Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition

Safety providing depth at linebacker

- Shandel Richardson

BOCA RATON — Florida Atlantic safety Andrew Soroh had grown accustomed to being in the starting lineup.

He started most of last season, and it appeared he would remain in that spot when training camp opened. That changed when he was beaten out by freshman Zyon Gilbert. It left Soroh with a decision: stay a seldom-used backup or find another way to get on the field. He chose the latter and is contributi­ng at linebacker. “I’m just the type of player that wherever my team needs or wherever the coaches want to put me, that’s where I’ll play,” said Soroh, a junior from Miami. “I kind of adapted to it fast.”

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Soroh was moved once it was clear Gilbert had solidified the starting position after recording 15 tackles in the opener against Navy. The switch came at the urging of defensive coordinato­r Chris Kiffin.

Soroh, who still plays some defensive back, has made the most of the opportunit­y. He is eighth on the team with 23 tackles and still has the chance to match last year’s total of 44. He recorded a season-high five tackles against Wisconsin and Old Dominion.

“It’s still defense, and I already knew what was going on,” Soroh said. “Being that I was a safety, I’m kind of making the calls.”

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

Next game:

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