New Owls ready to make mark
Transfers, freshmen look to help Owls have consecutive winning seasons.
BOCA RATON — Florida Atlantic coach Lane Kiffin may be divisive, but that same personality is why top talent continues to join one of the nation’s rising programs.
Kiffin’s reputation, from winning national championships at Southern Cal and Alabama to his popular Twitter account, has brought multiple players with Power Five offers and résumés to FAU over the past two years. With FAU entering 2018 with high expectations, the newest Owls — both freshmen and transfers — need to show they’re ready to contribute for the reigning Conference USA champions.
As was the case last year, Kiffin’s 2018 signing class was universally praised for its mix of JUCO and high school talent. Though former Alabama running back BJ Emmons (academics) and Nero Nelson (dismissal) won’t play for FAU this fall after signing in February, many of the newest Owls — including some who have only joined the team
recently — are on campus and hope to help the team post consecutive winning records for the first time since 2007-08.
Here are five first-year Owls (not counting players who redshirted last year) who a re e l i g i b l e t o pl ay in 2018 and will be worth watching this season:
Antonio Riles, G, R-Sr.
After the NCAA awarded the former top recruit a sixth year of eligibility, Riles left the University of Florida to join the Owls this summer, where he’ll have a chance to start. Riles joins former Tulane center Raul “Junior” Diaz, who is expected to repl a c e Antonyo Woods (Seminole Ridge) at that position, as new offensive linemen who will have only one season at FAU.
Charles Cameron, DT,
J r. T h e C o p i a h - L i n c o l n ( Mi s s . ) t r a n s f e r l o o k e d right at home in Tony Pecoraro’s aggressive defense dur i ng t he spr i ng. Cameron had 10 sacks in t wo years at the JUCO level and quickly became a favorite among teammates for his play and his colorful personality, even singing a Marvin Gaye song at an athletic function in April. If Cameron can build on his spring performance, he’ll certainly earn snaps in the defensive line rotation come September.
DeSean Holmes, WR, Jr.
Holmes and his new coach have an extended history dating to 2013, when Kiffin — then still USC’s coach — offered the young wide receiver a scholarship. The two have reunited five years later in Boca Raton, both admittedly more mature than they were five years ago. Holmes enrolled at San Diego State in 2015 but never played a game there and instead played at the JUCO level with Southern Utah and College of the Canyons (Calif.).
Holmes led the Cougars with 52 catches for 912 yards a n d s e v e n t o u c h d o wn s i n 1 1 g a mes l a s t s e a s o n . Holmes joins a c rowded wide receiver unit, but if he can grasp the playbook and handle the transition to Division I, he’ll find ways to make plays.
“I can’t believe I’m about to pl ay for L ane Ki f f i n, ” Holmes told The Post this offseason. “He walked into my high school (to recruit me), and now he’s coming back again.”
The Palm Beach Lakes alumnus was the only Palm Beach County player to sign with the Owls in February. (Former Dwyer defensive end/ linebacker Dalton Hustad and Seminole Ridge offensive lineman Nicholas Scre-
Teja Young, CB, Fr.
ciu each joined the team a s p r e f e r r e d wa l k- o n s . ) Al t hough FAU ’s s e c o ndary is crowded with players who eventually could make NFL rosters, Young received rave reviews from Kiffin on Signing Day and can contribute on defense and kick returns.
Zack Bennett, C/G, Jr.
The transfer from JUCO powerhouse Arizona Western originally was signed to start at center. After FAU successfully landed Diaz as a transfer, coaches told Bennett they wanted to give him action at both center and guard in training camp to get him on the field. Bennett brings strength and versatility to an offensive line that needs to replace three of last year’s starters. Even if he doesn’t start, Bennett potentially could fill the utility role on the offensive line previously held by Matthew Weiner (Suncoast) and Dillon DeBoer.