Weis, Smith will coach teams in spring game

BOCA RATON — After needing to play their 2017 spring game as offense vs. defense because of injuries, Lane Kiffin and the Florida Atlantic Owls are going back to a more traditional format this year.

With enough offensive line depth to have two teams, Kiffin announced Thursday that Saturday’s spring game (4 p.m., FAU Stadium; admission is free) will be a red vs. white game. Redshirt freshman Chris Robison will start at quarterback for the red team, facing off against redshirt junior De’Andre Johnson and the white team.

“C oaches, players are divided (onto different teams) and we’ll probably tackle the first half and stay up the second half,” Kiffin said. “It should be exciting.”

New offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. will coach one team and running backs coach Kevin Smith will lead the other, though Kiffin did not announce which coach has what team.

The white team features the first-team offense and second-team defense, with the white team having the opposite. Both coaches will try to work players lower on the depth chart into the game at points.

“The players drafted so we didn’t pick one quarterback (to work) with the (starters) and one with the (reserves),” Kiffin said.

The team’s leadership council, which includes rising sophomore receiver Willie Wright and rising senior offensive lineman Reggie Bain, conducted the draft. Kiffin said the winning team will get a steak lunch, which is why he is staying neutral and not coaching either side.

Kiffin said the spring game won’t have the strongest impact on his evaluation of the quarterbacks battling for the starting job because of how close the competition is between Robison and Johnson. Robison and Johnson will not switch teams in the scrimmage, meaning Johnson will remain with the firstteam until hisreplacement — either Conor Miller or Trent Wessel — plays.

“I think this will go into the fall,” Kiffin said. “I think they’re too close now, but the (No. 1) quarterback also has to go against the (No. 1) defense so, in a way, it’s kind of fair.”

All-American running back Devin Singletary will not participate in the tackling part and will be a game-time decision if he participates at all. According to sources, Singletary has a hamstring injury. Former Dwyer star Gerald Hearns will most likely continue getting first-team snaps Saturday.