Lewis, Tooley provide big boost in secondary
Cornerbacks show way in defense’s 2017 turnaround.
BOCA RATON — Players in the Miami Hurricanes’ secondary made a name for themselves this season by rocking the turnover chain. Just up the road in Boca Raton, Lane Kiffin’s Florida Atlantic Owls figured out a different way to showcase their talents.
“Put it on tape” became the official motto of a secondary that vastly improved in 2017 after years of being torched by opposing defenses. FAU’s secondary made 19 of the team’s 20 interceptions, led by the much improved play of junior Shelton Lewis and sophomore Chris Tooley.
“We always tell each other, ‘Give me one. Give me an interception,’ ” Tooley said earlier this year. “We all put each other on a pedestal to always be great.”
As there is much to discuss with the secondary as a whole, let’s begin by reviewing the Owls’ 2017 performance at cornerback:
MVP: Choosing Lewis and Tooley as co-MVPs would be easy to do, as each corner had four interceptions and forced a fumble. Tooley was one of the Owls’ best defenders when the unit struggled early, but Lewis is our choice for MVP for how well he played after Raekwon Williams was lost for the season with a knee injury. With the pressure on the secondary in two games that could make or break the season, Lewis had a combined 12 tackles, two pass breakups and an interception in wins over Western Kentucky and Marshall.
Biggest surprise: How much the cornerbacks stepped up after Williams was hurt in the Oct. 7 win over Old Dominion. Tooley continued his strong play, Lewis became a shutdown corner and reserves Korel Smith and Herb Miller each made vital plays. Miller’s fourth-quarter interception against Western Kentucky helped give FAU’s offense the momentum it needed to eventually win the game.
Who’s returning? Chris Tooley, Shelton Lewis, Korel Smith, Herb Miller and Diashun Moss are among the more notable names returning. Former Pahokee quar- terback Tyrone Smith Jr. is expected to see cornerback action as well this spring.
Who’s leaving: Raekwon Williams has exhausted all years of eligibility.
Biggest offseason storyline: How do the returning corners build off last season and not let the success get to their heads? FAU cornerbacks intercepted 10 of the team’s 20 passes and kept C-USA gunslingers like Mason Fine (North Texas) and Mike White (Western Kentucky) from making their standard explosive plays. Losing Williams will hurt in the locker room, but the maturity shown by Tooley and Lewis in particular after learning under the departing senior should help in camp’s early weeks.