Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Grateful Singletary appreciates chance just to play football
BOCA RATON — Football players know that the game they love and its gladiator nature can decide in an instant when their playing days are over.
That hit home recently in South Florida since two players have suffered career-ending neck injuries at the University of Miami within the past year, most recently Ahmmon Richards, the Hurricanes junior wide receiver out of Wellington.
While Florida Atlantic junior running back Devin “Motor” Singletary, also a Palm Beach County high school product from American Heritage-Delray, says he didn’t know Richards personally, he feels for him and appreciates every opportunity he gets to play football knowing what can happen.
“Every day, before I go out on the field, I’m thankful. I’m giving thanks ’cause I know it can be taken away at any time,” said Singletary, who on Saturday against Old Dominion became FAU’s all-time leading rusher, passing Alfred Morris. “You could be warming up, it could be gone. Can’t take nothing for granted.” The one to cornerback
Malek Young suffered in the Orange Bowl loss to Wisconsin struck a little closer to home for Singletary, who is from Deerfield Beach and played with Young growing up.
“That was definitely sad because I knew him on a personal level,” said Singletary, who also passed Tim Tebow and Marshall Faulk on college football’s FBS rushing touchdowns list on Saturday. “It’s always sad, but it’s even worse when you know someone, but he’s been dealing with that well.
“Things like that just make me go harder, honestly.”
Bye week R&R: With the Owls (3-3, 1-1 Conference USA) on a bye week ahead of the Oct. 20 conference showdown at Marshall, it’s a good opportunity for players to get some rest and relaxation.
Starting quarterback
Chris Robison said he’ll be heading back for a few days this weekend.
“Just see some family, see some friends. Get away from football a little bit,” said Robison, the redshirt freshman from Mesquite, Texas. “I like to disconnect a little bit, just so I can get ready for the next part of the season.
“I love football and I love doing it every day, but sometimes I just feel like you just need a break. ”
Singletary, the workhorse that he is, still likes to use extra time for improvements on his game but also finds benefits in allowing the body to recuperate.
“I think you need a bye week, kind of regroup,” he said. “I think it can’t come at no better time than midway through the season, kind of get time to get your mind back right.” Jefferson happy to get game action: Junior defensive tackle Noah Jefferson, who transferred in from Arizona Western College between the second and third week of the season and originally was at Southern Cal, got to see the field for the first time with FAU against the Monarchs on Saturday.
Following the game, he detailed what brought him to FAU in talking to reporters for the first time since joining the team.
“Probably Coach [Lane]
Kiffin, honestly,” said Jefferson, a 6-foot-5, 330-pounder. “I wanted to be at a place where I was going to be taken care of but also just being pushed, on the field and off the field – somebody who’s going to make me a better man.”