Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Emmons not returning to Owls for 2021 season
One of the FAU Owls’ top running backs from the last two seasons won’t return to the program in 2021.
BJ Emmons announced on social media Sunday evening that he’s going to forego his final season of eligibility with the hopes of making an NFL roster.
Emmons, who was a senior at Florida Atlantic during the 2020 season and graduated in the fall, could’ve returned to the program by using the extra year of eligibility being given to college football players due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but he decided to focus on his professional aspirations.
“The journey has not been easy, but it has made me better, stronger, and more determined than ever to succeed,” Emmons said in a statement. “[Sunday] I am pleased to announced that the next stage of my journey has begun as I look towards making an NFL roster.
“Words cannot adequately express my appreciation to my coaches, teammates, advisors, and trainers for your guidance and support throughout my college football career. To my family and friends, without your never ending love and support I would not be where I am at today. I appreciate you all and look forward to your continued support as I enter the next phase of my football career.”
Emmons, who was the No. 4 running back prospect in the nation out of high school and played at Alabama in 2016, transferred to FAU and redshirted the 2018 season after spending 2017 at Hutchinson Community College (Hutchinson, Kan.).
His first season with the Owls got off to a rough start when he broke his ankle during the first quarter of the Owls’ season-opening loss to Ohio State on Aug. 31, 2019. Emmons missed FAU’s next nine games before returning to the field against UTSA on Nov. 23, 2019, when he rushed for 53 yards and 2 touchdowns on 10 attempts.
He finished the 2019 season with 237 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground on 51 attempts in five games played.
Emmons — who missed FAU’s last three games of 2020 — saw the field even less this past season, rushing for 116 yards and 1 touchdown on 37 attempts in four games.
The Owls are expected to have several veteran running backs return for the 2021 season.
Malcolm Davidson, who led FAU in rushing in 2019 and rushing yards per attempt in 2020, is on the team’s spring roster. As is Larry McCammon, James Charles, Kelvin Dean Jr. and Daniel Leconte.
Johnny Ford joined FAU as a transfer from South Florida and the Owls added Zuberi Mobley out of Miami Northwestern to their roster during the Early Signing Period last month as a part of their 2021 recruiting class.