Owls content with run game
FAU ranks third in C-USA in rushing with trio of backs.
BOCA RATON — As Lane Kiffin continues to search for his starting quarterback, the first-year Florida Atlantic coach is able to rest easy with his potent rushing offense.
Through Kiffin’s first four games as coach, the Owls — spearheaded by the trio of senior Gregory Howell Jr. and local standouts Devin Singletary (American Heritage) and Kerrith Whyte (Seminole Ridge) — ranks third in Conference USA with 211.8 yards per game and 5.5 yards per carry.
“It starts in practice,” said Whyte, who ranks third in C-USA with 6.5 yards per carry. “(Running backs coach Kevin Smith) is a great coach and he pushes us hard very. He’s all about details and going 100 percent. ... It carries over to the game.”
Learning from Smith, a 2008 third-round pick of the Detroit Lions who played five seasons in the NFL, has paid early dividends for an Owls rushing game that set a program record with 439 rushing yards in their 45-0 rout of Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 16.
Singletary also ranks second in C-USA with 359 yards and five rushing TDs, though a goal-line fumble against Bethune-Cookman keeps the sophomore from being tied with North Texas’ Jeffrey Wilson for the scoring lead.
“Outside of the one fumble, he’s played as well as anybody on our team, certainly offensively,” Kiffin said of Singletary. “It’s great to see. He had a really great year last year, and I think he’s even gotten better like most people do in their first to second year.”
Diversity in the Owls’ running game, at least to start the season, is a change from how then-offensive coordinator Travis Trickett ran his plays last year. Through the first four games of last season, Howell was the No. 1 running back and led the unit with nearly 60 percent of the carries, rushing for 303 yards on 66 carries. Meanwhile, Singletary (14 carries for 36 yards) and Whyte (30 carries for 95 yards) were little-used.
Now, the addition of Kiffin and offensive coordinator Kendal Briles has allowed the Owls to have a running game reminiscent of the late 2000s New York Giants’ “Earth, Wind and Fire” package. Howell’s ability to pound the ball is not unlike Brandon Jacobs, while Singletary has the speed and precision of Derrick Ward. Whyte, the third option that can contribute on special teams and waiting in the wings, would then be Ahmad Bradshaw.
“It’s a fast offense so it’s a lot of rotation, so guys try to stay fresh and get each guy in (the game),” Whyte said. “We all bring something different to the table.”
Of the 99 carries from the three backs this season, Singletary leads the way with 56, 30 more carries than Whyte. Howell, who missed Saturday’s loss with an undisclosed injury, has 17 carries but is averaging 12.1 yards per rush.
Four games into his tenure as Owls coach, Kiffin is impressed by his rushing trio, especially in last week’s loss to Buffalo.
“At halftime, (Singletary and Whyte) were at 9.9 and 17.7 (yards) a carry,” Kiffin said. “That is like video game numbers.”