WYNN FOR OWLS
Notre Dame standout signs with Kiffin, Florida Atlantic
More even than the sun and surf of the Boca Raton campus, it was the high-octane offense at Florida Atlantic University that caught Cameron Wynn’s attention.
A two-time all-state athlete for Notre Dame High School, Wynn announced his commitment to the FAU football program and head coach Lane Kiffin on Wednesday morning, then made it official by signing with the Owls in the afternoon.
A member of last season’s Times Free Press Dynamite Dozen, Wynn was one of the last uncommitted college football prospects from the Chattanooga area to make his decision public on national signing day, the start of the traditional signing period. Baylor defensive lineman Christian Harris, also a member of the Dynamite Dozen, had been uncommitted until Wednesday but wound up signing with Western Carolina of the Football Championship Subdivision and the Southern Conference.
Wynn said he is excited to join Kiffin and the Football Bowl Subdivision program the former Tennessee head coach and Alabama offensive coordinator is building, choosing the Owls over offers from North Carolina, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Virginia Tech and Middle Tennessee State among others. Kiffin’s offensive coordinator is Charlie Weis Jr.
“I was looking for the place where I felt like I would fit best,” Wynn said. “The campus is beautiful, but really, when Coach Weis Jr. came to the school and showed me how their offense works and how I would be used, and also how they would make sure I was doing well in class, that really got me excited and let me know it’s where I belong.
“There’s something special about what Coach Kiffin is building, and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”
The versatile 5-foot-9, 173pound Wynn, a two-time Tennessee Mr. Football semifinalist, ran for 1,286 yards and 23
touchdowns last season, when he also averaged 12 yards per reception, with two of those for touchdowns. For his high school career, Wynn compiled 4,605 all-purpose yards — 2,722 rushing (8.4 per carry) and 1,425 receiving (18.3 per catch) — and 64 touchdowns — 46 rushing, 16 receiving and two on kick returns.
In two seasons under Kiffin, the Owls have gone 16-10 overall and 11-5 in Conference USA, winning the league’s East Division in 2017.
“He spoke with Coach Kiffin over the weekend, and they’re excited to have an athlete of his caliber,” Notre Dame coach Charles Fant said. “They believe he’ll make an immediate impact at receiver. They want to give him the ball in space and let him be special. What makes me excited about what they did is how committed to they have been to Cam, and that lets me know they’ll take care of him as a person.”
McCallie topped all Chattanooga-area high school programs with seven signees Wednesday, while Brainerd had five. Wynn was one of four Notre Dame players who signed.
Tennessee State signed the most players from the area, getting linebacker Soloman Bridgeman (Tyner), defensive back David Dorsey (Cleveland) and offensive linemen Cam Stewart (McCallie) and Alex Williams (Cleveland). Jacksonville State signed a pair from the area, getting Ringgold offensive lineman Cade Nayadley and Whitwell defensive back Hudson Petty, a Mr. Football semifinalist.
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.