Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
CB Gilbert returning to Owls for 2021 season
One of the FAU Owls’ top defensive backs will return for the 2021 season.
After Florida Atlantic coach Willie Taggart said last month he was one of the two Owls who were considering declaring for the NFL draft, senior cornerback Zyon Gilbert announced on social media Thursday evening that he’s returning to the program for a final season.
“This year, I led my brothers to my hometown of Montgomery for the 2020 Montgomery Bowl,” Gilbert wrote in a social media post referencing the Owls’ 25-10 loss to Memphis that ended their season with a 5-4 record.
“I decided that night in the locker that I’m not finished. After talking to my family and my coaches, I’m happy to announce that I will return to Paradise to play one more season with the Band of Brothers.
“We will go to work every day to bring the [Conference USA] trophy back to South Florida.”
Gilbert, who switched to cornerback from safety for the season, recorded an interception and was fifth on the team in tackles (46) this past season, which was second behind safety Jordan Helm among defensive backs. He started and played in all nine games in 2020.
Gilbert has recorded 197 tackles and three interceptions during his four-year career with FAU, winning the C-USA title with the Owls in 2017 and 2019.
Due to the COVID -19 pandemic, the NCAA Division I board of directors voted in August to give all fall sport athletes “an additional year of eligibility and an additional year in which to complete it.”
Taggart previously said about 95% of the 21 combined seniors, redshirt seniors and graduate students on the team’s 2020 roster had expressed interest in returning to the program for the 2021 season.
Redshirt senior linebacker Leighton McCarthy, who was named second-team All-C-USA after leading the conference in sacks (nine) and tackles for a l oss (12 ½ ), was the other FAU player Taggart said was exploring his options for the draft.