Team ready for reunion with coach

BOCA RATON — Florida Atlantic defensive players will see a familiar face on the opposing sideline when the play at Buffalo on Saturday.

Former Owls defensive coordinator Roc Bellantoni is now the Bulls’ director of player personnel after spending three seasons at FAU. The players are looking forward to the reunion because many have maintained their relationship with Bellantoni.

“Obviously, he’s someone who recruited me and believed in me coming out of high school,” linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair said. “He hasn’t really seen me for the past whole year so it’ll be good . .... “I’m sure he’s watched film and stuff like that, but it’ll be good to go out there and really show him that I became a way better player than I was a year or two ago.”

Bellantoni, who was not retained when Charlie Partridge was fired and replaced by Lane Kiffin, has remained in contact with some players. He returns to South Florida on occasion for recruiting trips. Last summer he was in West Palm Beach for a camp hosted by former FAU cornerback Cre’Von LeBlanc, who now plays for the Chicago Bears.

“I talked to him for a little minute,” cornerback Raekwon Williams said. “He told me how he was going to be at Buffalo so I was like, ‘oh yeah, we play y’all like the fourth game or something like that!’ He’s like, ‘yeah, it’s going to be a good one, and I was like ‘can’t wait to see you again.’ ”

Next game: FAU at Buffalo, Saturday, 7 p.m., ESPN3

Shandel Richardson