Owls’ aim: Improve again in ’18 season
BOCA RATON — For the first time since 2009, the Florida Atlantic football team enters a new calendar year fresh off a winning season.
In a year of Devin Singletary running over defenses for an FBSbest 32 rushing touchdowns and coach Lane Kiffin stirring up controversy while turning the program around, not much went wrong for the Owls. FAU (11-3) finished its first season under Kiffin with more wins than the Miami Hurricanes (10-3).
Some possible New Year’s resolutions for the Owls as they look to make 2018 even better than 2017:
Kerrith Whyte, RB: Emerge as FAU’s primary change-of-pace back behind Singletary. Whyte (Seminole Ridge) averaged 6.3 yards per carry and had an 82-yard touchdown against North Texas but failed to truly emerge as a breakout player after a strong training camp. With Buddy Howell out in week four at Buffalo, Whyte ran for 72 yards and a touchdown on five carries but only saw at least five carries in two other games this season.
If Singletary (American Heritage) feels the workload that comes with more than 300 carries catching up to him next season, Kiffin will have even more of a need for a playmaking backup running back.
Whyte has flashed enough potential to warrant the chance to be that player.
DeAndre McNeal, WR: Find a way to remain relevant in the offense. McNeal’s fall from immediate playmaker with Daniel Parr (Dwyer) at quarterback in the first three games — to lost in the offense following Jason Driskel’s emergence as the starter — has been overstated, but Kiffin will need to reevaluate the former Texas Longhorn’s place in the passing game.
With Kalib Woods and Kamrin Solomon graduating, there’s still a place in the offense for McNeal, who had 18 catches for 298 yards and two scores through FAU’s first four games. However, McNeal will need to stay healthy after dealing with an ankle injury and concussion late in the season.
D’Anfernee McGriff, TE: Stay in shape. McGriff will share his resolution with many Americans in the new year, especially after Kiffin was critical of the rising junior’s inability to stay in shape this season. When McGriff was in proper game shape, the tight end gave the passing game a boost and recorded five catches for 58 yards and a score against FIU and Charlotte in late November.
Tim Bonner/Ernest Bagner, DEs: Work past the junior college growing pains. Bonner (East Mississippi) and Bagner (Riverside City College, Calif.) admitted to struggling with the transition to Division I, but Bagner finished with 2.5 sacks while Bonner became a fan favorite for his intensity on special teams — or, as he called it, the “Doom Boom.” Next season will be another opportunity for both players to earn more playing time.
Kiffin: Not stir up too much controversy on Twitter, although Kiffin’s recent hiatus from social media was boring.
Maybe he just needs to find some balance when it comes to tweeting about #thefaU and Nick Saban?