Florida Atlantic quarterback derby expands

The quarterback drama at Florida Atlantic is only getting deeper. A two-man battle has added another contender with the arrival of Rafe Peavey, a transfer from SMU who just got to Boca Raton, Florida, last week.

The Owls open their season on Sept. 1 against OU on Owen Field.

Florida Atlantic, coming off an 11-3 season that included a 10-game winning streak to end the season, was expected to start either Florida State transfer De’Andre Johnson or OU transfer Chris Robison.

The Owls last season were led by quarterback Jason Driskel, and he had a productive year. But FAU coach Lane Kiffin said the quarterback job would be an open competition in 2018, and Driskel later announced that he was retiring from football, despite a season of eligibility remaining.

Johnson and Robison both arrived at FAU with baggage.

From Mesquite, Texas, Robison arrived at OU in 2017 but was arrested for public intoxication in April.

He was dismissed from the team in August and two weeks later transferred to FAU.

Johnson signed with Florida State out of high school but was dismissed from school after punching a woman in the face at a bar, and the incident was captured on video. Johnson ended up at East Mississippi Community College.

Johnson transferred to FAU and was expected to compete for the starting job last season, but blood clots were found that wrecked most of his season.

Peavey, from Bolivar, Missouri, signed with Arkansas but stayed only one season. He transferred to SMU and played sparingly last season, attempting only four passes.

But he graduated and was eligible to play immediately elsewhere.

Over the weekend, Johnson, Robison and Peavey quarterbacked the Owls in a scrimmage.

According to fauowlaccess.com, Johnson started the scrimmage, Robison was next and finally Peavey.

Kiffin lauded Peavey’s quick adaption of the FAU offense. “Being a veteran and being around different systems and different things, you can tell that he’s got a good understanding of the position,” Kiffin said.

Robison also was impressive.

“I thought Chris made a lot of really good plays,” Kiffin said. “Some good plays on time, which is what we are looking for, because both guys have made out-of-rhythm plays. We’ve been trying to stress them to make plays on time, in rhythm, so we don’t get negative plays trying to make too much happen.”