D-tackle Cameron pushing for playing time

BOCA RATON — It hasn’t taken Florida Atlantic newcomer Charles Cameron long to get comfortable in his new surroundings.

After just a few months on campus, he’s cozy enough to start singing “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” in the middle of his first interview with the media. The way he has eased into the environment is a sign that things may be just as simple on the football field.

“He came in cutting up,” defensive end Tim Bonner said, referring to Cameron’s outgoing personality. “He wasn’t shy. He was like me because I came in and I wasn’t shy.”

Bonner, of “Last Chance U” fame, is no stranger to performing in front of large audiences. So his take on Cameron carries weight. A 6-foot-2, 290-pound transfer from Copiah (Miss.) Lincoln Community College, he is one of the few early arrivals and is expected to compete for immediate playing time.

“I’m glad that I was able to graduate and come to the system early,” Cameron said. “It gives me a jump to learn stuff faster than the people that come in the summer.”

Arriving in January also helped him avoid football’s version of cabin fever. He would have gotten antsy during four months of inactivity.

“I can’t stay out of football for too long,” Cameron said. “I just start going a little crazy, get a little aggressive. It’s kind of helped me out.”

The adjustment process has been gradual. After two days of spring practice, Cameron has already caught the eye of coach Lane Kiffin.

“You can see how he quick he is off the ball,” Kiffin said. “If this were the fall, we’d be saying we wish we had him earlier.”

The Owls weren’t as fortunate last year when defensive linemen Ernest Bagner and Bonner didn’t arrive on campus until the summer. Both entered with high expectations but struggled because of the late start.

“It was hard the first day I got here,” Cameron said. “I wasn’t used to the system. Coming from JUCO, you get to a [Division I] program, it’s more work. I feel like [arriving early] will give me a little advantage.”

The next few weeks will give Cameron more time to get acclimated with his new teammates. He has already formed a bond with Bonner because they both played at Mississippi junior-colleges.

“We’re like rivals and we always talk [trash],” Cameron said. “When I first got here, we were just talking stuff about it.” Robison Manziel Jason Driskel as more of a game manager and it led to an 11-3 season. The offense is still expected to be more run-oriented because of running back Devin “Motor” Singletary.

“We’re going to have to tone part of that down,” Kiffin said. “You like having that. Guys are effective with that, but you’ve got to turn it down, too, because you win games with turnover margin and we proved that last year. Jason [Driskel] did a phenomenal job down the stretch taking care of the ball.”