Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
FAU
Two former Owls are optimistic about how good the defense will be this coming season.
Two former Florida Atlantic players are optimistic about the Owls’ defense in new coach Lane Kiffin’s first season in Boca Raton.
Atlanta Falcons safety Sharrod Neasman and New York Jets defensive lineman Brandin Bryant each completed their rookie seasons in the NFL after playing together for four years at FAU. At a volunteer event at the Lauderhill Boys and Girls Club on Friday, each spoke about some of their former teammates.
Bryant said the FAU defensive line could surprise people in 2017, especially redshirt junior end Hunter Snyder.
“Hunter Snyder, I think he’s going to be a beast,” Bryant said. “He has a lot of potential. He’s probably more of an athlete than Trey Hendrickson was. Hunter’s probably the fastest D-lineman I ever saw at FAU.”
The 6-foot-7, 260-pound Snyder missed spring football with an injury. Last year, he had 23 tackles and two sacks in 11 games.
The Owls will have to replace Hendrickson’s production after he left Boca Raton as the school’s alltime leader in sacks, tackles for loss and forced fumbles. The New Orleans Saints selected Hendrickson in the third round of the April draft.
FAU expects not only Snyder to return for the fall, but also tackle Ray Ellis. Ellis missed all of last season and spring practice with a knee injury. In his first two seasons at FAU, Ellis had 38 tackles in 17 games.
“If you watch the film, if you watch Ray Ellis, you know what he can do,” Bryant said. “He’s a guy who will always be where he’s supposed to be, has great technique, great fundamentals. He’s a good athlete, too.”
As a senior in 2015, Neasman started alongside thenfreshman safety Jalen Young. Young is now entering his junior season after a superb sophomore campaign that featured 100 tackles, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
With Hendrickson’s departure, Neasman is among those looking towards Young to step into a bigger leadership role.
“I think Jalen is becoming the leader that they need him to be,” Neasman said. “I think he’s there now, he has the potential to be there now and lead that defense. They’re looking for someone now that Trey is gone. Jalen’s is about to be a junior, as well as Azeez AlShaair.
“Those are the two guys that really need to lead the defense. It’s going to be on Jalen to really step up and do that. I played with him and I know he has the potential. He’s going to make it happen.”
Young and Al-Shaair each missed the spring game with injuries. AlShaair led FAU with 113 tackles in 2016. The Owls defense ranked 124th (of 128) in total defense and 123rd in scoring defense last year.
Special teams gives Homer shot
When FAU’s season ended in November, former Owls cornerback Tevin
Homer appeared to be a long shot to continue his playing career.
Homer, a Park Vista graduate and walk-on transfer from Arkansas Baptist, played in just 11 games at FAU. He recorded only three tackles. He never started, and was primarily a special teams player. But Homer impressed during the offseason, which culminated in a free-agent contract with the Washington Redskins.
After going undrafted, Homer received an invite to Washington’s rookie minicamp in May and signed with the team on May 15.
“I never even talked to the Redskins at all, the whole [predraft] process,” Homer said. “I was surprised.”
Homer was back in Palm Beach County to speak with kids Saturday at the first annual Greg Bryant Sports Camp at American Heritage-Delray. He reports to Washington’s training camp at the end of July.
In the NFL, Homer will have to excel on special teams in order to crack the Redskins’ final roster. He had plenty of experience at FAU.
“I’m going to have to play special teams,” Homer said. “That’s a requirement. I always knew I was good at special teams. That’s going to be second nature.”
After his FAU career finished, Homer played in the FCS Bowl, an all-star game typically reserved for lowerdivision prospects. Homer and former Owl Alfred
Ansley were the only FBS players on the rosters. Homer had three tackles, one for loss and a pass breakup in the game.
Homer also played in the Tropical Bowl and participated in a regional combine in Washington. At FAU’s Pro Day, Homer posted the best 40-yard dash time (4.58 seconds) and highest vertical jump (37.5 inches) among the 12 participants.
Homer, listed at 6-foot-2 and 191 pounds, said he would have stayed in football, either coaching, training or playing in the CFL had Washington not called days after the NFL draft.
“When I didn’t get a call, I was like ‘Be patient, be patient,’” Homer said. “Monday came around, I got that call.”