Freshman brings big-play ability

BOCA RATON — Florida Atlantic receiver Willie Wright has needed little time to make an impact.

Just a freshman, Wright has already established himself as the Owls’ big-play threat in the passing game. He’s been a quick study even though he didn’t arrive on campus until summer.

The 5-foot-8, 155-pound Wright has 21 receptions for 329 yards and two touchdowns. What stands out is his big-play ability. The touchdowns have covered 69 and 95 yards, with the latter being the longest play in school history.

“It really gives us something that we don’t have at that spot, pure explosion that can just flat out run by people,” FAU coach Lane Kiffin said.

Wright, who played at Jacksonville Raines High School, has yet to do any interviews because Kiffin doesn’t allow freshmen to speak with the media. The only setback for Wright this season was an undisclosed injury that kept him out against Wisconsin and Bethune Cookman.

It slowed the speedster enough to see a decline in production, but last week it appeared he has regained full health. He caught eight passes for a career-high 141 yards in the 69-31 victory against North Texas.

“It’s good,” Kiffin said. “He was banged up there. After he had the big first game, he got hurt. He only played like 25 plays and really for a couple weeks we were really hurt there. We kind of saw that losing him in the passing game.”

FAU at Western Kentucky, Saturday, 4:30 p.m., ESPN3, WTCN

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