”
Kiffin did not coach Hendrickson, but met him Wednesday when Hendrickson visited campus. Kiffin said the pair talked about Hendrickson’s thoughts on the FAU program and potential improvements Kiffin could make.
“What a great competitor, you could just tell by meeting with him,” Kiffin said. “We don’t expect any of these guys to be him. They just got to be the best that they can and we’ll play them wherever we see fit.”