LEBLANC TOPS FLA. ATLANTIC CORNERBACK GREATS
BOCA RATON — Florida Atlantic University’s current success at cornerback — with All-Conference USA senior Shelton Lewis, junior Chris Tooley and hard-hitting senior Herb Miller — shouldn’t be much of a surprise. In recent seasons, cornerbacks have found ways to make plays and become NFL prospects while at FAU.
The 2018 season will be FAU’s 15th in Division I (officially the Football Bowl Subdivision, or FBS), so we are looking at the best players in Owls history at each positon. Today, we look at the cornerbacks:
FIRST TEAM
Cre’Von LeBlanc (201215): The Glades Central product started for the Owls as a true freshman, immediately proving to be one of the best defensive backs in program history. An All-Conference USA selection in 2015, LeBlanc recorded nine interceptions and 180 tackles in his four years with the Owls, earning a spot in the 2016 East-West Shrine Game. His 15 passes defended in 2015 (four interceptions and 11 deflections) are the thirdmost in a single-season.
LeBlanc landed with the New England Patriots as a priority free agent and now plays for Chicago, where he made 54 tackles and picked off two passes in his first two years. Last month, LeBlanc held his annual “Strap 4 It” youth camp at Keiser University.
D’Joun Smith (2011-14): The highest-drafted Owl — he was taken 65th overall by the Indianapolis Colts in 2015 — defined shutdown cornerback in his four years at FAU. Smith was an All-CUSA first-team selection in 2013 when he had seven interceptions and 34 tackles. He made the All-CUSA second team in 2014 after only one interception, but the dropoff wasn’t due to injuries or struggles; quarterbacks had decided not to throw his way. Smith has since played with Detroit and Tennessee but is not currently on an NFL roster.
SECOND TEAM
Willie Hughley (200205): Hughley, the program leader in interceptions and a two-time All-Sun Belt cornerback, appears on the second team only because he was with the Owls for just two seasons at the FBS level. Hughley grabbed seven of his 15 career interceptions in 2004 and 2005. Those two seasons represented FAU’s first two years as a Division I program, allowing Hughley to establish a high mark for other cornerbacks to follow. He signed with the Cleveland Browns after graduation but did not make the regular-season roster.
Keith Reaser (2010-13): There’s certainly an argument to be made that Reaser should have made the first team in light of his statistics. Reaser was a fine cornerback who made a dynamic duo with Smith in 2013, helping the Owls rally from 2-6 at the time of Carl Pelini’s resignation to finishing the year at 6-6 under interim coach Brian Wright. Reaser finished his time at FAU with five interceptions and seven tackles for losses, enough to make him a fifth-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 2014. After seeing increased playing time with the 49ers, he is now with the Kansas
City Chiefs.
THIRD TEAM
Corey Small (2004-08): Despite picking off 13 passes in his career, a number that ranks second in program history, Small doesn’t get much love when the best cornerbacks are discussed. Small’s interceptions all came from 2006-08, including intercepting 2007 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow in a blowout loss to the Gators in Gainesville. Small is also second in interception return yards (235) and ranks behind only Hughley in interceptions returned for touchdowns.
Small played in the now-defunct Texas vs. The Nation collegiate all-star game and had a tryout with the Redskins in 2009.
Tavious Polo (200610): When the cornerback who holds the single-season record for interceptions (tied with current Owls safety Jalen Young) makes the third team, that should speak to the program’s accomplishments at this position. Polo, a South Plantation graduate, had one of the greatest freshman seasons in team history, picking off seven passes and making 53 tackles for the 2007 Owls.
Polo finished his career with 11 interceptions, adding 10.5 tackles for losses in his final three seasons after recording none in his freshman season.