Secondary pegged to shine on
BOCA RATON — After “too many” defeats in his first two seasons, Florida Atlantic junior Jalen Young (Sem- inole Ridge) knew things had to change in 2017 — and everything started with him and the safeties.
A year after the Owls’ def e nse allowed 30 or more points nine times in 12 games, the defense produced a major turnaround in 2017, and Young and his fellow safeties were a big reason why. FAU allowed 30 or more points onlyonceafter entering Conference USA play, limited opponents to 22.7 points per game, and had safeties record nine of the team’s 20 interceptions.
Back in spring camp, Young sensed that his unit was ready for big things.
“A lot of guys who were down have stepped up and almost done a 360,” he said. “It’s been great seeing guys that you haven’t seen be happy and be responding on the field the way they should be.”
Let’s take a review of FAU’s safeties in 2017:
■ MVP: Though Andrew Soroh excelled as a linebacker/safety hybrid and freshman Zyon Gilbert began his collegiate career with a bang, Young has to be the pick here. Young continued to build on his NFL draft stock by picking off seven passes (second-best in the country) and improving his tackling technique. One of the faces of an FAU program that had previously underperformed, Young has a chance to end his time in Boca Raton with another winning season.
■ Biggest surprise: Soroh reinventing his career under defensive coordinator ChrisKiffin. With Gilbert and James Pierre rising up the depth chart, Soroh began to see time as a linebacker in some sets and responded in a big way, finishing with a career-high 47 tackles and three pass deflections. Soroh had eight games with four or more tackles, including six in the Owls’ 30-25 win over Marshall on Nov. 3 that clinched bowl eligibility.
■ Who’s retur n ing? Young, Sor o h, Gilbert, Pierce, Ocie Rose, Jordan Helm and Quran Hafiz are among the more notable names returning next year. Freshman Ahman Ross, who missed all of this season with a torn ACL, could potentially practice in spring camp.
■ Who’s leaving? No notable names have either exhausted all years of eligibility or announced an intent to transfer.
■ Biggest offseason story line: Which Gilbert are we going to see next season? The Gilbert who head coach Lane Kiffin said would be playing in the NFL for a long time, or the Gilbert who saw fewer snaps as the season went on? Gilbert still finished fifth on the team with 52 tackles, but only 25 of those came after the season’s first four weeks as he dealt with an injury and other players being inserted to play safety.