Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
LB Brice returning for 2021
FAU linebacker Caliph Brice announced on Thursday that he’s going to take advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted to college football players and return to the Owls for the 2021 season.
“2020 was a year of extreme ups and downs. Celebrating with my FAU brothers after a win was definitely at the top, but in my heart, I knew my blood brother was not there to celebrate with me — those moments were the lows,” Brice said in a statement on social media. “This season was hard — mentally and emotionally — and I questioned if I wanted to continue to play football.
“The weeks following the season, I had a chance to spend time with my family and gather my emotions. I appreciate my coaches and my brothers of [Band of Brothers] for supporting me in a difficult time. After talking with those close to me, I have made the decision to return to FAU for my fifth season and to finish what I have started.”
After two years at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, Brice joined FAU in 2019 and immediately contributed during the Owls’ Conference USA title-winning season, recording 28 tackles (11 solo), a sack and an interception in 13 games played.
Brice stepped into a starting role in 2020 after the departure of multiple linebackers during the offseason and increased his production, ending the year with 54 tackles (22 solo), four tackles-for-losses and recovering two fumbles in eight games.
His announcement comes a week after cornerback Zyon Gilbert said he’ll return to FAU for the 2021 season after Florida Atlantic coach Willie Taggart previously said Gilbert was one of two Owls who were considering declaring for the NFL draft.
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 percent of the 21 combined seniors, redshirt seniors and graduate students on the team’s 2020 roster expressed interest in returning to the program in 2021.
Redshirt senior linebacker Leighton McCarthy, who was named secondteam All-C-USA after leading the conference in sacks (nine) and tackles for losses (12.5), was the other FAU player Taggart said was exploring his options for the draft.